Sambalpur, 04 November 2026: The Indian Institute of Management, Sambalpur (IIMS), welcomed its 2026–2029 cohort to the Executive PhD & DBA dual-degree programme, alongside its Immersion of 2025–2028 and 2024–2027 scholars. The three cohorts together bring 50 accomplished professionals into a single research community: Chairpersons, Managing Directors, CEOs, Founders, Senior government officials and Defence professionals working across India and abroad for a 3-day immersion programme held at Sambalpur from October 30 to November 1.

Offered with IAE Bordeaux University School of Management, France, the programme is India’s pioneering dual-degree doctoral initiative for working professionals. Successful scholars earn two qualifications: an Executive PhD from IIM Sambalpur and a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from IAE Bordeaux. It is designed for leaders who want to turn decades of industry experience into rigorous, publishable research, without stepping away from their careers.

“Our Executive PhD & DBA scholars bring real organisational problems into the research room, and they take evidence-based answers back to their boardrooms. Partnering with IAE Bordeaux allows us to offer rigorous, world-class training in research methods that meet global standards, while keeping the programme deeply relevant to the challenges Indian and global businesses face today,” said Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur.  

Three cohorts, one global community of scholars

Cohort 2026–2029: A distinguished group of global business leaders. The newest cohort comprises 14 senior professionals holding roles such as Executive Director, Chairman, Director, Vice President and Founder & CEO. They come from leading multinational and national organisations in technology, automotive, consulting, renewable energy and engineering.

Cohort 2025–2028: Cross-sector expertise and leadership. Twenty senior professionals bring experience from technology, finance, defence, energy and healthcare. Their research interests span some of the most consequential sectors of the economy.

Cohort 2024–2027: Bringing industry and academia together. The 16 scholars of the founding cohort represent organisations including the Adani Group, NTT DATA, HPCL, Korn Ferry, Google and LAVA International. They include managing Directors, Vice presidents, CEOs, a joint president and directors, as well as entrepreneurs and senior government officials.

• The Induction & Immersion programme brings together leading academic voices to discuss contemporary management challenges, global business trends, leadership and the evolving role of research in practice. The programme had commenced with the welcome address by Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, followed by the Chief Guest and Keynote Address by Dr. Rajiv Kohli, John N. Dalton Memorial Professor of Business at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, William & Mary, USA. The programme will also feature an address by Dr. Jorge Cardoso, Programme Director, International DBA Cohort, IAE Bordeaux University School of Management, who will share his perspectives on the programme and its international academic significance.

Building research-driven leadership for a changing economy

As artificial intelligence, energy transition, geopolitical realignment and digital public infrastructure reshape how organisations compete, demand is growing for leaders who can ask sharper questions and answer them with evidence. The programme helps experienced professionals step back from day-to-day decisions and study them systematically. The research they produce is grounded in practice and holds up to academic scrutiny.

The breadth of the three cohorts, across industries, geographies and functions, makes peer learning a central part of the experience. A defence professional, a renewable energy chairman and a technology founder bring very different lenses to the same problem, and that diversity sharpens both the research and the network that grows around it.

IIM Sambalpur expects its Executive PhD & DBA scholars to become influential contributors to management thought, organisational transformation and evidence-based business practice, in India and worldwide.

Mumbai, October 26th, 2026: Birla Open Minds has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Burlington English, an English language learning provider with over four decades of experience and a presence in more than 45 countries, to integrate digital resources with its English Reader textbooks for Grades 1 to 8. The collaboration aims to transform print-based learning into a multimodal experience through interactive vocabulary tools, Shuffle Plus games, videos, documentaries, songs and digital worksheets, enabling students to see, hear, speak, play and create with the language.

Scheduled for rollout across all schools in the network from the 2027–28 academic session, the initiative will make resources accessible through the Birla Open Minds app, extending learning from classrooms to homes. Aligned with the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Frameworks, the programme will strengthen students’ vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and writing skills while equipping teachers with ready-to-use resources and tools for differentiated learning.

Commenting on the collaboration, Nirvaan Birla, Managing Director, Birla Open Minds, said, “We are very happy to partner with Burlington English to make English learning more engaging, interactive and relevant for students. We believe that children learn best when they actively experience what they are taught. By integrating digital resources with our English Readers, we aim to bring every English lesson to life, helping students not just read the language, but hear it, speak it, explore it and use it with confidence. This is an important step towards nurturing capable communicators prepared for an increasingly interconnected world.”

