Tag: leadership

Exploring the Leadership Role in Public Service

Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership (PGAL) at IIT Kharagpur is back again with a Leadership Talk Series and this time with the most renowned and celebrated leaders of  time, Mr. Amitabh Kant, Ex-CEO of NITI Aayog and India’s G-20 Sherpa who will speak on Leadership in Public Service on 28th May 2024. He is the man who is an exceptional bureaucrat and a driving force behind transformative initiatives such as ‘Make in India,’ ‘Start Up India,’ and ‘Ease of Doing Business.’ His deep understanding of ethical leadership, inclusive policymaking, and innovative mobility solutions has positioned him as one of India’s most influential thought leaders. Mr. Kant’s visionary approach has significantly contributed to shaping India’s economic landscape and fostering an environment of growth and innovation.

PGAL is excited to share the latest updates and developments from the academy, where they are dedicated to nurturing and empowering the leaders of tomorrow. The Academy of Leadership gears up to conduct a Leadership Talk Series on Cultivating Ethical Leadership by bridging the universe within with the universe outside. Recently, the academy had the privilege of running an intensive Leadership Training program for the National Informatics Centre (NIC). This program was specially designed to equip NIC professionals with the skills and insights necessary to navigate and lead in the rapidly evolving landscape of information technology and digital governance.

The comprehensive curriculum covered a wide range of topics including strategic thinking, effective communication, change management, and innovation. Through interactive workshops, case studies, and practical exercises, participants were able to develop a deeper understanding of leadership principles and how to apply them in their daily roles. The feedback from NIC participants has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the transformative impact of the training on their professional lives.

Empowering the Ministry of Education

In addition to working with NIC, the academy of leadership has also conducted a leadership training program for the Ministry of Education. This initiative aimed to enhance the leadership capabilities of education sector professionals, enabling them to drive reforms and improvements within the educational system.

We are thrilled to announce an incredible opportunity to attend a virtual lecture by the esteemed Mr. Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa and former CEO of NITI Aayog. This event, organized by the Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership at IIT Kharagpur, promises to be a source of invaluable insights and inspiration for all attendees.

Featured Speakers 🎤
In addition to Mr. Kant, they are honored with the presence of:
  • Dr. Partha S. Ghosh: A distinguished scholar and leader in his own right, who will offer his insights on leadership and strategic thinking.
  • Commander VK Jaitly: With extensive experience in leadership and management, he will provide a compelling perspective on effective organizational dynamics.
Monthly International Leadership Talk Series

One of the highlights of the leadership academy is the Monthly International Leadership Talk Series, where they host world-renowned leaders to discuss various aspects of “Leadership Education” and more. These online sessions are an incredible opportunity for aspiring leaders to gain insights from some of the most influential figures in the field of leadership.

Each month, a distinguished speaker shares their experiences, challenges, and strategies for effective leadership. Topics range from global leadership trends to personal development and resilience. Our recent sessions have featured leaders from diverse backgrounds, including corporate executives, thought leaders, and innovators.

The Academy encourages everyone to join these insightful sessions to learn from the best and stay updated on the latest trends in leadership. To stay informed about upcoming talks and other programs, be sure to follow the respective social media channels.

Follow Us on Social Media

To keep the community engaged and informed, the academy actively shares leadership tips, updates, and announcements on their social media channels. Whether you are looking for daily inspiration, practical advice, or information about their programs, the social media platforms are a valuable resource.

By following PGAL, you will be the first to know about their latest initiatives, upcoming events, and exclusive content. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay connected and be part of our growing community of leaders.

Partha Ghosh Academy of Leadership is committed to provide world-class leadership education and training. Their programs for NIC and the Ministry of Education, coupled with our International Leadership Talk Series, are designed to inspire and empower leaders across various sectors.

We invite you to join us on this journey of learning and growth. Participate in their programs, attend their monthly talks, and follow us on social media to stay updated and engaged. Together, we can build a future where effective, compassionate, and innovative leadership drives positive change.

