Manipal Academy of Higher Education Celebrates Founder’s Day to Mark the 126th Birth Anniversary of Dr T.M.A Pai

 2nd May 2024: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, celebrated the 126th birth anniversary of its founder Dr T.M.A Pai on Tuesday, 30 April 2024. Shri K. V. Kamath, Chairman, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) & Chairman, Jio Financial Services Ltd. was the Chief Guest of the event. The celebration was also attended by dignitaries from the Manipal Group like Mrs. Vasanti R Pai, Trustee, MAHE Trust, Dr Ranjan R Pai, President, MAHE Trust, Registrar, AGE & Chairman, MEMG, Bengaluru, Mr. T Ashok Pai, President, Dr. TMA Pai Foundation, Manipal, Mr. T Satish U Pai, Executive Chairman, Manipal Media Network Ltd., & Vice President, Academy of General Education, Dr. H S Ballal, Pro-Chancellor, MAHE & President, AGE, Manipal, Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh VSM (Retd.), Vice Chancellor, MAHE, Manipal. The event was also graced by several senior officials from the Manipal Group, making it a memorable celebration of Dr. T.M.A Pai’s legacy.

Each year Manipal Group of Institutions observes Founder’s Day on April 30th to honour and remember the legacy of Dr T.M.A Pai, the visionary founder of the Manipal Group, who transformed the once barren hilltop of Manipal into a globally renowned educational hub. This year’s celebration was marked by several programs, which began with a heartfelt floral tribute to Dr T.M.A Pai by all the distinguished guests and dignitaries.

Welcoming the audience, Dr H. S. Ballal, President, Academy of General Education & Pro-Chancellor, MAHE, Manipal, said, “On behalf of MAHE, I extend a warm welcome to everyone. As we gather here today to celebrate and remember the legacy of Dr T.M.A Pai this annual occasion holds great significance in our institution’s history as it commemorates the vision, dedication, and pioneering spirit of our esteemed founder”.

Remembering the journey of Dr. Pai, Dr Ballal further added, “Dr T.M.A Pai was a visionary for two reasons, he started an institute of general education to provide skill training for those who didn’t do academically well in their high school. His focus was to train them so they could become employable. Additionally, in 1952 he started one of its kind self-financing medical college in the private sector with the government.

Reflecting on the 126th birth anniversary of Dr Pai fills me with a profound sense of admiration. His pioneering spirit in education continues to guide the Academy of General Education (AGE) as we aim to nurture future leaders. Having witnessed MAHE’s incredible growth from a medical college to a premier university, I am proud to contribute as Pro-Chancellor. Today, let us all pay tribute to Dr Pai’s exceptional journey by dedicating ourselves to excellence in education and shaping responsible global citizens.”

The Chief Guest, Shri K. V. Kamath, Chairman, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) & Chairman, Jio Financial Services Ltd., addressed the audience present and spoke about the remarkable vision of Dr T.M.A Pai and his profound efforts in revolutionising the Indian Education System. He said, “It is an honour to be here at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, celebrating the 126th birth anniversary of its founder, Dr T.M.A Pai. Dr Pai’s vision and dedication to education serves as a beacon of inspiration for us all and his legacy lives on in the success of MAHE, a true pioneer in Indian education that stands as a powerhouse of knowledge and innovation. I remember him for his pioneering efforts and ability to think through the challenges which existed at the time when there was limited conversations and awareness around the need of providing education. As we celebrate Dr Pai’s remarkable journey, let us all pledge to rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of knowledge and excellence to ensure a brighter future for generations to come.”

Addressing the audience, Lt Gen (Dr) M.D. Venkatesh, VSM (Retd.), Vice Chancellor of MAHE, said, “On this momentous occasion of the 126th birth anniversary of Dr T.M.A Pai, we celebrate a legacy of education and societal upliftment. Dr Pai’s vision not only transformed Manipal into an academic hub, but also instilled a deep appreciation for our regional heritage. We at MAHE rededicate ourselves to follow integrity, quality, execution, transparency, passion, human touch and team work in our relentless journey towards the excellence. Through our initiatives, we strive to keep his legacy alive by empowering underprivileged communities and fostering a culture of innovation and service”.

He further added that, “Dr Pai’s life was not just a journey of his individual achievements but a testament to the power to transform the lives of countless individuals. He firmly believed that the education should not be a privilege for a few but a fundamental right regardless of their background”.

