Our Mission is to Serve Humanity and Eradicate Poverty, says Dr Samrat Ray, Head of International Relations, IIMS Pune

In an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, Dr Samrat Ray talked about IIMS Pune's unwaveringly commitment to the noble cause of nation-building by aligning with World Bank-proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IIMS mission's is to serve humanity and eradicate poverty, offering education to all, regardless of gender, race, or religion.

Dr Samrat Ray is currently serving as Dean and Head of International Relations in IIMS Pune spearheading Institutional reforms, strategy and Global affairs. Dr Ray has completed his PhD from a global top 100 university according to QS ranking in St Petersburg Russia in the field of economics and management from Peter the Great Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University, Russia. 

Q1. What are the three things that your institute is doing that will enable it to differentiate itself from the competition?

 We at IIMS, Pune are quite unique in key deliverables including aligning to nation-building through World Bank propounded SDGs to serve humanity and mankind through poverty eradication, education for all irrespective of gender race, and religion, and inclusive governance through international acclaim accreditations like AACSB, AMBA BGA, EFMD membership which we got in very short span of time. We imbibe technological innovations through bringing in cutting edge financial technology like Bloomberg, Business simulations like CESIM, and KPMG as well as empowering student and faculty research output through institutional support through an advanced strategic partnership with Turnitin. We are unique again in bringing in Ethics, integrity and 3D-like Diversity, Digital transformation and Disruption in student-centric empowerment fostering holistic growth and attracting prized firms in recruiting our students We are justifying our stand of excellence through national and international recognitions and an action-based academic strategy which is ever expanding globally and aligning to true India way of ethics, tradition and a century-long educational excellence which we inculcate in our students. We are a true educational temple wherein every stakeholder is given equality, diversity, and leadership freedom to bring in true contributions to institutional growth and heritage building.

Q2. What are the top three initiatives undertaken by you that are helping your students become more industry-ready?

 We at IIMS, Pune Are making our student industry ready through 3D which is diversity, digital transformation through strategic tie-ups with leading technology firms in training and developments, and preparing the change needed for disruption through applications of necessary management skills that are globally relevant and need of hour.

 Q3. What are the key attributes that a student should have in order to qualify for your institution and perform well?

 Our students are handpicked and qualified enough to take on leadership positions in industry through 2Is like Innovation and Inclusion. We at IIMS, Pune give our students the freedom to explore a humane side of global knowledge through ethical judgments, inclusion and holistic thought leadership where extracurricular activities are balanced with domain knowledge to make them fit for a changing landscape in industry. We not only judge a student by his past educational metrics but give ample reliance on character building, discipline and spiritual empowerment to make him fulfilled with human values for excellence.

 Q4. Which programme/s would you say is/are your best? What is it that helps your institution differentiate itself for this programme?

Our flagship programme of PGDM is prized and is among the best programme globally. We are members of prestigious international bodies like AACSB, EFMD, AMBA BGA which adds value in placing our programme at par with the best B schools globally. Our foreign collaborations, MOU with leading universities in Europe, USA and Asia have been a testimony to our reverse brand recognition. We are student-centric and support our students with both hard and soft skills in changing polarity globally and firm-based competitive advantages by imbibing new technological awareness through collaborative projects, workshops, seminars, industry interfaces as well as talks by leading international experts. Our campus is a destination for excellence in research work wherein faculties are involved in cross-border research, patents, copyrights, and entrepreneurial university productions. We are also home to Edtech Startups and support Triple helix mode of leadership and governance. Our institute has a robust international strategy in alignment to the educational liberalization of the Government of India and NEP policy where we try to garner international thought leadership in our students through participative governance, expert sessions, and visits by top university professors from Qs ranked universities. Our PGDM program is selectively curated with the changing needs of the industry wherein we follow stringent academic policy and integrity putting Student first philosophy and nurturing their SWOT through innovation.

Q5. What are you doing to improve/drive better campus placements for your current students and alumni? What kind of jobs routinely come to campus? What would you say are the key recruitment trends for your college (observed over the past five)?

We at the core of our functionality are driven by student success through 3D which is diversity, digital transformation and disruption blended with 2Is which are innovation and inclusion. Our brand is young, aspirational and bursting with energy and charm which attract more than 200 leading national and international companies who for past five years or more has endowed faith and allegiance to our educational policies. We involve industry practitioners and leading global experts in our academic policy and strategy making which has a humane character building imbibed in it aligned to global needs like sustainability, green finance, climate change, ESG and poverty eradication through innovative grassroots policies. We have built this humane character through ages by not only empowering ethics and integrity with students but also nurturing youth for nation-building and being part of economic growth and resilience of India as a nation. Our institutional recruitment policy are dependent on ethical best practices wherein multidisciplinary outputs ranging from traditional finance to advanced big data have often been a integral part of most sought after loops. Our students are fast-paced and are sought after by Big 4 firms as well as leading Fortune 500 global companies who have time again entrusted their beliefs on our academic integrity. The trends are positively blend with absorption of 100 percent students which are diverse and inclusive from Strat ups, and unicorns to leading Big 4 consulting firms. Our placement initiatives are curated for excellence as we firmly believe in creating true Indian economic growth through not only job creation but also adding value to the lives of our students. Being an aspirational segment we justify our success through the increasing number of international placements and a strong alumni who don leadership positions spread globally