Feel free to contact us for more information:

Inputs by: Partho Ghosh Academy of Leadership Team
Email: s93majee@gmail.com

Edited By: Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur; Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
For news visit: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/ 

The Home called Alma Mater – The Class of KGPian Millennials

Homecoming 2022 of the 10th, 15th & 20th Graduates of IIT KGP

Every happiness of yesterday is a memory for tomorrow. Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. This feeling was revived by our class of KGPian Millennials who revisited the home that nourished and shaped them…to make them what they are today. From 17th to 20th August 2022, along the lines of IIT Kharagpur’s 72nd Foundation Day, the institute welcomed the classes of 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010 & 2012 batches who held nothing but gratitude and affection for their Alma Mater. Their eyes sparkled with joy, that they shared with the Campus, the Professors, the Staffs and the entire IIT KGP community that welcomed them with the plethora of belongingness they had bid farewell to. With lots of transitions that encountered them at their first glace to the institute, the essence of the institute with the starry night and the dancing trees stood ecstatic.

IIT Kharagpur’s Homecoming is an annual quest of memorabilia that happens every year. Since 2018, batches who have completed 20, 15 and 10 years of association with the Institute from the date of joining the institute, assemble to rejoice the coming together of Alums celebrating the institute’s birthday on 18 August with their overwhelming presence in the campus. The air inside the campus breathes differently when its Homecoming, a Celebration of the Wishful Bonds, together with students, faculty members and campus residents. This year, the campus honoured the Young Alumni Achievers for the year 2022 for their technological developments, innovative researches, service towards the community, service towards the nation, leadership and entrepreneurial skills, governance and administration, social impact and social welfare, contributions towards nation building and other professional accomplishments. IIT Kharagpur is proud to recognize its outstanding, notable and accomplished young alumni, who have made distinguished and outstanding contributions in their respective domains and areas.

Prof. Debashish Chakravarty, Associate Dean, Alumni Affairs & Branding announced the names of the awardees who were conferred the Alumni Endowed Student Scholarship. He stated that, “These awards are instituted by none other than the Alumni themselves. Under the eligibility of certain criterion and depending on the number of applicants, the winners have been recognized. I congratulate all the awardees and thank all the Alums who connected with us in this Homecoming 2022.”

So much has changed since the last time I came herein 2010, I literally was unable to locate Cheddi while entering IIT KGP says Mr. Swapnil Tembe [2009/B.Tech/ME/RP]. The Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills District in Meghalaya left Deloitte in 2011 to become an IAS officer reminisces his long journey. Upon asking how he would like to get connected with his Alma Mater he said, “On the grounds of social entrepreneurship, policy reforms, with the new disciplines coming in the amalgamation of technology and public policy, how technology can assist public services, how we can collaborate with technology to brush up public services etc. He further suggested in identifying the problems, with a proforma of questions on the respective fields where things can be executed and the solutions or comprehending researches can give the solutions accordingly. He added , ” The IIT KGP is a huge community out there, even in my state there are officers from IIT Kharagpur, therefore the local meet-ups is necessary that will keep the continuity and strengthen associations with the Alma Mater. Many of the batch mates are spread across different regions, so if we could have regional conclaves for North-East zone and other zones as well, to get more participation and collaborations eventually. He stressed on Career Counselling saying that you should do things that you love otherwise it is just a job. It feels really great to be recognized by your own Alma Mater.”

Walked past those memory lanes Mr. Abhishek Kumar Yadav [2006/B.Tech/CH/AZ] Founder Chairman & Academic Director at Griffins International School remarked, “Even after getting so many awards from all over the world, there is nothing like getting recognized by your Alma Mater. I think all the IITians love the atmosphere here. After working for a period of time, I thought of starting something of my own but Entrepreneurship was something that excited me, so I came back  to India and set a factory in Kharagpur. Interestingly IIT Kharagpur did not use the Green Technology up until then so I met the professors and convinced them that we should go for Green Technology because now the competition is not among states or countries, it is at a global level.

