GLOBSYN BUSINESS SCHOOL’S RECENT EVENT LENT MEANING TO SERENDIPITY, SAYS SK SADAR NAYEEM

There are certain programmes that can be described with the use of phrases that reflect a perception of wonderfulness and “Serendipity” — an annual student-driven event of the Globsyn Business School in Kolkata — fits the mould in that this charity-based programme also provides direct service to the poor and needy. Its salient features include discussions on contemporary management subjects with leading corporate personalities, organising convocations for pass-out batches, showcasing the creativity of its students and, most importantly, channeling funds collected through Kalyani, a Bikram Dasgupta Foundation unit, for have-nots.
At Serendipity 2014, held on 13 February at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Salt Lake City, Scott Furssedonn-Wood, British Deputy High Commissioner, was chief guest, sharing honours with special guest Hirdyesh Mohan, IAS, secretary, Technical Education and Training, government of India. The convocation was followed by a corporate summit where the speakers were top management gurus from Srei Sahaj, Pepsi, KPMG, Care, Yes Bank, etc, who threw light on “Integration of Growth, Risk Management and Corporate Governance in Challenging Times”. A cultural extravaganza on “Integration” by students concluded proceedings.
Programmes like Serendipity in a business school were unique in many ways because of the opportunity provided to students to make intellectual discoveries and experience corporate life, said Globsyn dean JN Mukhopadhya. India, he said, already accounted for one-sixth of the world&’s population and now that it had discarded inward-looking socialist policies it was stepping out to play a full role in the world economy, which meant a tremendous expansion in trade and investment. In this regard, the country needed a large pool of management experts who were well trained to meet global challenges. Mere classroom teaching would not suffice and students needed to be exposed to reality given the more serious obstacles to management practices in the 21st century. Indeed, reality was fast assuming opposite proportions of classroom assumptions.
This view serves to highlight the importance and uniqueness of programmes like Serendipity, which offers a vibrant occasion to foster a spirit of learning, camaraderie and self-discovery as well as providing students a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity and put into practice the knowledge gained in the classroom. After all, the scope of management has to go beyond theoretical to be operational. Besides, as Mukhopadhya said, it had to be focused on results and performance across the entire economic chain.
Speakers lauded the Globsyn initiative in organising events of this standing because, in their view, the “inside” was not management&’s “only” domain. The management of any business institution has to look at the bigger picture and work towards boosting achievements “ouside”. In this regard, Globsyn had understood this need, providing an exciting journey that embraced significant opportunities and challenges that facilitated its students to perceive new realities.
Serendipity 2014 was, thus, not only a programme but a strategy that converted the organisation&’s set of assumptions into performance to develop the balance in management.