Michael learns to rock !

I believe XIMB has many talents and powers running around its campus. It’s good that now, they can reach out to the world instead of remaining between campus walls and ‘disappearing’ into the strategies of Indian Corporate Industry after two years of broad learning.

In this way, the 3CMGM experience brought me three different ways of being a student. In Belgium, you are a competitive partner for faculty. You are being challenged by teachers and your classmates to show what you got! In NYC, you are a citizen of the greatest people magnet in the  world. You walk the streets like you own them. Simultaneously, the city eats you alive!
In India, you are a member of a larger XIMB campus. You see the dynamics between students, office and teachers, and you follow the rules of the place, both formal and informal, and both strange and rewarding !! This is also where we worked the hardest! We had so many deadlines for presentations, group works and papers. And the faculty would give us more work every day. We were challenged to be flexible, and I remember turning down many invites of Indian students for playing music, hanging around, playing football etc.. I participate in some of course. Most of them were night time activities… as the tradition of the XIMB student lifestyle prescribes!

One can understand that all this brings about a life changing rollercoaster ride across places. Places where you can do no more than being yourself, and gain friends with that. The best thing about this is that you learn about management and global organisations along the way. What appeared to be my priority when I chose this program (that is to learn about management), it became an added value to my global citizenship! 3CMGM brings about change to your heart and soul, and then to your brain.
I am now a global citizen. I have three clocks on my desktop (Mumbay, Nyc and Alaska) because I have friends there, and I wonder what time of the day they are having.

In second degree, I am a future colleague, service orientated, client friendly and flexible. One that understands his place in the value chain of a (global) industry. I also am trained to understand (and question) the strategy of my future company and the position my fellow colleagues are placed in. I am also trained to identify and to take care of stakeholders in the business I will do, and in this way, to do business for a better world.

Michael Ghysels

A noble step towards Humanity !

XIMB celebrates World Humanitarian Day
August 19th, 2012

 

The fifth International World Humanitarian Day was observed on 19th August at Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), in collaboration with Concern Worldwide India, for paying tribute to the men and women who work to save the lives and protect the health of people affected by emergencies caused by conflict or natural disasters. XIMB has long been associated with humanitarian work in Orissa and has championed the cause of the community by providing institutional solutions to societal issues. The Social Responsibility Cell (SRC) of the institute, which organized the event, also conducts other social initiatives all year round, including a Blood Donation Camp in association with Rotary Club, Bhubaneswar and the Red Cross Society, a Baal Mela for local school dropouts and tree plantation drives around Bhubaneswar.

                               

The event started with a street play organized by the students of SRC “Manavta ki pukaar” (meaning the ‘call of humanity’). The evening was initiated by the ceremonial lightning of the lamp and welcome note by Fr. P.T. Joseph, S.J., Director XIMB. It also witnessed dignitaries from the length and breadth of the country who gave their insights on the Humanitarian Day, including Mr. Mihir Bhatt, All India Institute of Disaster Mitigation; Mr. Ambika Nanda, of the United Nations Development Program; Dr. Mangala Prasad Mohanty, Honorary Secretary Indian Red Cross Society, Orissa State; Mr Chiranjeet Das, Concern Worldwide India; Dr Asha Hans, EVP, Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre; and Mr. Deepankar Dutta, Country Director Concern International.

 

 

 

 

 Following the lighting of the lamp, Mr Dipankar Dutta spoke about the significance of the World Humanitarian Day, bringing to notice the facts and figures related to disaster mitigation. Dr Mangala Prasad Mohanty contextualized the International events and movements that have gained momentum in the present scenario. Mr Ambika Nanda from UNDP also shared his thoughts from his volunteering experiences that brought tears to the eyes of the audience. He and Dr Asha Hans spoke about the voices of the sub-altern or the marginalized. This re-emphasized the need to develop basic facilities and equipment so that the physically disabled are able to deal and survive calamities, as they are generally the worst hit victims. Mr Mihir Bhatt spoke of the need to systemize the humanitarian space in India. The fact that we have no fact-based report about a single disaster management program was shocking.

 

 

These thoughts lingered in our minds and made us truly realize the gravity of the situation. Many of us want to help the cause, but hardly any of us know the correct measures that should be followed to provide effective relief. Hence, it is the need of the hour to promote disaster management education on an international level. Mr Nanda rightly said, “when you are old, you can afford to work for the people; but when you are young, you have to work with them.” It shall be also be our initiative from now on to make our thought process more inclusive and keep in mind the problems faced by weaker sections of community.

                                             

 

It is a wonder how this day was blessed with bright sunshine though Bhubaneswar is in the midst of its monsoons. Perhaps this was symbolic of the ray of hope and energy this day brought not just in our campus but throughout the world…throughout humanity !