A wave of emotions filled up as he made his way to visit his classrooms, Mr. Saroj Kumar Thakur [2006/DD/EC/AZ], District Superintendent of Police, Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu (IPS) said, “It is a totally different feeling to receive the Young Alumni Achieve’s Award. I have been here 5 years from 2001 to 2006, so all those things are coming back to me. The campus is much more greener and beautiful than it was before and the Azad Hall where I was, has also changed quite a lot which is a very pleasant surprise for me. I believe in the fact that if an IITian of Kharagpur cannot do something, nobody in the world can do it, not even god (laughs). He advised everyone to take up civil services says,”Everybody should prepare for UPSC because while studying for UPSC, I came to know the entire history, geography and the whole constitution of India. These studies help you to understand your country better, from inside out. Frankly speaking, I have not given back anything to my Alma Mater till now but I am ready to oblige to any of the requests that my Institution asks from me. He smirks and adds that now its upon my Alma Mater, anything that I can contribute personally, any help that is needed from my department as well I will happily comply. With immense pride I say this sitting here that whatever I am today is because of my Alma Mater.”

Walking along the green stretches of the campus, Mr. Abhinav Kumar [2008/B.Tech/CH/LLR], Divisional Forest Officer, Hapoli Forest Division, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh (IFS) remarked, ” It is good to be back after 8 years. Interestingly, while I was here, I did not get any medals but I must really add that getting into IIT Kharagpur is an achievement itself and something to be proud of yourself as well as for your family. It feels ecstatic when your Alma mater calls you up to honour you with an award, it is an happiness that cannot be defined in words. In the outside world, IIT Kharagpur is a brand and I feel this huge gratitude, it is really a great honour. Today we need good people in the government services as you have to be the change you want to see in the world around you. I think with the young generation coming in the civil services, we can indulge in a greater vision for the country. I would love to indulge people in providing meaningful direction and my Alma Mater is the best place to start with it.”

Ankit Jain [2013/B.Tech/MT/PH], Co-Founder, GDi Partners says, ” The institute has produced many Alumni to do wonderful things in life making us confident to seek ambition and do great things which was very evident when I started working after college. I would like to apologize to the institute for not being connected to the Institute from the last few years. After sharing our thoughts with Directors and other professors I would like to be associated more with the Institute with the immediate support that is required.”

Prof. Jayanta Mukhopadhyay, Dean Outreach & Alumni Affairs said, “From the corporate world to sports to entrepreneurs to civil servants, we find KGPians in every sphere of our society. All of our Alums are striving for excellence in their respective fields bearing proud signature of IIT Kharagpur every year. With my short association with the Alumni Affairs as Dean, I had innumerable happy interactions with our Alums who are so very passionate towards their Alma Mater. Literally, IIT KGP Fraternity is the epitome of age old mantra of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. During the last two and a half years of the pandemic, we received tremendous help and support in various forms, from our Alumni not only for our faculty, staff and students but also, to reaching out to our greater community whom we consider inseparable in our ecosystem. We would be celebrating Platinum Jubilee function of IIT Kharagpur which would mark 75 years of the Institute’s foundation, from 18 August 2025 to 17 August 2026, and have various programmes to be celebrated year long, not only here but in different cities and places where our Alums have a strong presence. We look forward to your active and passionate participation in the celebration.”

86 years old Mr. Saripalle Satyamurthy, an Alumnus from the second batch of IIT Kharagpur after its formation in 1951 inspired everybody with his presence & was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award 2020, unable to collect due to the pandemic. He said, ” Its after 66 years that I actually came to my campus. Embarking on a poignant memory again, he added, “All of my contemporaries are gone now, I wanted to visit the campus with them. It was thrilling and exciting when Prime Minister announce my name for the Distinguished Alumnus Award 2020, all my family and friends were really excited. With my Alma Mater, I wanted to be connected with the new things that they are developing especially for the rural community in regard to Rural Development Organization, any machinery or technology that will be beneficial to them and that should be made efficient using modern technology. Consideration should be made for the people for whom the technology is being made. With the reasonable income that I have, I wanted to contribute something to the hostels for renovations and I want to participate in the redevelopment of rooms.”