The integration will complement textbook chapters with multimedia content and play-based activities, encouraging vocabulary retention, comprehension, curiosity and confidence in communication. Teachers will also receive orientation on multimodal pedagogy, enabling them to blend print and digital resources into everyday lessons while using the worksheet generator to address varied learning needs.

Mr. Amit Baveja Managing Director, Burlington English India, Middle East and Southeast Asia said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Birla Open Minds in advancing a more engaging and interactive approach to English language learning. With over four decades of expertise and a presence across more than 45 countries, we recognise the value of combining structured learning with digital experiences. By integrating multimedia resources, interactive games and practical language activities, we aim to support teachers and help students develop stronger language skills and greater confidence. Together, we look forward to making English learning a more meaningful, immersive and rewarding experience.”

Through this collaboration, the two organisations aim to bring every English lesson to life, creating a connected learning experience that goes beyond the textbook and empowers students to communicate with confidence in a global environment.

Our growing faith in artificial intelligence may be advancing faster than our willingness to question it. When the internet was flooded with Studio Ghibli-inspired images in 2025, millions marvelled at artificial intelligence’s ability to recreate an artistic world in seconds. Yet, behind this fascination lay an uncomfortable question: when technology can imitate years of human craftsmanship with a simple prompt, are we celebrating creativity or overlooking the people who create it? The controversy revived criticism of Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli’s co-founder, who condemned AI-generated animation in 2016 as “an insult to life itself”. What took artists years to develop could now be imitated almost instantly, often without a meaningful discussion about consent or compensation.

India should not view this as a distant controversy concerning Japanese animation. We need only look towards Mithila in Bihar, where Madhubani painting has been sustained across generations, particularly by women artists. Its intricate patterns, vivid colours and motifs drawn from nature, mythology and everyday life are not merely decorative conventions. They carry inherited knowledge, regional identity and the labour of communities that have kept the tradition alive. Imagine an AI-generated Madhubani-inspired image receiving millions of views while the artists whose heritage informs its appearance remain unknown. The image may popularise the art form, but does popularity necessarily benefit its practitioners? If the world learns to recognise Madhubani patterns without recognising Madhubani artists, have we preserved the tradition or merely extracted its aesthetic?

The distinction matters. India’s cultural memory lives not only in monuments and manuscripts but also in dialects, oral histories, folk songs and expressions passed between generations. When an AI system translates a regional expression into standard Hindi or English, it may communicate the literal meaning while losing the humour, social context or emotion embedded within it. A language is not simply a collection of words to be processed; it is a way of understanding the world. If technology preserves the vocabulary but erases the worldview, what exactly has it preserved?

There is also a danger in confusing imitation with understanding. A machine may reproduce the appearance of a tradition without experiencing the rituals, histories and relationships that give it meaning. The result can look authentic while remaining detached from the lives that made it meaningful. As AI becomes more convincing, the burden increasingly falls on us to distinguish between a representation of culture and an engagement with culture itself.

India must therefore approach AI-led cultural preservation with more than enthusiasm. Documentation must go hand in hand with attribution, meaningful consent, fair recognition and opportunities for traditional artists to benefit. A civilisation’s heritage is not preserved merely because its past survives on a server. It survives when its people retain the power to understand, practise and redefine it.

If our traditions survive as algorithms while the communities that created them become invisible, have we preserved our cultural memory or simply taught machines to imitate its remains?

Ananya Chaudhary is a B.Tech student at VIT Vellore.

Launched in 2016, the annual challenge promotes social entrepreneurship and gives students opportunities to exchange ideas and interact with mentors and potential funders.

This year, 10 teams were shortlisted from more than 270 entries submitted by universities and colleges nationwide. Their ideas addressed education, livelihoods, health, sustainability and governance.

Finalists and winning ideas

First prize: SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai

Contact person: Karol S John (+918089205925)

The winning team presented URAPPU, a service that helps construction workers access government welfare benefits available to them.  Trained facilitators and case-management systems support workers with registration, documentation, eligibility checks, renewals, and claims.

Under its primary model, builders pay for the service, allowing workers to use it free of charge. The team is also exploring an alternative model that includes insurance benefits and may require workers to contribute according to their category.

Second prize: Azim Premji University, Bengaluru

Contact person: Arti Vilas Manmode (+919923254290)

The second-prize team presented SuoMoto, a digital platform for visually impaired people and persons with benchmark disabilities (PwBD). SuoMoto Academy supports competitive-examination preparation through audio-based learning tools and memory techniques, enabling users to solve problems without pen and paper.

SuoMoto Club connects users with jobs, events and peers while supporting safe navigation. The platform aims to expand access to education and employment and promote independent living.

