Bodhgaya: IIM Bodh Gaya held its two- day Orientation Programme on July 6 and 7, welcoming a diverse cohort of new students for the academic year. The institute inducted a total of 496 students, including 302 into the 10th batch of its flagship MBA programme, 92 into the second MBA-DBM programme, 91 into the second MBA-HHM programme, and 11 scholars into the PhD programme.
The new MBA batch comprises 302 students, of whom 73 are female. Among these students, 101 have an average work experience of 22 months. The batch has a diverse academic background, with 53.16% from engineering disciplines and 46.84% from non-engineering fields. The MBA-DBM programme welcomed 92 students, including 18 females, with 23.1% coming from non-engineering backgrounds. The MBA-HHM programme added 91 students, including 15 females, with a majority (83.5%) from non-engineering backgrounds.
The PhD programme admitted 11 new scholars, including 5 females, in areas such as Finance, Operations Management, Economics, Information Technology Systems and Analytics, Marketing, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, and Strategy and Entrepreneurship. These scholars come from diverse academic backgrounds, including Marketing, Commerce, Economics, Computer Science Engineering, IT, Operations Management, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Research, and Psychology.
The student cohort represents a wide array of disciplines, including Engineering, Arts, Commerce, Accountancy, Management, Banking, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Hotel and Tourism Management, Agriculture, Horticulture, Pharmacy, Law, and Architecture. This diversity underscores IIM Bodh Gaya’s commitment to academic and gender inclusivity.
The Orientation Programme began with a Vedic chanting performance and a Bharatanatyam recital of Ganesh Vandana, setting a vibrant tone for the event. Distinguished speakers addressed the students, offering valuable insights during interactive sessions.
Dr. Vinita Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya, warmly welcomed the new batch, highlighting the institute’s focus on nurturing mindful and socially responsible business leaders. Chief guest Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Secretary of the Agriculture & Transport Department, Government of Bihar, encouraged students to define their purpose and aim high.
Kamal Nath, CEO of Sify Technologies, discussed the impact of AI on industry, noting the widening gap between acquired and demanded skills. He urged students to prepare for future challenges. Siddharth Satpathy, Vice President of HR – Talent and Culture at CAMS, emphasized adaptability in the evolving job market, echoing Nath’s views on bridging the skills gap.
Vivek Jha, Head of Strategy & Operations at Global Drug Development, Novartis India, emphasized resilience, drawing inspiration from resilient individuals in families. Sunil Thakur, Partner at Quadria Capital, differentiated between professional and entrepreneurial talent, highlighting the development and discovery of skills, respectively.
Gautam Kumra, Senior Partner and Chairman – Asia at McKinsey & Company, emphasized the importance of competition context over methods employed. Abhishek Ranjan, Senior Director & Global Head at Brillio, shared insights on personal growth, describing transition as a lifelong journey.
The first day concluded with “Novicia 3.0,” a cultural event showcasing the talents of both existing and new students through dance performances, poetry recitations, and singing.
The second day featured sessions by Navneet Nilendra, an International Art of Living teacher and wellness coach, who linked the quality of life to the state of one’s mind. Prof. Pankaj Kumar, Associate Professor at Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech, advised students to choose their battles wisely and maintain composure. Dr. Neeta Nagar, Managing Director – Client Account Leadership at Accenture, emphasized proactive problem-solving, urging students to drive solutions rather than merely adjust.
The Orientation Programme concluded with faculty members providing students with valuable information about MBA policies and various committees presenting their activities, ensuring that students are well-informed and prepared for their journey at IIM Bodh Gaya.
