- 630 students conferred degrees at the 60th Convocation of IIMA
- Pankaj Patel, Chairperson, IIMA Board of Governors and Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA also addressed the gathering
- IIMA announced setting up an international campus in Dubai, the first IIM to do so. The first programme at the Dubai campus will be launched in September 2025.
- The Institute also announced the establishment of a new ‘Madan Mohanka Centre of Excellence in Case Method of Learning’
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, MAR 29
Stating that India is now at the cusp of a technological and scientific revolution, Dr S Somanath, Dr Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor, ISRO on Saturday, in his pep talk to students said the future holds immense possibilities, in space exploration, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and beyond. The responsibility to shape that future lies in your hands. I urge you to cultivate the spirit of innovation and apply your knowledge to solve real-world problems whether in science, humanities, or social sciences, because innovation has a place everywhere.
In his inspiring address to the graduating students at The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad’s (IIMA) 60th Convocation ceremony, Dr S Somanath, Dr Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor, ISRO, highlighted key attributes that can determine their success – both at personal and professional levels – and said, “You must have Passion: To be completely dedicated to what you do. Commitment: To lead from the front in all adverse conditions. Excellence: To set the highest standards of professional integrity and performance. Determination: You may fail sometimes but never lose the spirit. Focus: Always see the big picture, and don’t get distracted by the small ones. Learnability: You need to be a student all through your life. Above all, have Humility, Honesty, and Integrity.”
Sharing some of his wisdom and life lessons with students to ponder over, he advised them to read as much as they can, learn to work in a team, make continuous learning a habit, find and follow a right mentor to be a good leader, and take risks in life. Urging students to cultivate a spirit of innovation, Dr Somanath said, “To truly unlock the potential of our nation, we must continue to innovate and collaborate. Innovation requires a culture of curiosity, strength to face failure, and an insatiable hunger to seek answers. At ISRO, we faced numerous challenges over the years, but each failure only strengthened our resolve to try again, to find better solutions, and to reach greater heights. India is now at the cusp of a technological and scientific revolution. The future holds immense possibilities, in space exploration, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and beyond. The responsibility to shape that future lies in your hands. I urge you to cultivate the spirit of innovation and apply your knowledge to solve real-world problems whether in science, humanities, or social sciences, because innovation has a place everywhere.”
The Convocation procession was led by Professor Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes), along with the Chairperson of the Doctoral Programme in Management, Professor Sandip Chakrabarti. They were followed by the Chairpersons of all programmes, faculty members, and graduating students. The ceremony commenced with the Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIMA declaring the convocation open.
The 60th Convocation ceremony marked a proud moment for 630 young leaders from four programmes as they were formally awarded their degrees. This included 22 scholars from the Doctoral Programme in Management (PhD), 405 students from the two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (MBA-PGP), 45 students from the two-year Post Graduate Programme in Food and Agri-business Management (MBA-FABM), and 158 students from the one-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (MBA-PGPX). The family members of the graduating students and alumni of IIMA were also present at the event to cheer on the degree recipients.
Five students were awarded gold medals by the Chief Guest in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements. These included Abhi Bansal, Ishaan Jain, and Aanchal Chadha from MBA-PGP; Yogesh Kumar R from MBA-FABM; and Aashruth Rangarajan from MBA-PGPX.
Pankaj Patel, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIMA, conferred the adegrees to the graduating students. In his welcome address, Patel emphasised the importance of staying flexible and continuously upgrading one’s skills to navigate the fast-changing business world. “With rapid technological advancements and data-driven decision-making, businesses are constantly evolving. There is an increased demand for business professionals who can keep up with the latest trends. Your ability to adapt to situations, embrace change, and learn new skills will be your biggest strength and will set you apart in the crowd,” he said.
Encouraging the graduating students to be the changemakers for a new India, Patel said, “In just over two decades, India will enter its 100th year of independence. We will be making Viksit Bharat 2047 a reality. India needs your energy, optimism, and imagination. Each one of you who are stepping out today will be creators of this new India. As business leaders, ensure that your strategies and decisions are inclusive and create benefits for those at the bottom of the pyramid, making them a part of India’s growth story.”
Delivering the concluding address, Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, shared key highlights of the Institute’s activities and achievements during the past one year. He also announced that IIMA is the first IIM that will be setting up an international campus in Dubai, and the first programme at the Dubai campus will be launched in September 2025. Professor Bhasker also announced the establishment of a new ‘Madan Mohanka Centre of Excellence in Case Method of Learning’, backed by Mr Madan Mohanka, a prominent industrialist and an alumnus of IIMA from PGP 1967.
Motivating the outgoing batches to lead with integrity and strive for excellence, Professor Bhasker said, “The degree you have received today is a foundation, built on knowledge, skills, and the invaluable connections you have forged here. The challenges ahead will be complex, the competition fierce, but within each of you lies the potential to innovate, to lead with integrity, and to make a meaningful impact. Embrace uncertainty, learn from every experience, and never stop striving for excellence. The world awaits your contributions.”
Making the event more special, a few alumni from the first batch of IIMA who graduated in 1966 also attended the convocation ceremony.
