New Delhi : Indian School of Business &Finance (ISBF), a Featured Teaching Institution of the London School of Economics (LSE), conducted its fifteenth Orientation Ceremony, and the first virtual one, on September 13th, 2020. Director, Economics & Policy of Vedanta Resources Ltd, Mr. Dhiraj Nayyar, graced the occasion as Guest of Honour while Mr. Kamlesh Kumar Sharma, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd joined the ceremony as a Special Guest. Both shared their views with the incoming undergraduate and postgraduate students as members of the panel for a discussion on “Signal vs Substance: Will the Balance Shift for Post-COVID Recruitments?”, and were joined by ISBF alumna and CaaStle Program Manager Ms.Kanika Khurana.
Besides the 100+ students of the class of 2020, their parents and guardians also stayed glued to their gadgets throughout the ceremony which was also attended by esteemed dignitaries and ISBF stakeholders including the Chairperson, Director, Dean Academics, Chief Operating Officer and members of the faculty and staff.
Speaking about the present situation, Mr. Nayyar said that, “Education from institutes like ISBF where the curriculum is set and assessed by London School of Economics will help the students get access to the most coveted global jobs. The curriculum from institutes like LSE also encourages students to attain skills that are required to think beyond the textbooks, leading them to innovate and excel in their desired fields. Also, keeping in mind the changing landscape, it is essential that the students stay adaptable to the rapid changes and hone their analytical skills which would get them an edge over their competition.”
Mr. Kamlesh Kumar Sharma agreed, saying that, “Education from institutes like LSEwould surely help you get access to the esteemed jobs and with the advent of AI into operations, more and more companies are now looking for people with substance. For working with clients and teams across geographies and time zones, it is quintessential for a contender to possess qualities like compassion, empathy and trustworthiness.”
Sharing her corporate and entrepreneurial experience with the incoming batch, ISBF alumna Ms. Khurana said, “A degree from an esteemed institution like [UOL and] LSE is surely a signal to the world that you have gone through a rigorous learning curve and have acquired and honed the substance that is required to do the job. The market is seeing a decline in the demand for generalists and an increase in the demand for specialists. Thus, moving forward, students must plan their career in a way that helps them take advantage of this trend.”
The purpose of the Orientation Ceremony was to introduce and welcome new students and their families to the ISBF community. The event was also a means to familiarise the incoming students with the ethos of being an ISBF student and the role that LSE and University of London play in this ecosystem.
Dr. Jitin Chadha, Founder & Director, ISBF, while addressing students at the start of the ceremony said, “You’re the chosen few who have been admitted to the programmes directed by LSE, which has been the college of choice for at least 15 Nobel Laureates and over 30 global leaders. ISBF provides you with the opportunity to gain access to globally relevant courses while studying in India.” Talking about the rich heritage the new students are coming into, he stated, “Coming into a legacy of ISBF graduates who have gone on to pursue further study at the world’s leading institutions, work for eminent firms like Morgan Stanley, McKinsey and others, or carved their niche as entrepreneurs already put you in a league of achievers. Thank you for entrusting us with this important phase of your life.”
Capturing the essence of the programmes at ISBF, Dr. G.L. Tayal, Dean Academics, ISBF, said, “ISBF promotes academic freedom and intellectual inquiry while treating students as mature individuals who are ready and believe in meaningful learning.”
The ceremony also saw ISBF’s eminent faculty group be introduced to everyone present and contained a segment for the introduction of the ISBF Student Council 2020-21 too.
