IMT Brings GBSN To India For The First Time: Networking Leads To Growth

Online, June 25, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Over 50 top international B-Schools from 37 countries participated in India's first GBSN conference that took off to a glorious start on June 11, 2012.

Efficiently organized and planned to the last minute, the Global Business School Network (GBSN) 7th annual conference, was held in Delhi, India for the first time from June 11, 2012 to June 14, 2012. The theme for 2012 was Making the Connection: Management Education Powering Development. Hosted by IMT Ghaziabad, the conference had over 150 delegates flying in from different parts of the world. The 37 represented countries included UK, USA, Switzerland, France, China, South Africa, Nigeria and Nepal were significantly represented.

Day one, 11 June, 2012

GBSN's India conference began with a warm-up session of meeting and greeting. It was followed by a review meeting where members from participating countries reviewed GBSN's global initiatives over the last one year.

Day two: 12 June, 2012

The Opening Session had stalwarts from business and politics and distinguished thought leaders addressing the conference. Shri Kamal Nath, Union Cabinet Minister of Urban Development (India) and President of the Board of Governors,IMT, emphasised the importance of a valuable management education in these challenging times. "The world is grappling with new challenges. More than sustaining growth, it is about managing growth, inclusive growth. A quality management education is one that combines international best practice with local relevance and is essential for India, and indeed the rest of the developing world to build businesses. Our country needs to move forward in today's global economy," he said.

Mr. Analjit Singh, Founder & Chairman of Max India Limited, took over from Shri Kamal Nath. During his address he talked of particular instances where a management background has actually made a difference. "The seventies were trying times for India with the emergency. The morale of the country was at a dismal low. Under such circumstances we had some very nice examples: one is of Dr. Ravi John Mathai who had just stepped down from being Director of IIM Ahmadabad. He took charge of a 200 village cluster called Jawaja in Rajasthan. The government had given up hope on about 100,000 natives living in those villages saying that it was impossible for any sort of development to reach there. But Dr. Mathai was confident that with the application of management principles he could turn around this place. Working closely with his volunteers, and with IIM Ahmadabad, Dr. Mathai brought about what was deemed impossible." Today, Jawaja in Rajasthan has come a long way and is economically independent.

India, according to Guy Pfeffermann, CEO, Global Business School Network (USA) has immense management talent. However, that talent needs direction. The over 3,000 Management institutes here need to connect and network with B-Schools in other parts of the world to give their students wider exposure and see things through different perspectives. "Our organization was founded on the principle that management education is critical for the developing world to move forward, and on the concept that by sharing ideas, resources and talents, we can make a real difference in people's lives. Each of the people present at the GBSN conference contributes to this important conversation and how good management is fundamental to the success of economic and social endeavours," he said.

Dr. Bibek Banerjee, Director, IMT Ghaziabad (India) was delighted to join hands with GBSN and hold an honest dialogue on how management education can improve the lives of millions, holistically and sustainably. "In the backdrop of increasing international flows of goods and services, capital, people and information, a universal education with a local flavour will truly satisfy the needs of the world and its economy. IMT has always been enthusiastic to build bridges and break barriers by forming international linkages."

Moderated by Dr. Soumitra Dutta, Incoming Dean, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, the Plenary Panel on Regional Trends in Business Education followed. It had Prof. Steven Dekrey, Senior Associate Dean, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (China ); Dr. Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School & Director, Association of African Business Schools (Nigeria); and Dr. Pankaj Chandra, Director, IIM Bangalore (India).

In his introduction, Dr. Soumitra Dutta said that Guy Pfeffermann's views were a testimony to his vision of 'built economics'. He believes in incorporating learning from management practices around the world. "The world is not as flat as we think. Would new challenges require new business models?" he asked.

The world needs more management talent which has a global perspective. That talent needs to be nurtured into readiness by faculty that has a strong core in region specific research. A developing country cannot replicate what is already there in developed countries.

"IIMs understand that India's diversity provides a platform to understand the difference between society and industries. Unlike what happens over the world, IIMs are schools of management rather than schools of business, with growth and education as its centre," Dr. Pankaj Chandra said.

This was then followed by the Breakout Sessions which deliberated on an agenda ranging from varied subjects:

Catalyzing Management Education in Africa
Sourcing, Scoping and Aligning Action Learning Projects
Going Beyond Accreditation: How to Measure Quality
Creative Approaches to Internationalization
Dean's Roundtable (Closed Session, Deans and Directors Only)
Successful Strategies: Executive Education for Emerging Markets
Incorporating Management Education into Development Efforts
Assessing Impact of Consulting for Small and Medium Enterprises by MBA Students

Mr. Mady Koanda, a delegate from International Institute for Water and Environmenta, Africa, was very impressed with the GBSN programme. "We are interested in launching a very competitive MBA programme, and I know that with GBSN we can form a good networking system. That's why I am here," he said at the gala dinner where delegates discussed the day's proceedings.

Day three: 13 June, 2012

The day began with Keynote Speaker Mr. Arun Maira, Planning Commission of India, talking on the Business Environment in India. He said that the country needed analysis of processes with some urgency. The processes shaping India are the same as for the world. There are basically four forces:

Global markets
Recognition of the political rights of the people
Force of communication: news, social networking and freedom of press
Recognition that we are running out of water, soil and atmosphere.

Our country needs to build their trust in institutions. "Business managers are becoming like calculators," Mr. Arun Maira emphasised. "They are doing what they are taught and are not sensitive to society themselves."

Mr. Maira's session deliberated on the following subjects:

Health: India manufactures medicines more inexpensively than the rest of the world and that is reason enough to move here.
Agribusiness: it is the biggest sector in the world and is in sharp focus because of climatic change and food security.
Sustainable Management & Corporate Social Responsibility: how to reduce the carbon footprint, corruption and greed.
Social Enterprises & Entrepreneurship: empower women. Face challenges in terms of the mindset of people.

Participants were offered industry visits.

Those interested in Health went to visit Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

The Agribusiness people were offered a visit to Mother Dairy.

Those inclined towards Sustainable Management & Corporate Social Responsibility were taken to GenPact.

Social Enterprises & Entrepreneurship people visited Sakha Consulting Wings.

Day four: 14 June, 2012

The GBSN conference participants were taken on a tour to IMT Ghaziabad and a visit to the famous Swaminarayan Akshardham temple.

At IMT Ghaziabad, students put up a cultural show that gave the delegates a taste of the Indian experience.

IMT Ghaziabad took the opportunity to declare its collaboration with three internationally acclaimed universities: ISS, Hamburg, Grenoble Ecole de Management, France and the Copenhagen Business School, Denmark. These connections have on their list joint research programmes, student and faculty exchange programmes and conducting joint management certification programmes.

A South African delegate on his tour back from IMT Ghaziabad campus, enthusiastically remarked - "I am glad I made it to GBSN this year. IMT and GBSN had so much to offer. Indeed, exchange of ideas and knowledge can transcend political borders. I am already looking forward to develop new collaborations for my school."