Mumbai 31st March 2012: SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Deemed-to-be University hosted the Convocation 2012 for the School of Business Management at Bhaidas Hall, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai with an esteemed guest for the evening, Hon’able Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Prithviraj Chavan.

Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra at the SVKM’s NMIMS convocation ceremony congratulated all the students by graduating from this prestigious institution. He started his speech by saying, “To reach at this level requires hard work and all the students and their parents truly deserve the heartiest congratulations. Today India is a much more robust economy destined to become a major power in the world. We wish to become a major power as it helps us to solve the problem this country faces today in terms of the ill health, poverty and others, and that, will be in a better condition to handle challenges that are faced every day. If you pause and look where we began from 1947 we have come a long way where the audience today is more confident. Though there are many existing problems, but the direction we have taken will take us to greater heights as young and large population have high quality information that helps to compete at the global platforms. What the students have learned today will allow them to compete amongst the best of the world”

He continued by saying, “In the next 30 – 40 years of time, we will become a great country not based on natural resources but more on human resources . The year 2010 – 2020 is the decade of evolution where the people have the ability to innovate, create new wealth, new jobs, grab new opportunities and take a route of entrepreneurship. The management skills learnt combined with innovations and science will build new industries and tremendous opportunities.

He concluded by saying life of a student is coming to an end and you will enter into new professions. However, never ever stop being a student. Develop an all round personality and be a richer individual through constant learning. There are very enriching times and we can go from strength to strength and create a knowledge economy.

The programe commenced with the Lamp Lighting and Shri Amrish Patel, Hon’ble Chancellor, SVKM’S NMIMS and Chairman, Board of Management declared the Convocation 2012 open. The Chief Guest for the Convocation, Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai was given a warm welcome by Shri Amrish Patel. Following which Dr. Rajan Saxena, the Vice Chancellor of the University gave the welcome address.
Dr. Saxena in his address highlighted the events undertaken by the institution and accolades won by various schools of the university. Addressing the students and guests, he said “Today is a historic day for NMIMS University. We feel privileged and honoured with the august presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Prithviraj Chavan. This day is also important because NMIMS, as a University, has entered the 10th year and, has completed 31 years as a Business School in this country. In these 31 years, it has enjoyed leadership position in Management Education. Today it is one of the top 5 Business Schools alongside IIMs. NMIMS has also remained NAAC accredited “A” grade institution since 1999”.Dr. Saxena also congratulated the students and cautioned them for the challenging future ahead of them.

The total number of students graduating from NMIMS went up to 413. The average compensation for the Batch of 2012 stood at INR 13.04 lakhs per annum, while the highest CTC offered on campus rose to INR 30 lakhs per annum. Leading companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Stemcor, Dell Analytics, Adidas ,L&T Finance, Michael Page, Aditya Birla Group and Vedanta. Other prominent names were AVIVA Life Insurance, Aircel Limited, Amba Research, Boehringer Ingelheim, Customer Centria, De Decor, Emami, McDonald’s, Nitco Tiles, NIVEA, Seclore, Rediffusion Y & R, Policy Bazaar, Milliman, Jardine Lloyd Thompson and Mu-Sigma.

The presentation was followed by the much awaited Convocation Address by the Chief Guest for the evening, Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra who released the convocation brochure and roster.

The ceremony began with the Academic Procession led by the Registrar of the University Mrs. Varsha Parab. This was preceded by the entry of the Student Procession led by the Student Council Members and the Class Representatives, accompanied by the police band.

Successful students, faculty and staff members were presented with Awards by the Chancellor Shri Amrish Patel, the Vice Chancellor Dr. Rajan Saxena and the Chief Guest Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Prithviraj Chavan.

The evening concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Dr. M.N. Welling, Pro Vice Chancellor, thanking all the dignitaries and the esteemed Chief Guest present for the Convocation 2012.

Dr. Gurumurthy Kalyanaram has been a tenured professor, management consultant and an academic administrator.  He got his doctoral degree from MIT Sloan School of Management.   He is a well-known scholar whose research work is highly cited.  His publications have appeared in major journals such as Business and Strategy, Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Marketing Science, and Review of Industrial Organization. He has served on many editorial boards including those of Management Science and International Journal of Research in Marketing, and he currently serves on the editorial boards of International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing and Journal of Indian Business Research.

Dr. Kalyanaram has lectured, taught and given presentations at many renowned universities and conferences all over the world, including at the following universities:  Boston University, Jiang Xi University of Finance, London School of Economics, Loughborough University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), New York Institute of Technology, St. Petersburgh State University, Vanderbilt University, and The University of Texas.

Dr. Kalyanaram was the inaugural endowed professor at Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research.    He has also been a distinguished scholar at the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, and the East-European and Russian Research Center.

Dr. Kalyanaram founded a full-time MBA program at The University of Texas, and served as the Director of all its graduate programs.  At New York Institute of Technology, he served as Director of Global Graduate Programs including those in US, Canada, China and Middle-East (Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Jordan).  Prior to joining NMIMS University, Dr. Kalyanaram was an advisor, and the Dean of the School of Business at Amrita University.

Dr. Kalyanaram has been recognized by MIT with Harold Lobdell Award for his contributions.  He has served on several MIT boards and committees including the Alumni/ae Board, Enterprise Forum Board, Nomination Committee for Visiting Committees and Technology Day Committee.  Currently, he serves as the President-elect of MIT South Asian Alumni/ae Association.  Dr. Kalyanaram has received the Outstanding Educator of the Year by Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and he has been listed in the Who’s Who in America.

Dr. Kalyanaram has consulted extensively including with the fortune-500 US corporations, and educational institutions all over world.

Dr. Gurumurthy Kalyanaram’s research scholarship citation highlights can be obtained from the following URL:  http://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=oB2_JR4AAAAJ

Dr. Gurumurthy Kalyanaram’s Profile and CV is available here.