IILM-UBS celebrates the success of its partnership with the University of Bradford at its 11th Annual Convocation Ceremony

The eleventh annual convocation ceremony of IILM-Undergraduate Business School - a leading management institute based in New Delhi, India was held on November 3, 2009. IILM’s undergraduate programme began in 1996 in partnership with the University of Bradford, UK – a trendsetting joint venture that took advantage of the opening up of the Indian economy to economic reforms since 1991. More than 850 students have so far been awarded bachelor degrees in business administration, all of whom have been placed comfortably in a booming economy that is considered one of the future growth engines of the world economy. This year, 87 students received their degrees.
Prof Arthur Francis, Dean, School of Management, University of Bradford, who attended all the previous convocations, delivered the Graduation Address after the outgoing batch received their certificates and awards. According to him, the growth of IILM and the UBS programme mirrors the deep-going transformations in India’s economy. “My first visit was eight years after India’s economic liberalization in 1991. We now know that this set India decisively on its current pathway of fast economic growth…. But year after year I have seen for myself … the modernisation of the capital city – the opening of the Delhi Metro, road-building with many expressways and overpasses, the development of Gurgaon, the growth of IILM itself.”
India’s growth rate of 7-8 per cent a year meant that over 11 years its gross domestic product has more than doubled. Prof Francis argued that this is “excellent news for the middle class, for merchants, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. It is even better news for the millions who were poor and who have been lifted out of poverty and illiteracy by this economic growth. And this economic growth has come about through the application, at the level of the economy, of economic theory taught in universities and business schools, and at the level of the firm by the application of the ideas you have taught on your degree programme at IILM.”
In the context of the global financial crisis, Prof Francis forcefully urged the outgoing graduates to keep in mind 3 Ms: might, mind and morals. Which approach is right? Might, mind, or morality? Of course, the answer has to be all of them. “You are entering the world of the mighty and your political skills will be forever invaluable to you. We rely on you to exercise those political skills with the highest levels of morality. And do continue to use your minds at the highest possible level, to make sure you take the right technical decisions to avoid further financial and other crises, to ensure a sustainable future for us all, and to maintain a level of economic growth that continues to add to the world’s health, wealth and wisdom”, he concluded.
The IILM UBS and Bradford University School of Management collaboration has a mandate of providing the best management education coupled with value-based training and research. IILM UBS develops business leaders of tomorrow by integrating academics with exposure to real–life business situations.

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Anuradha Rajani

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IILM

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