Third Prize: Azim Premji University, Bengaluru and Lovely Professional University

The third-prize team presented GreenPath, a digital platform that improves waste collection and management in rural areas. It gives households a digital identity, tracks waste collection through QR codes, and monitors waste segregation and payments. The platform also provides panchayats with real-time data to help them manage waste more effectively.

Designed to work offline and in multiple languages, GreenPath aims to strengthen local waste management and make waste collectors’ work more visible and valued. 

Samudra Sangkha Gogoi, mentor for the Social Enterprise Cell at Azim Premji University, said: “The Idea Challenge helps us understand the social issues that young people care about. It also shows how they can build sustainable enterprises to address these issues. Reaching the 10th edition inspires us to continue this work.”

“Vidya, that is, knowledge, is not enough. Knowledge is only the potential; when you add entrepreneurship, it becomes power.”

ON AI AND HUMAN DECISION-MAKING:

Speaking about the role of AI in Operation Sindoor, General Dwivedi emphasised that technology and artificial intelligence do not work in isolation, with human experience and judgement continuing to play a central role. He said, “In this, the artificial intelligence did not work alone. It was the experience which worked with it. So, what is important is that together, we become powerful, the machine cues data and then humans decide. So, the machine is there to support you, but humans are the ones who will decide when to act, where to act, and when to stop.”

He also spoke about how the pace of planning and execution is changing with AI, saying, “Earlier, we used to look at 80 per cent of planning. Once you finish planning, then you look at execution. But in view of the artificial intelligence, your pace is so fast that you have to have concurrent planning and execution.” Connecting this shift to the adaptability of the younger generation, General Dwivedi said, “You are 36 crore Generation Z who are going to take this India forward. So, you don’t have to just know AI. You have to ride the AI like a horse rider, and AI and humans have to collaborate, for which Indians are always the best adapters.”

ON THE VISION OF VIKSIT BHARAT 2047:

Speaking about the future of national security and the role of young technology professionals, General Dwivedi said that a future Operation Sindoor would require collaboration between the armed forces and civil professionals. “As far as Operation Sindoor is concerned, now, if you are looking at 2.0, whenever it comes in the future, it will be a combination of the uniformed warriors and the civil warriors like you.”

“The next war will not have any borders. It will be there in the economic field. It will also be addressing your aircraft, airlines, airports, railway stations, and banking.”

He further highlighted the role of technology graduates in securing digital infrastructure. “Besides helping the Indian Army, you will be fighting the UPI in case somebody is carrying out an attack on that. So, payments defects and, of course, the affordable solutions to counter the drones. The smartphone will be the front line, and your code will be a shield or a coverage. So, Viksit Bharat 2047 will be in labs and startups which you are going to create in the future.”

APPRECIATING THE INITIATIVES AT VIT BHOPAL UNIVERSITY:

General Dwivedi also highlighted VIT Bhopal University’s STARS programme, saying, “If there are people from such a wide variety of backgrounds, then my kudos to VIT, which has brought everyone together. And that’s why I must compliment the STARS (Support the Advancement of Rural Students) Scheme programme of VIT, through which so many students from different places are studying here.”

He also appreciated the university’s approach to creativity and alternative approaches, referring to its No-Bag Day. “That is something great. It was something very creative, and I have never seen it at any college or university.”

The address concluded with General Dwivedi urging the graduating students to translate their knowledge into action and innovation. He emphasised that the next phase of India’s growth will be shaped by young professionals who can combine technology, entrepreneurship and human judgement to build solutions for the country. His message placed the graduating students at the centre of India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

Nagpur, October 11: IIM Nagpur organised ‘Margdarshak’s Meet 2026’ on Sunday for students of its Professional Management Practice (PMP) course. The event brought more than 60 industry mentors to its sprawling campus at MIHAN, Nagpur. Students interacted with senior corporate leaders as part of the 8 months long mentoring initiative, to prepare them to have a smooth transition from campus to corporate life.

Dr. Pushp Kumar Joshi, former Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), was the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering on “Role of Mentors in Professional Success: A Personal Saga,” he encouraged students to develop clarity about their aspirations by being candid during their conversations with their respective mentors.

Dr. Joshi highlighted the importance of emotional quotient (EQ), intelligence quotient (IQ) and spiritual quotient (SQ), particularly in the era of artificial intelligence. “My life is bigger than my profession,” he said, encouraging students to look beyond their professional roles when considering their aspirations and personal development.

