International Corporate Meet, Ignite 2.0, concludes

ALIGARH  : “There are three stages of life for a person – learning, earning and returning. First we obtain education, then we live a professional career and then we give back to our family, society, alma mater and the country. Right now you are in a learning phase but never forget that you have to give back to society for whatever you get in the learning and earning process,” said Mr Shaheen Alam, Chairman and CEO, Agmire Contracting and Maintenance LLC, and Anglo-American Group of Companies, UAE, while addressing the Aligarh Muslim University students as the chief guest, during the inaugural session of the International Corporate Meet, Ignite 2.0, organized by the Training and Placement Office (General), AMU at the Kennedy Auditorium Saturday last.

Mr Alam urged the university students to focus on their personality development and be equipped with the smart communication skills. He said AMU students are very good on educational front, however they need polishing in personality development skills.

He later met the AMU Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammad Gulrez and discussed the prospects of collaboration between his company and the AMU. He also expressed willingness to hold training sessions for the university students to make them job-ready for the corporate world.

In his presidential remarks, Prof Mirza Salim Baig, Department of Electronics Engineering, Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, AMU, said that AMU has progressed leaps and bounds in the last few years which is reflected in its ranking projected by several national and international ranking agencies including the Times Higher Education ranking, UK, QS ranking, ARWU Shanghai, US News and World Report, CWUR, NIRF, etc.

A special guest, Dr Pankaj Sharma, Additional Director, Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India brought forth crucial perspectives on the contemporary job landscape and the role of both the students and academia in accessing the job market and the corporate world in a successful manner.

He underscored the prevalent trend of commercial establishments permeating every sector of society and emphasized the importance of a proactive role of a person in securing a job in the highly competitive environment.

Mr. Sharma further shed light on the importance of branding for both individuals and institutions, adding that a strong institutional brand not only attracts job opportunities for its students but also enhances the overall perception of the university.

He said that sustainability in jobs and focus on industry oriented learning and training is the most powerful element of the profile of a job-seeker, and one must pay special attention to add this feature in their CVs, while approaching for a new opening.

Mr. Fainan Khwaja, Vice President, Cambay Healthcare emphasized a fundamental principle to achieve success: one must glean insights from those who have already achieved it. By highlighting the significance of learning from dignitaries and professionals who have excelled in their fields, he underscored the importance of mentorship, guidance, and continuous learning in personal and professional growth.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, Mr Saad Hameed, Training and Placement Officer, highlighted the key features of the corporate meet and urged the students to attend the panel discussions to get acquainted with the trends of the job market.

Dr Muzammil Mushtaq, Assistant TP, articulated the core objectives of the Ignite 2.0 and stressed that it serves as an invaluable interface for students to engage with the business world.

Dr Swaleha Parveen, Department of Commerce, underlined the importance of providing students with impactful career opportunities. She shed light on the rich cultural heritage and national importance of Aligarh Muslim University, emphasizing its pivotal role in shaping the academic and socio-cultural landscape of the nation.

Later, a panel discussion was held at the Department of Business Administration on the topic, “Future of livelihood: Adapting to a changing landscape”, which was moderated by Mr. Asad Rehman, Associate Professor.

Another panel discussion was held on “AI-driven workplace: Bane or boon?”, which was centered around the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the contemporary workplace, examining its benefits and challenges.

A networking session aimed at fostering meaningful interactions between departmental TPOs and panelists from various industries. The session provided an invaluable opportunity to the students to connect with TPOs from various departments, explore potential career pathways, and seek guidance on internship and job opportunities.

The day-long activities concluded with an interactive session with the Faculty of Management Studies and Research group.