Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management, Hyderabad conducted its 21st convocation ceremony for PGDM batch of 2013-15 on 19 September (Saturday) at the campus in Hyderabad. Students turned professional managers and entrepreneurs received their PGDM degree after having completed over 22 months of rigorous training where students were trained to be industry ready using learning mechanisms such as seminars, classroom discussions, career vision schooling, research, summer internship program, student forum, workshops and many more.
A total of 195 students were awarded their diplomas at the convocation ceremony, out of whom 4 are entrepreneurs and the remaining students are presently part of leading firms like deloitte, IBM, practo, Abbott, HDFC bank, Asian paints, Cognizant etc.
The event presided over by Prof. Bala V Balachandran, J L Kellogg Distinguished Professor (Emeritus in service) of Accounting and Information Management Northwestern University, USA delivered the convocation address. Also present at the ceremony was Mr. Krishnaiah, vice president of Vignana Jyothi Society, Dr.Kamal Ghosh Ray, Director, VJIM and Dr.D.N Rao, General Secretary of Vignana Jyothi Society along with other board members, faculty and students of the institute.
As the graduates were eagerly waiting to take their degrees, the event started at the sound of trumpets blowing welcoming the chief guests. The Ceremony at VJIM began with Vice-president giving an introductory speech during which he motivated the students to not to forget their value systems, work ethics and humanity. The ceremony continued with the Director Dr. Kamal Ghosh Ray presenting the annual report where he highlighted the institute’s performance and achievements of the students. He mentioned that
88 companies across sectors visited the college for placements during 21st batch and 49 of them reported the college about the students making their mark in their company. The highest package offered was 9 lakhs p.a. with the mean package being 4.5 lakhs p.a. These students also underwent their summer internship program with leading organizations in the country, which helped them further in gaining industrial experience. Dr. Ray, Director, VJIM also highlighted the use of various innovative teaching methodologies in addition to the “chalk and talk” system. Dr. D.N Rao, General Secretary made the students take the oath that they will be honest, truthful in discharging their duties and also put their energy in promoting the unity of the country.
Honorable chief guest Prof. Bala V Balachandran handed over the diplomas and special awards of merit to deserving students. Gold medal for Best Academic performance was awarded to Ms. M.S Sharanya and Silver medal for best all-rounder was awarded to Ms. Ridhima Gupta. A total of 9 awards and 7 book prices were awarded to students of various specialisations. The award winners are as follows:
- Ramachandra Reddy medal of Ethical standards- M.S Sharanya
- Gopal Rao Gold medal in Finance- Ridhima Gupta
- Kapuri Devi Gold medal in Operations- M.S Sharanya
- Thummala Madhav Rao medal in Operations-Neetu Mariyamvadhi
- Alumni award in Finance-Ridhima gupta
- Punaihah Gold medal in Marketing –G.Aparna
Interestingly, all the 16 awards were won by the female cadidates of the batch exhibiting the girl power.
The ceremony continued with Chief Guest Prof. Bala V Balachandran addressing the gathering before which he was introduced to audience as an eminent person who is commonly known as “uncle Bala”. Prof. Bala with his 5 decades’ teaching experience has been a complete source of inspiration to the nation’s youth since years. He won the Padmasri Award and is the founder of Great Lakes University, Chennai. He is also known for his in-depth knowledge in the field of Mergers and Acquisitions and has been a professor in Kellogg School of business, US for years before returning to India.
During the keynote address, Prof. Bala V Balachandran said that the future of the world is in India and Future of India is in students. With regard to VJIM, he said that the institute is putting its vision into practice. He also told the students to be energetic, passionate, materialistic and distinct. He said “don’t believe in being at the top floor of elevation, the only direction it can move is to come down”. According to him, the motto of every management students should be Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He also said- “to be successful one should leave his ego.” During his speech Prof. Bala delivered inspiring lines like “be distinct or extinct” and “network is your net worth”. Finally he concluded by saying that fundamental principles of life includes a practice like “have a passion with compassion, add little humility to our ability, add little nobility to your mobility and succeed with integrity and achieve with humility and be what you want be.”
Over the years VJIM has earned the enviable reputation of being one of the finest business schools. Business standard placed the institute in top 15% B schools of the country. The strength of the institute lies in its diversity, be it in its academic, ethnic or social. The institute presently boasts of outstanding students, excellent infrastructure and the best talent that make up its core faculty.
The ceremony closed with the trumpets singing the national anthem and all the graduates went back in absolute glee.
– Report compiled by student PR committee, VJIM