BODH GAYA, August 31: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bodh Gaya on Monday marked its Foundation Day by launching the first batch of its Executive PhD Programme and welcoming the sixth cohort of its Integrated Programme in Management (IPM).
The institute said the occasion also marked the completion of 11 years since its establishment.
A total of 207 students were inducted into the new IPM cohort, including 70 women and 137 men. The first batch of the Executive PhD Programme comprises 14 students, including 12 men and two women.
The orientation programme marked the formal beginning of the academic journey for the newly inducted students. It began with a Ganesh Vandana and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.
Prof. Aviral Kumar Tiwari, Chairperson of the PhD Programme, introduced the Executive PhD Programme, while Prof. Archana Patro, Chairperson of the IPM Programme, introduced the IPM course to the new students.
Focus on Human Capital
IIM Bodh Gaya Director Prof. Vinita S. Sahay welcomed the new IPM batch and spoke about the significance of Bodh Gaya as a place with deep spiritual and cultural roots.
She emphasised the importance of investing in human capital and encouraged students to use their energy and potential to drive innovation and change.
Prof. Sahay urged the new cohort to think beyond incremental progress and aim to “leapfrog” towards new opportunities.
Sessions by Industry and Institutional Leaders
The programme was attended by Nitish Mishra, Bihar’s Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Information Technology, as the chief guest.
According to the institute, Mishra spoke about the growth of Bihar’s startup ecosystem and said the state now has more than 1,700 startups approved and funded by the Bihar government, within a wider ecosystem of nearly 5,000 startups.
The orientation programme also featured sessions by Dr. Ruchi Dhawan Sharma, Vice-President of Human Resources at IndiGo, and Lt Gen. Sandeep Singh, AVSM, Commandant of OTA Gaya.
The programme included an awareness session on cybercrime and keynote addresses by Amitabh Mohanty, Managing Director and CEO of JM Financial Asset Management Ltd; Satyendra Khare from Google; and Pintu Kumar Jain, Head of Training at Siemens Technology and Services.
Foundation Day Celebrations
The orientation programme was followed by Foundation Day celebrations, including a ceremonial cake-cutting and cultural performances by members of the IIM Bodh Gaya community.
Winners associated with National Sports Day celebrations were also honoured during the programme.
IIM Bodh Gaya, established in 2015, said it continues to focus on experiential learning, leadership training and research-driven management education. The institute is accredited by AACSB.
