IIM Shillong inaugurated its Business Management Certificate programme for defence officers today in order to reduce the knowledge-action gap and manage the altering dynamics of the military and commercial sectors.
The six-month course intends to give the executives an exposure to analytical, strategic and entrepreneurial thinking.
The chief guest was Air Marshal DK Patnaik, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Air Command. IIM Shillong Director, Prof DP Goyal, programme coordinator Prof Sitanshu Sekhar Das and others were also present.
Air Marshal Patnaik shared his own experience of imparting executive learning and told the participants that this was a great opportunity to further their education from IIM Shillong while working in defence. In order to become leaders, he advised participants to learn by giving their best shot and adopting different worldviews.
“The ‘FAUJ’ is a very different area in itself from the corporate world. It is important to unlearn what you already know in order to absorb the information the faculty exposes you to,” he said.
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, organisations 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 emphasise experiential learning to the Indian defence forces.
“This programme will build on the skills defence officials already possess as a result of their years of excellent service to the nation, allowing them to utilise the classroom activities and interact with peers to further enhance their skills. It is a specialised curriculum designed to equip defence commanders with the skills, knowledge and understanding needed for a seamless transfer into the business world,” Goyal said.