Campus tour, engagement programmes, department visit and strategic meetings, the Office of Alumni Affairs welcomed the Homecomers of 2022 in a pursuit of endearing fondness and helped them to revisit their Alma Mater in a more profound way. Discussions, meetings, brainstorming, cultural inhibitions, concrete ideations and entertaining all the fads of the Alumni, their endeavors has helped the institution to raise many endowments for institutional development. Ms. Swagata Nimaiyar(2002/BTech/AG/SN/IG) has pledged for an endowment of three lakh rupees during Homecoming 2022. IIT Kharagpur is grateful to the Alumni fraternity for their continuous support and guidance.

Inputs from : Office of the Alumni, IIT Kharagpur
Email : anamika.das@adm.iitkgp.ac.in

Interviewed by : Rituparna Chakraborty, Office of the Alumni, IIT Kharagpur
Email : rituani07@gmail.com

Edited by : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

Follow us: Facebook – IIT Kharagpur;  Twitter – @IITKgp;  Instagram – @iit.kgp; LinkedIn – Indian Institute of Technology
For news visit: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/

New Faces in Administration

IIT Kharagpur has recently welcomed new faces in various administrative roles. From academic units to R&D units to Institute maintenance, the Institute has geared up to step-up its activities under new leadership.

Prof. Goutam Saha, Professor, Dept. of Electronics & Electrical Communication Engineering has been appointed as the Dean of Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur. In the past Prof. Saha has headed the IPR office at IIT Kharagpur. The school has been recently ranked 4th in the NIRF rank announced by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India scoring high on parameters of Teaching, Learning & Resources and Research and Professional Practice.

Vinod Gupta School of Management too welcomes new Dean Prof. Pradip K Ray from the Dept. of Industrial & Systems Engineering. The business school of IIT Kharagpur recently celebrated its success in the NIRF rank for being among the top 5 in the India’s management academic discipline.

Two stalwarts from the Dept. of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering will now be spearheading innovations. While Prof. Siddhartha Das took over as the Managing Director, Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Park, Prof. Shiv Brat Singh has been appointed as the Chairman of the Steel Technology Centre

IIT Kharagpur’s 2100 acre campus and a campus population close to 25000 involves extensive administration. In view of this, a vertical has been created with Prof. Khanindra Pathak from Dept. of Mining Engineering as Dean, Infrastructure. He has now been joined by two associate deans, Prof. Aurobinda Routray from the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, who will be heading of Electrical Works, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Unit and Prof. Arghya Deb from the Dept. of Civil Engineering, as the head of Civil Construction & Maintenance, Water, Sanitary & Horticulture. 

We wish them great success in their endeavours to scale new heights in their leadership roles.

VGSOM Assigns COVID Case Study

IIT Kharagpur’s Vinod Gupta School of Management assigns Pandemic Case Study for Organizational Leadership education

It has been almost 2 weeks since the teaching and learning at IIT Kharagpur has gone virtual. The Center for Educational Technology at the Institute has been using the online interface Webex for conducting classes across all levels of study. Shorter sessions are also being conducted through Zoom. 

Several research groups are also conducting studies on people’s perception and behaviour towards COVID-19 through progression of time. In one such initiative, the Vinod Gupta School of Management, business school in India of IIT Kharagpur ranked among the top ten in India, has launched a project based on COVID-19 pandemic. The project titled “Invisible Leadership and the CoronaVirus Pandemic” is being assigned 126 students in the second year MBA class at the School as part of the Organisational Leadership course.

Speaking about the project Prof. Susmita Mukhopadhyay said, “Pandemic or any other wide spread disease such as COVID-19 demand exemplary leadership and decision-making capabilities to manage finances, human resources, supply chain and overall business operations. Managers if prepared for desperate times may even plan and improvise the desperate measures. The project aims to teach the students to see the power of invisible leadership in the fight against a pandemic.”

“Leadership is more about taking tough decisions now while keeping the greater good in mind than appeasing your countrymen with misleading information. Covid-19 has turned every one of us into soldiers fighting for the very survival of our species and the real leader here is invisible. So when we miss the leader micromanaging things, we look inward for leadership,” said Pinak Samui, student at VGSOM.

