August 2022, Shillong. Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong, successfully inaugurated its ongoing Business Management Certificate program for Defence Officers on Friday 5th August 2022 at the IIM Shillong campus. In order to reduce the knowledge-action gap and manage the altering dynamics of the military and commercial sectors, the 6-month Certificate program intends to give the executives a thorough business management exposure to analytical, strategic, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Prof. D P Goyal, Director, IIM Shillong, Prof. Sitanshu Sekhar Das, Programme Coordinator, Prof. Vibhas Amawate, Chair, MDP & Consultancy, Brig Vinod S, SM, VSM, ADG DRZ – East attended the inaugural event. The Chief Guest for the event was Air Marshal D. K. Patnaik, AVSM, VM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command.

The inaugural ceremony started with an address note by Prof. Vibhas Amawate, Chair, MDP & Consultancy, on an auspicious note with the invocation and lighting of the lamp.

Following this, the ceremony was addressed by the Chief Guest, Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik, AVSM, VM, Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in C), Eastern Air Command with his auspicious Keynote.

Air Marshal Dilip Kumar Patnaik, AVSM, VM, Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC in C), Eastern Air Command, “while sharing his own experience of imparting executive learning, told the participants that this is a great opportunity to further their education from IIM Shillong while working in the defence. In order to become leaders, he advised participants to learn by giving their best shot and to adopt different worldviews.

He continued, that a happy worker is a performing worker and the “FAUJ” is a very different area in itself from the corporate world. In order to learn it is important that they unlearn what they already know in order to absorb the information, the faculty exposes them to. Studying at IIM Shillong in very pleasant weather has special advantages. He went on to describe how the program appeals to defence authorities, exposes learners to challenging real-world business scenarios from a variety of industries, organizations, and management specializations, and is beneficial for the country by relying on information from IIM Shillong.”

Through interactive lectures, case studies, sessions with industry experts, management games, simulations, and student participation, the course seeks to emphasize experiential learning to the Indian Defence Forces, which are among the best in the world and are recognized for their competence, prowess, morality, size, and technology.

Prof. D.P. Goyal, Director, IIM Shillong explained, “how the program is appealing to defence officers. This program will build on the skills defence officials already possess as a result of their years of excellent service to the nation, allowing them to utilize the classroom activities and interact with peers to further enhance their skills. The program offers an opportunity to update and refresh one’s skills using the newest, quickly developing technologies. It is a specialized curriculum designed to equip defence commanders with the skills, knowledge, and understanding needed for a seamless transfer into the business world. Dr. Goyal stressed to everyone in attendance that they should approach the six-month course like students, without taking into account their respective positions or titles and try to understand and learn from one another. He continued, “IIM Shillong provides a variety of methods by deliberately blending lectures, case studies, discussions, group projects, field trips, reading, and discussions.”

Prof. Sitanshu Sekhar Das, Program Coordinator, BMPDO delivered the closing address with a vote of thanks and the ceremony was concluded.