The event also included several presentations, including the “Kundapur Mohan and Latha Bhandarkars’ Merit-cum-Means Scholarships”, the “Smt. Sharada M Pai – Dr. Padma Rao Memorial Award” for the Best Nursing and Anganwadi Service, the “Smt. Sharada M Pai – Dr. Padma Rao A- MMS Diamond Jubilee Award” for the Best Female Warden/Caretaker (Non-Teaching Staff), and the “Smt. Geetha K Nayak Memorial Award” for the Senior Nurses of Kasturba Hospital.

Dr. NN Sharma, Pro Vice-Chancellor – Strategy & Planning, MAHE, delivered the vote of thanks.

NMIMS Hyderabad SBM Conducts 13th Convocation Ceremony – Reflects on Numerous Campus Achievements Amid Celebration

Hyderabad, 2nd May 2024 SVKM’s NMIMS Hyderabad School of Business Management (SBM) held its 13th Convocation Ceremony for the Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) 2022-2024 batch. The monumental occasion saw a total of 266 being conferred their MBA degrees.

Mr. Sairam Prasad, CEO, Suzlon Global Services Limited., graced the event as the Chief Guest. Dr Sharad Mhaiskar, Pro-Vice Chancellor; Mr. Pravin H Doshi, Member Managing & Executive Committee, and Nominee of the Hon’ble Chancellor; Mr. Ashish Apte, Controller of Examinations, Dr N Mahesh Kumar, Deputy Registrar, Dr Suneetha Sistla, Programme Chairperson; Dr Y L N Kumar, Associate Professor, SBM were present in the ceremony as part of the NMIMS leadership.

The grand event began with an academic procession and the lighting of the lamp. Mr. Pravin H Doshi presided over the prestigious ceremony and conferred the degrees to the new graduates. Pro VC Dr Sharad Mhaiskar administered the oath to the students followed by the sustainability oath by Dr Suneetha Sistla. Commemorating the memorable occasion, Dr. Sharad Mhaiskar and Mr. Sairam Prasad delivered inspiring addresses to a hall full of dignitaries, faculty, and enthusiastic students.

Meanwhile, Dr Y L N Kumar presented the SBM School Report. In the preceding academic calendar, NMIMS Hyderabad SBM achieved several milestones. In the academic year 2023-2024, the distinguished faculties of SBM published 32 distinct research papers in National and International journals. Of these, two papers were published in the ‘A’ category of ABDC-listed journals.

Furthermore, NMIMS Hyderabad SBM had a highly successful placement season, with 85 companies hiring top talent and the highest offer being INR 11 Lakh per annum. Among the top employers were PwC, Bank of America and Nestle. Moreover, the WeCare Winter Internship Programme saw students being placed in corporations such as TATA Steel, TATA Power, and Microsoft, among others to assist them in their social initiatives.

Moreover, meritorious students were presented with awards with Dean awards & Gold medals for their academic achievements. Faculty members were also awarded on their areas of excellence in Academics, Research, and Multi-campus program coordination. Best Faculty was awarded to Dr. YLN Kumar, Best Researcher award to Dr ShowkatBusru and Best Faculty – Multi-Campus Program Coordination to Dr Abhilash Ponnam.

Addressing the graduating students, Mr. Sairam Prasad said, “As fresh graduates, when you step into the professional world, you must remember three important things. Firstly, you must have a global perspective, secondly, you must be patient and thirdly you must work towards building your unique value.”

Dr Sharad Mhaiskar congratulated the graduating students and said, “NMIMS has a strong legacy of providing quality education to aspiring students from different sections of society. The NMIMS legacy is built on five important pillars – Excellence, Employability, Innovation, Responsibility and Collegiality. The School of Business Management has been a bearer of this legacy. As you graduate, you will be inheriting a proud and privileged NMIMS legacy of beliefs and sustained values to translate vision into action.”

The solemn ceremony ended with a Vote of Thanks by Dr N Mahesh Kumar, Deputy Registrar, NMIMS Hyderabad.

Sommet Education launches its Foundation to support Hospitality sector employment challenges

New Delhi- 2nd May 2024: Sommet Education, a leading worldwide player in hospitality education boasting a community of 10,000 students and 60,000 influential alumni worldwide, is proud to announce the launch of its Foundation, a significant milestone aimed at supporting employment challenges within the hospitality sector.