The students will be studying the facts from diverse shades of leadership and understand the ethical issues connected to such situations as COVID-19 pandemic. They will also explore whether the Pandemic itself has acted as an invisible leader in enhancing work-life balance of people, cohabitation of species and environmental sustainability.

“We have given the topic to the students to have a free flow of thought and explore the topic from various perspectives, frame the case based on archival news and keep track of day to day developments and strategies undertaken by governments and other related stakeholders. We plan to develop business case studies based on the project output,” remarked Prof Biplab Datta.

Student Feedback:

“This assignment has helped us to keep track of the COVID-19 situation and all related happenings as they are happening around the world. It also helped us to dive deep into the invisible leadership principle and apply the same, in order to add a new perspective to the current situation, just like looking through a different lens,” said a student Pritam Sharma.

 

Sharing about his learning, another student Aniket Sanyal said, “Leaders, who can take quick actions, who are flexible in adapting their bold decisions to suit the needs of a situation, will have more success in a crisis environment.”

Alumnus to Donate USD 1 Million for Academy of Leadership at IIT KGP

Economic Times    Hindustan Times   Indian Express  Financial Express   Business Standard   Jagran Josh  NDTV  The Week

IIT KGP is all set to establish India’s first of its kind Academy of Leadership envisioning the advancement of education. The academy intends to develop innovative programmes combining the core curricula in science and engineering disciplines with philosophy, reasoning, and liberal arts.

“It is indeed an opportune time to expand the scope of the value proposition of the academic excellence at IIT Kharagpur by developing the next phase education process. This is to be based not only on scientific and technical training but the teachings of ancient philosophies, reasoning, intuitive thinking, systems engineering and the past successes and failures of humanity,” remarked Prof. P P Chakrabarti, Director, IIT Kharagpur. He is optimistic that this initiative will place students of IIT Kharagpur on the fast track to be creative problem solvers and inspiring leaders, both in their professional careers and in their communities.

The Partha S. Ghosh Academy of Leadership, will be seed funded for USD 1 million by distinguished alumnus, a renowned management consultant/strategist and philanthropist Partha S. Ghosh, who is often addressed as a “creative problem solver” and a “visionary leader” by government and industry leaders across multiple nations in the Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

“I firmly believe that in the next 25 years the world economy will undergo profound changes which civilization has never experienced before. Industries and governments will need to reinvent the basic tenets of capitalism implying the fundamental transformation of industry and economic models,” opined Ghosh, currently Professor of Practice at Tufts University, former partner at McKinsey & Company and founder/ Managing Director of Strategy/Policy advisory firm Partha S. Ghosh & Associates.

“Under this academy, programmes would be developed to nurture leadership qualities in individuals, organizations and ignite the young minds for a larger goal in life, enable in leaders of various walks and segments of life to share their perspectives and help instil each individual with the power to prosper their leadership potential, making it a vibrant self-sufficient academy with a global reputation,” added Prof. Chakrabarti.

The initiative has been facilitated by Ron Gupta, President, IIT Kharagpur Foundation USA who along with Prof. Subrata Chattopadhyay, Dean, Alumni Affairs and Avinash Gupta Chair Professor at the Dept. of Architecture & Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur, led the talks with Partha S Ghosh during a visit by IIT KGP delegates to USA in September this year which were finalized on the 125th Anniversary of the Chicago speech of Swami Vivekananda. The MoU has been signed on the august occasion of Bapu-ji’s 150th birth anniversary on October 2, 2018.

“The IIT Kharagpur Foundation of USA is proud to have facilitated the creation of the Partha S. Ghosh Academy of Leadership. The Foundation will stay involved with the initiative through the entire execution phase. Through its extensive distinguished alumni network, the Foundation will also provide visiting faculty to supplement the Program,” said Ron Gupta.

Courses at the academy will be open to students at all levels; faculty and staff from the Institute confirmed Dean, Undergraduate Studies Prof. S K Barai.