Mr. Ajay Piramal addresses graduates at Great Lakes Chennai Convocation 2017
Chennai: Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, held its 13th Annual convocation today at Convention Centre, Nandambakkam, Chennai. Chief Guest Mr. Ajay Piramal, Chairman – Piramal Group & Shriram Group and Guest of Honor – Dr. John F.O. Bilson, Dean – Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, and Dr. Bala V Balachandran, Founder, Dean & Chairman, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chancellor – Great Lakes International University, Sri City along with the board of directors, dignitaries from the industry and academia, students and their families, faculty, and staff of Great Lakes were present at the occasion.
Over 600 students across full-time and executive programs consisting of the Post Graduate Program in Management (PGPM), the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), the Post Graduate Executive Program in Management (PGXPM) and Post Graduate Program in Management – Flex (PGPM – Flex) were felicitated during the graduation ceremony. Gold medals were awarded to 5 Academic toppers and 7 best outgoing students across the different programs. Besides these gold medals, certificate of merit and medals were also awarded under the categories – Dean’s Merit List, Domain toppers, best Empirical Study and Committee contributors.
Congratulating the graduands, Dr. Bala V Balachandran, Founder, Dean & Chairman, Great Lakes Institute of Management, emphasized on the importance of revival of higher education in India. “Time is apt for an education renaissance in India. With technology and entrepreneurship joining hands strongly leading to emerging Technopreneurship in the country, the world is looking at Indian techies to make a difference. Great Lakes has always been ahead in keeping up with changing industry trends and the launch of our new Technopreneurship program in association with Illinois institute of Technology, Chicago is exactly in with this”, Dr. Bala said.
Extending his warm congratulations to the graduating students, Mr. Ajay Piramal, Chairman – Piramal Group and Shriram Group, highlighted the importance of having a deep desire, passion and a courage to do what one really likes. He also added that hard work, good values, association with good people and above all having faith are the real reasons for success. “Belonging to a traditional textile family, we had the courage to move into the Pharma industry. It is the passion, hard work and faith which have made us stand where we are today”, Mr. Piramal said.
In a separate media interaction following the convocation, Mr. Piramal also opined that Indian graduates will have plenty of job opportunities globally. “Indians have garnered huge respect worldwide in various fields. The number of people going abroad will only increase in the coming years”, he said.
Delivering the graduation address, Dr. John F.O. Bilson, Dean – Stuart School of Business, IIT Chicago, said, “As an academic you are the product of our work. We appreciate not only when you graduate but also as you progress in your career”. Talking on how people need to adapt to technological change, Dr. Bilson cited the example of mobile phones. “Cell Phones are probably the most disruptive instrument in the history of the world. With this disruption, have come a number of Technological advances and opportunities. People must understand that technology only creates more job opportunities and one should not be afraid to embrace it”, he said.