The Foundation will concentrate on tackling the sector’s employment challenges by focusing on two levers of action: offering scholarships for hospitality education to talented individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and advocating for careers and professions in hospitality.

Empowering individuals from underserved communities to pursue rewarding careers in hospitality.

The launch of the Foundation comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, with the travel and tourism sector projected to employ 449 million people worldwide by 2034 (source: World Travel and Tourism Council). By then, 12.2% of the global workforce will be powering this vibrant sector. Despite these promising figures, many destinations and hospitality employers continue to face recruitment challenges.

Drawing on Sommet Education’s long-standing commitment to developing hospitality talent, the Sommet Education Foundation will leverage its global network of hospitality schools to train and open doors to careers in this promising industry for individuals from diverse and socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Sommet Education Foundation will identify talents supported by a network of social partners, including UN agencies, governmental entities, and NGOs. These talents will be selected in alignment with the framework of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 4, focusing on inclusive education. Funding and support will be provided to educate and empower, particularly youth from impoverished backgrounds and women, while also creating lifelong learning opportunities and ensuring that talents are gainfully employed within the sector.

”Joining the Hospitality Industry is more than a job guarantee; it is a promise of a rewarding and fulfilling career nurtured by human encounters, passion, cultural exchanges, and experiences. By offering scholarships leading to employment opportunities, we aim at offering life-changing opportunities to a new generation of talents and empowering them with the necessary skills to join the thriving hospitality industry,” said Mrs. Anouck Weiss, Executive Vice-President at Sommet Education Foundation.

Sommet Education Foundation Patronage

The Foundation can already count on Accor as a Founding Patron. The hospitality group has already committed to promoting talent development, fostering social equality, and bolstering economic growth through a first dedicated initiative in India. Steven Daines, Chief Talent and Culture Officer, said on the occasion: “As a leading hospitality group, investing in people’s talent is a key priority. Hospitality is a sector that transcends territories and borders. This implies open-mindedness and connection to others. I am proud to be in a sector that promotes cross-border work experiences and multicultural environments”.

Echoing his views, Mrs Anne-Sophie BERAUD, SVP Diversity & Inclusion & Social Care Accor, said, “The success of our employees must not be determined by diplomas, origins or nationalities. We want to guarantee each of our talents the opportunity to reach their full potential by preventing inequalities and discrimination.”

Promoting hospitality professions

To inform the Foundation’s roadmap and strategic direction, Sommet Education Foundation engaged OpinionWay, a pioneering market research institute, to conduct a comprehensive European survey, with the primary objective of identifying the key factors that attract and retain talents in the hospitality industry. 1,300 young professionals and hospitality human resources managers across Europe were interviewed, along with 20 key industry leaders* (see list below) encompassing the broader spectrum of the sector, including hotels, restaurants, travel, tourism, independent, medium-sized, and large hotel groups, and high-end retail.

Survey shows strong sector attractiveness and employer voluntarism to seduce and retain new talents

The service sector holds considerable appeal for 85% of young professionals across Europe. Three-quarters of young European professionals would be ready to join high-end hotels, restaurants, and retail shops, praising the career opportunities, especially internationally, and the people-to-people connections. The survey confirms the overall challenge of the sector throughout Europe, with 59% of HR managers facing employment challenges. 78% state that Generation Z (18 to 28 years old) brings specific challenges from identification, recruitment, and loyalty.

Hospitality’s Unique promise fuels optimism in the sector

Professionals within the sector are resolutely convinced of the depth and appeal of their respective fields, with an overwhelming 86% expressing confidence in the sector’s allure. Moreover, they exhibit unwavering faith in their ability to sustain employee commitment, rating it at an impressive 7.5 out of 10.

This sector uniquely offers pathways for individuals to advance socially and professionally, regardless of their educational background. It stands out as one of the few industries where individuals can achieve rapid success and take on greater responsibilities over time, effectively climbing the social ladder. This unique promise of upward mobility makes it particularly appealing to many. Furthermore, employers place a premium on motivation, soft skills, and service-oriented personalities, prioritizing these qualities over formal diplomas and being ready to invest in their talents. The overwhelming majority—93% of HR managers—emphasize the centrality of training in fostering talent excellence, development, and long-term loyalty.

Laurent Kleitman, Group Chief Executive at Mandarin Oriental shared on the subject: “Architects design the buildings of tomorrow. I would like people coming out of hospitality schools to be able to design the experience of tomorrow».