IIM Bangalore (EPGP) One Year MBA: Inaugurates Diverse 15th EPGP Batch 2023-24 of 75 Students; 15 Students with International Work Ex

IIM Bangalore inaugurated its one Year full time MBA (EPGP) batch on March 25, 2023 with 75 students. The inaugural function was held in the presence of the Chief Guest, Amith Parameshwara, alumnus of the very first batch of IIMB EPGP; IIMB Director Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan; Prof. Ashis Mishra, Chairperson, Admissions and Financial Aid; Prof. Rajendra K Bandi, Dean Administration; Prof. Ashok Thampy, Chairperson, EPGP and faculty in the Finance & Accounting area and other faculty and staff members. Earlier in the morning, the ceremonial lamp to inaugurate the programme was lit by a student in the presence of the chief guest, the IIMB Director and his faculty colleagues.

An EPGP student, from the Class of 2023-24, lights the lamp at the inauguration. Prof. Rajendra K Bandi, Dean Administration, IIMB, Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIMB, Amith Parameshwara, former Managing Director, Accenture Strategy and Consulting, Prof. Ashis Mishra, Chairperson, Admissions and Financial Aid, IIMB, and Prof. Ashok Thampy, Chairperson, EPGP, IIMB, applaud.

• Female students constitute 10% of the batch. 
• Batch size: 75 Students
• The average work experience of the Batch is 7 years
• 15 Students have International Work Experience 
• 70 students come from engineering background but have worked in sectors as diverse as BFSI, Manufacturing, IT Services, Defense, Oil/ Energy/ Petroleum etc

In his keynote address at Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), the Chief Guest, Amith Parameshwara, alumnus of the very first batch of the Executive Post Graduate Programme (EPGP) and former Managing Director, Accenture Strategy and Consulting, said what he values most about IIMB is the fact that it places trust and faith in all its students and cherishes the success of all its alumni and said, “In the short period of just 15 years, the EPGP has grown tremendously in global rankings like FT, Bloomberg and QS, and in the roles that its alumni now occupy. As a school, IIMB is just 50 years old, but it has made a remarkable name for itself.” He further added, “Reinvent yourself every 10 years; develop grit, resilience and equanimity that are required while handling complex situations; focus on your mental and physical health.” 
 
Welcoming the 15th EPGP Batch, Prof. Ashis Mishra, Chairperson, Admissions and Financial Aid, congratulated the students for making it to the prestigious and globally top-ranked programme and said, “We received 718 applications and selected 75 students. So, in a way, you are the chosen ones.”
 
Prof. Rajendra K Bandi, Dean Administration, congratulated the students for having made the “right choice” in coming to IIMB and told them they are truly special as they are the golden jubilee batch of the institute and said, “This is also the first batch where all of you will be living on campus thanks to the new hostels that we have here for you. Enjoy your stay here by interacting and networking with students of other programmes.”

IIMB Director Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan, encouraged the students to bring their wide industry exposure and experience to the class through their perspectives and insights. He told them to make the most of all learning activities on campus – seminars, guest lectures, workshops on campus. Drawing attention to the case-study method followed at IIMB, he told students to take their course work seriously and work systematically. Observing that the Indian economy is poised for exciting times, he spoke of opportunities for qualified MBA graduates from one of the top management institutes in the country, which offers one of the best learning experiences and said, “Have a clear and structured plan for yourself that includes what you will do here as a student and what you want to do in your career, and work with the Office of Career Development Services at IIMB to execute this plan.”   

Prof. Ashok Thampy, Chairperson, EPGP and faculty in the Finance & Accounting area, said, “Over the last 15 years, the EPGP has been going from strength to strength. Global and national rankings are a testament to this growth. We have 1000+ alumni. As many of you are making a pivot in your career through this programme, do ensure that your one-year at IIMB a transformative experience. Change involves pressure; it calls for effort, but it also promises growth.”
 
Prof Rahul De, Dean Programmes, described the EPGP as one of the finest programmes in the world and said, “In what is unique to IIMB, you will get the opportunity to choose from over 50 electives, along with students from our other programmes, so enrich your learning with this opportunity.”
 
IIMB’s Chief Administrative Officer Colonel (Retd) SD Aravendan, Hostel Officer Komala Devi, Vanitha Anand and the EPGP Office team were among those who were a part of the inauguration. The inauguration included a 20-minute Q&A session on course content, curriculum review, choice of electives, and career prospects for students as well as responsible use of AI by organisations and the regulatory role of governments in this space.