295 get degrees at IIM-Sirmaur convocation
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Sirmaur, celebrated its 9th Convocation at its newly established permanent campus in Dhaula Kuan today. Vipin Sondhi, Chair of the National Board for Quality Promotion and Chairman of the CII Green Mobility Council, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Ajay S Shriram, Chairperson of the Board of Governors (BoG), presided over the ceremony.
The event commenced with a traditional academic procession. In his opening address, Shriram reflected on the evolving Indian and global business landscapes, applauding the resilience of Indian businesses and encouraging students to cultivate innovation and adaptability for future success.
Director Prof Prafulla Y Agnihotri presented the institute’s annual report, highlighting major milestones. IIM Sirmaur currently offers six full-time programmes and this year launched several new initiatives, including a one-year Advanced Manufacturing Management programme in collaboration with RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and an MBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management (TTHM) in partnership with two leading universities in Mauritius. The institute also inaugurated its first undergraduate course, the Bachelor of Management Studies.
Prof Agnihotri emphasised IIM Sirmaur’s growing international collaborations, noting six MoUs signed with prestigious institutions, including Emlyon Business School, Saint Marie De Chavagnes, and Mauritius’ higher education bodies.
A major highlight this year was the institute’s move to its permanent campus in July 2024, with 92.5% of the infrastructure completed at a cost of Rs 316 crore, backed by full statutory approvals.
IIM-Sirmaur continues to promote the holistic development of its students, encouraging participation in national and international competitions and strengthening industry ties through 14 management development programmes (MDPs) conducted over 70 days. The institute also undertook three consultancy projects and expanded its long duration programmes (LDPs), launching the Executive MBA (EMBA) and Executive MBA in Digital Transformation and Analytics (EMBA-DTA) programmes. Two new postgraduate diploma programmes were also introduced in collaboration with NSE Academy.
In summer placements, 202 companies recruited 298 students, with prominent firms like Accenture, EY, ICICI Bank, Tech Mahindra, and HDFC Life participating. For final placements, nearly 150 companies visited the campus.
Addressing the graduating class, Prof. Agnihotri reminded students of their societal responsibilities, urging them to uphold the dignity and honor of their education and contribute meaningfully to society.
This year, IIM-Sirmaur expanded its partnerships by signing MoUs with the Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Himachal Pradesh, to build governance capacity, and with the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) for training Indian Forest Service probationers. Further partnerships were formed with THDC India Ltd, HCL Technologies, and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
During the convocation, Shriram conferred degrees upon 295 graduates—250 students from the MBA programme and 45 from the MBA in Tourism Management. Among them were 75 women graduates. Special recognitions were awarded: Mohit Garg received the Chairman’s Gold Medal for MBA, Patel Pavan Sandeep the Director’s Medal, while Nischal Jain and Gaurav Bhatt earned gold medals for Finance and Marketing, respectively. Bratin Sarkar was honored for academic excellence in the MBA Tourism Management programme.
Delivering the commencement address, Vipin Sondhi congratulated the graduates and shared five life lessons: ownership, truth-seeking, humility, integrity, and striving for excellence while valuing empathy and gratitude. Citing examples from Jacob Bronowski and Roger Federer, he encouraged students to embrace setbacks as part of the journey to success.
The ceremony concluded on a celebratory note, marking a proud milestone for the institute, students, faculty, and families. IIM-Sirmaur reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence and shaping future leaders for India and beyond.
Himachal Tribune