He also emphasised the need to develop spiritual quotient (SQ) from an early age. “SQ is the foundation of your self-esteem,” Dr. Joshi said, urging students to begin working on it early rather than waiting until they became senior citizens.

The experience-sharing session featured Mr. Sajjad Ahmed Shaik, Senior Director, Capgemini; Ms. Neha Mathur, former Chief Human Resources Officer, Urban Company; Mr. Praveen Gawali, Head of Human Resources (Textile), Raymond; and Mr. Lalit Kar, Senior Vice President – Workforce Management, Reliance Retail.

Sharing their mentoring experiences, the speakers encouraged students to remain alert and attentive, ask questions and draw practical insights from their mentors’ industry experience.

Prof. Alok Kumar Singh, Dean – Executive Education, delivered the welcome address, while Prof. Devashis Rath, Course Instructor, set the context for the programme. Students contributed through a Placecom presentation and cultural performances. Prof. Rath also proposed the vote of thanks at the inaugural session.

India, October 10, 2026: As the world celebrates the power of scientific discovery, 25 researchers from Shoolini University have been recognised in the latest World’s Top 2% Scientists list released by Elsevier, with seven also recognised for their career-long research impact.

Developed by a research team at Stanford University led by Prof John P. A. Ioannidis, in collaboration with Elsevier and Scopus, the latest database evaluates researchers worldwide and identifies the top 2% in each scientific subfield.

The latest list, released on October 7, 2026, draws on the August 1, 2026 Scopus data snapshot. It recognises researchers in two categories: Single-Year impact, based on citations received during 2025, and Career-Long impact, based on cumulative citations through the end of 2025. The methodology incorporates indicators including the composite c-score, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted measures and authorship-position metrics.

The recognition places Shoolini’s researchers alongside scientists from the world’s leading universities and research institutions. It is a global endorsement of research carried out in Shoolini University, across 12 scientific disciplines, covering Environmental Sciences and Nanotechnology to Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Pharmacology.

For Prof. P.K. Khosla, Chancellor, Shoolini University, the recognition is a reminder of the ambition that has guided the University since its beginnings. “This is a deeply proud moment for the entire Shoolini family and for me personally. When we started Shoolini, we had a simple but ambitious dream to create a university where young people could be inspired by all the knowledge around us, be curious, ask the right questions and ultimately make an impact in the world. Seeing 25 of our researchers earn global recognition is a sign that we are steadily moving towards that dream.” 

The recognition comes as Shoolini continues to strengthen its research ecosystem through interdisciplinary research, international collaborations, advanced laboratory infrastructure and competitive research funding. Researchers across the University work at the intersection of disciplines, with research spanning fundamental science, technology and applications with wider implications for society and industry. For Shoolini, the recognition is part of a larger ambition to build a research-led university where faculty and students have the opportunities to pursue questions that matter.

Reflecting on this recognition, Prof Atul Khosla, Vice-Chancellor, Shoolini University, said, “The last time our researchers featured among the World’s Top Scientists, I spoke about a dream that may have sounded audacious: that Shoolini should produce a Nobel laureate within the next ten years. I continue to believe that universities have to be audacious about what they can contribute to science and to society. 

Today, seeing 25 Shoolini researchers recognised in the latest World’s Top 2% Scientists list, gives that ambition an even stronger foundation. What makes me particularly proud is not simply the number, but the breadth and depth of research being undertaken across the University.

The Nobel dream remains audacious. We have a long way to go. But 25 researchers today tells us that we are moving in the right direction. And we certainly do not intend to stop here.” 

The latest recognition adds to Shoolini University’s growing research profile and reflects the work of its researchers across a diverse range of scientific fields.

Mumbai, 10 October 2026: K.P.B. Hinduja College of Commerce (Hinduja College), in association with Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) and Krisha Foundation, under the aegis of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), organised a Cycle Rally in Worli today to mark World Investor Week (WIW) 2026. More than 200 students, faculty members and invited guests took part.

The initiative highlighted the World Investor Week 2026 themes of Investor Resilience, Digital Deception and Scam Alert, encouraging participants to make informed investment decisions, recognise digital risks and stay vigilant against financial fraud, in line with SEBI’s WIW 2026 theme, “Samajh Se Investing Simple.”

Through the Cycle Rally, Hinduja College, in association with CDSL and Krisha Foundation, under the aegis of SEBI, took the investor education message to the streets of Mumbai. The initiative demonstrated that financial literacy extends beyond classrooms and encouraged students to share their learning with the wider community.

The Cycle Rally started and finished at the Hinduja College campus at Sadhana House, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, covering about 5 km. Riders carried a simple call to the public: invest with knowledge, verify before you trust, and stay alert to fraud.

