COL VINOD KUMAR (RETD)

Mr Vittal, our Chief Guest; distinguished invitees, dear students and parents, faculty and friends:
It gives me immense pleasure to welcome Mr and Mrs Vittal to the Institute this evening. I also welcome the distinguished gathering comprising industry leaders, senior managers, parents, heads of institutions and friends from the media.
Mr Vittal’s love for Gujarat is legendary. He pioneered many major managerial initiatives in government administration, breathed the rigor of a humanist and talked the language of a patriot and sensitive CEO. He focused attention on effectiveness, efficiency and results in every endeavor he chose to initiate. He created a proactive climate in organizations he led where passion for excellence got ingrained into the system.  He dreams of an India free from shackles that hinders progress. He worked relentlessly in numerous fields aimed at making a difference in the life of people.  I salute you, Sir, for your tireless efforts and your very presence today make us feel intellectually rich and stimulant. 
We are fortunate to have many industry leaders and management professionals to guide and support us in our efforts.  As a business school extending its work far beyond imparting fundamental understanding of management principles and practices, SKIPS has been heavily depending on corporate world for enabling and facilitating research studies and internship. Also with us are heads of business schools and institutions with which we constantly network, exchange ideas and views and thereby enrich intellectual capital. Press and electronic media played a significant role in communicating our educational and co-curricular initiatives in a big way.  I cordially welcome you all.
Highly competent, skilled and attitudinally right faculty resources is fundamental for sustained success of a higher education endeavor.  There has been heavy shortfall even at elite business schools.  SKIPS is fortunate in being able to attract, develop and retain our core faculty and, at the same time, supplement our intellectual base by inviting adjunct and guest faculty with excellent track-record in industry and management practice. Our innovative and dynamic course structure exerts immense pressure on the faculty. They are equipped with latest knowledge and exceed expectations.  The Institute is conscious of the fact that education imparted is strictly in sync with emerging organizational needs. 
The good news is that parents take keen interest in the Institute and academic progress of their children.  We make it a point to involve them where needed to ensure holistic learning a reality. 
On this landmark event today, I wish to refer to St. Kabir Education which began 25 years ago. Good English medium schools were very few in number at that time. We realized the urgent need to impart quality education to Gujarat-based students who are comparable with the best in the country – only constraint being English language proficiency. Over the years, St. Kabir schools have grown into four campuses across Ahmedabad with over 6500 students and 500 teachers.  We are dedicated to superior education and we are recognized for high standards of performance, integrated learning, holistic development and student and faculty discipline.
St. Kabir Institute for Professional studies is our first higher education initiative for imparting two-year full-time management studies approved by AICTE, Government of India.  The Institute has adopted a holistic approach towards student development. Besides enhancement of knowledge, skills, organizational abilities, behavior and attitude, the Institute has designed, structured and delivered a series of soft skill and employee empowerment programs by incorporating inputs needed by managers of the future.
A major criterion for granting excess capacity has been the availability of infrastructure. I would argue in favor of ‘intrastructure’ in addition to superior infrastructure for quality learning.  We must consciously and deliberately work towards developing a rich reservoir of educators with the right mix of talent to educate and train students who will eminently qualify to take on challenging roles, exceed employer expectations and deliver results. First imperative is, therefore, consolidating gains in management education by networking with reputed institutions. A constructive collaboration with such institutions will entail nurturing and developing first-rate management educators within shortest possible timeframe, for a win-win.  While there is going to be a huge demand for competent and qualified managerial manpower during the current decade, let us not forget that development of competent faculty resources must precede higher educational initiatives.  As first-generation business schools in India had done, in my opinion, next two years or so must be devoted to developing and delivering competent teachers to strengthen management education conforming to global standards.
Like other organized human activities, management education will uphold the dictum: “survival of the fittest” as measured by faculty credentials, breadth and depth in deliverables, linkages with industry and services, research focus, nurturing intellectual capital, world-class, values-driven, down-to-earth, cost-effective and performance-anchored learning environment. Continuous self-audit and performance assessment based on effective feedback from students, teachers, employers and environment will prove immensely beneficial.
Dear students: as you begin your professional career, please remember, learning is a ‘cradle-to-grave’ process.  Don’t be complacent.  What you were exposed to is merely a tip of the iceberg.  Accept the challenges as they come your way with open arms, commitment and confidence. Give your total attention to the tasks on hand.  You are among the privileged to be trained to gain insights into national and global issues. Make every effort to enlarge and enrich the exposure you received at the Institute.  Also remember, there is no substitute to ‘hands-on’ experience and accept someone you admire as your mentor who will transfer valuable technical and behavioral inputs to help you excel in your fields of specialty.  Your pragmatism, diligence and insatiable urge to learn and imbibe new ways of doing things must take you to the top of your profession.

Before closing I wish to relate an important message found on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s desk:

”WOODS ARE LOVELY, DARK AND DEEP BUT I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP
AND MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP … MILES TO GO BEFORE I SLEEP.”
                                                                                          -- ROBERT FROST

Reach out to horizons not ventured by ordinary mortals.  Be different and capture the world through sheer hard work and application.  My best wishes!