KOZHIKODE:
The record-breaking induction ceremony of 15th batch of Executive Post Graduate Programme (EPGP 15) of the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, was organised physically here after Covid-19 induced three-year gap.
As a testimony to its standout academic rigour, high corporate acceptability and rapidly gaining global recognition, IIMK’s much sought after Executive MBA Programme, has for a third consecutive time enrolled more than 500+ candidates (total 530 students) since 2020. Ashutosh Chadha, Director and Country Head, Government Affair and Public policy at Microsoft graced the formal inauguration ceremony which was presided over by IIMK Director Prof. Debashis Chatterjee. Dean Executive Education, Prof. G Sridhar; Mentor Professor Prof. Anandakuttan Unnithan and EPGP Chairperson, Prof. Aishwarya Ramasundaram were also present on the occasion.
IIMK’s EPGP Programme which holds the distinction of getting featured in QS World University Global Executive MBA Rankings 2022 for third-time running, is now among top EMBA courses in the world, after initially making its global debut in 2020. In its third attempt, IIMK’s EMBA (EPGP) programme has been ranked No.3 in India in the 6th edition of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Global Executive MBA (EMBA) Ranking 2022, administered by the QS World University Ranking Team. Globally IIMK now stands with University of Oklahoma (Price), USA; University of South Florida (Muma), USA; Shanghai University, China; MIB Trieste School of Management, Italy; Deusto Business School, Spain for its EMBA/EPGP programme.
The current cohort has representation from diverse industries with an average work experience of 10 years. The admission process itself saw a jump of nearly 24% and witnessed the highest number of applications this year. Classes will now move back to the 61 centers across India facilitated by IIMK’s technical partner Times Pro and the participants get their first taste of rigorous academic conducted during the first in-campus module scheduled for a two-week period in IIM Kozhikode campus.
Addressing the gathering Ashutosh Chadha spoke about the need for managing expectations and aspirations amidst demonstrating how globalization, digitization, deregulation and technology has changed the past three decades while recounting his lived experiences and time as a young manager. He encouraged the MBA aspirants to reinvent themselves with a focus on developing a learning mindset.
Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, congratulated the candidates for making into the prestigious and globally recognized EMBA programme and recounted how IIM Kozhikode has been pioneering Executive Education since the start of the century, not only in India but in the whole of Asia. An engaging Q&A session with the students followed with interesting insights into mindful leadership by the Director. Speaking further on leadership aspects, he added, “A leader is made by a follower. Followers often look for meaning beyond money and muscle power. Anyone who can shape human minds and lend meaning to our lives can be a potential leader in this 4.0 world of leadership.”
During this first in-campus, participants completed orientation sessions on Pedagogy in management, case teaching, academic policies and learning. Satyarth Priyadarsh (Head, E-commerce, Redington Limited), Sneha Choudary (Co-founder-Zolo), and Shefali Mohapatra (Chief People officer, Atria convergence technologies) were the guest speakers for the plenary sessions.