For Hinduja College, the Cycle Rally was an extension of what it teaches every day. Its objective was to promote investor awareness, financial literacy, responsible investment practices and investor protection among students and the general public. As a commerce institution, the college trains students in finance, markets and investing; this initiative encouraged them to pass that learning on.

Expressing his views, Prof. (Dr.) Navin M. Punjabi, Principal, Hinduja College, said, “Hinduja College is delighted to organise this Cycle Rally in association with CDSL and Krisha Foundation, under the aegis of SEBI. A cycle symbolises the discipline an investor needs: balance, steady effort and the commitment to keep moving forward. Our message is simple—keep investing with discipline, awareness and knowledge. This approach can help build wealth in the long run. Investor Education cannot stay inside a textbook; through this Cycle Rally, our students carried the message of informed and safe investing to the community.”

Students were at the centre of the ride, participating as riders and volunteers and carrying messages on building investor resilience, recognising digital deception and spotting scams before money is lost. By explaining these ideas to fellow citizens, they practised financial literacy rather than only studying it.

Bengaluru, October 08, 2026: In yet another testament to their achievements, Greenwood High International School Sarjapur students delivered a strong performance at the CISCE National Girls’ Football Championship 2026, contributing to the Under-14 and Under-17 girls’ teams representing the Karnataka & Goa Region. The championship, held recently in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, brought together teams representing several CISCE schools from across the country in the U-14, U-17 and U-19 girls’ categories, with 11 teams competing in the U-14 category and 12 teams in the U-17 category. Seven Greenwood High students represented the region in the U-14 team, while two students represented the U-17 team.

The U-14 Karnataka & Goa Region team remained unbeaten throughout the championship, securing five consecutive victories. It began with a 2–0 win over North India, followed by a 5–0 victory against Bihar and a 5–0 win over the North East Region. A further 2–0 semi-final victory against North India took the team into the final, where it defeated West Bengal 1–0 to claim the national title. The team scored 12 goals without conceding a single goal across five matches, a notable defensive record in a national-level championship.

The Karnataka & Goa Region also secured the U-17 national title with an unbeaten campaign. The team defeated North West 3–0, Uttar Pradesh 4–0 and Uttarakhand 5–0 in its opening matches, before overcoming Bihar 3–0 in the semi-final. The final against Maharashtra ended goalless in regulation time, with the Karnataka & Goa Region winning 4–3 on penalties to claim the championship.

Commenting on the achievement, Mrs. Niru Agarwal, Vice Chairperson and Managing Trustee, Greenwood High International School, said, “Sport provides students with an opportunity to develop discipline, teamwork and the ability to work towards a common objective. The performance of our students at the national championship reflects the commitment and preparation required to compete at this level. We are pleased to see our students represent the Karnataka & Goa Region and contribute to its success at the national level. Opportunities to participate in competitive sport also enable students to develop confidence, responsibility and resilience through experience.”

The two championship victories reflect the consistency and competitive discipline demonstrated by the Karnataka & Goa Region across both age categories, with Greenwood High students contributing to the teams’ progress through the championship and their eventual national titles.

This year’s conference centers around the transformative theme of “Unlearning,” challenging educators to set aside outdated methodologies, implicit biases, and traditional teaching paradigms to make room for modern, student-centered practices fit for a rapidly evolving world.

As technology, artificial intelligence, and global dynamics reshape learning environments, the role of the educator is undergoing a fundamental shift. TeachConx will explore how letting go of legacy habits can foster deeper critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability in the classroom.

Throughout the two-day event, attendees will participate in practical breakout sessions focused on modern assessment, digital integration, student agency, and inclusive learning environments. Renowned educational leaders will deliver insightful keynote addresses examining the psychology and necessity of pedagogical unlearning, while structured networking opportunities will enable educators to exchange ideas, address shared challenges, and discover innovative strategies.

“Education is no longer just about accumulating knowledge; it’s about adaptability,” said Shefali Jhaveri, Head of Learning at Canadian International School, Bangalore. “To prepare our students for an unpredictable future, educators must first be willing to question long-held assumptions and unlearn habits that no longer serve today’s learners. TeachConX provides the ideal platform for educators to collaborate, reflect, and innovate together.”

TeachConx invites teachers, administrators, and educational practitioners across all disciplines to join this transformative gathering at the Canadian International School campus in Yelahanka, Bangalore, on October 29 and 30. Further information and registration details are available online at https://www.canadianinternationalschool.com/teachconx.