The event, organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, took place from November 26 to 29, 2024, at the Development Academy of the Philippines Conference Centre in Tagaytay City.

The conference theme, “Exploring the Nexus, Charting the Future: Harnessing Collaborative Excellence and Pioneering Research for Tomorrow’s Challenges,” brought together renowned academicians, researchers, and professionals from across the globe to discuss transformative strategies for the future of higher education.

Dr. Agarwal delivered an engaging and insightful online plenary address on 28th November,2024  on the topic: “Optimization of Academic Structures in Higher Education: Framework and Best Practices for the Reclassification of Faculty Positions in State Universities and Colleges.” Her presentation emphasized:

Establishing a transparent and standardized framework for reclassifying faculty positions, with clearly defined criteria, processes, and evaluation metrics.

Aligning the reclassification framework with accreditation standards and guidelines to enhance the academic quality and reputation of state universities and colleges.

Strengthening the competitiveness of state universities and colleges through effective academic restructuring.

The session was highly appreciated by the audience for its relevance and depth, sparking meaningful discussions on improving higher education systems globally.

Prof. Agarwal described the experience as both enriching and overwhelming, highlighting the value of collaborative knowledge-sharing in addressing the challenges and opportunities in higher education.

A key highlight of the Conclave was the IMC International Research Conference (IMC–IRC 2025), which brought together leading policymakers, CXOs, academic leaders, journal editors, researchers, and over 250 delegates from across the country. The event also featured more than 30 CXOs and 200+ academic leaders, making it one of the most prestigious gatherings in the management education ecosystem.

We are proud to share that Dr. Anusha Agarwal, Professor of Finance at I.T.S School of Management, Ghaziabad, presented a research paper titled “From Chalkboards to Chatbots: Harnessing AI in Indian MBA Programmes.” The paper critically examined whether the integration of AI-facilitated tools into MBA coursework leads to measurable improvements in knowledge acquisition and the development of higher-order thinking skills.

The Conclave was graced by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India, as the Chief Guest, and Dr. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, as the Guest of Honour. Their presence, along with the participation of top corporate leaders and academic thinkers, added immense value to the deliberations.

The participation of Dr. Anusha Agarwal in such a prestigious forum reflects the institution’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, thought leadership, and research-driven learning. It also reinforces the proactive role of I.T.S School of Management in engaging with contemporary debates that shape the future of management education in India.

Dr Mishra focused on the need of financial planning and H.R in different key areas as well as financial planning requirements as per employee’s life cycle approach.

The objective of the symposium was to create a platform for academics, researchers, and administrators to discuss the critical intersection of finance and HR. The aim is to highlight how these two functions, when integrated, can lead to sustainable institutional growth and academic excellence. 

Key learning from the FDP were:

Entrepreneurial Mindset & Problem-Solving – Identifying real-world problems and validating business ideas.

Lean Startup & Design Thinking – Using user-centric approaches to build and test solutions.

Value Proposition & Business Model Canvas – Creating structured business strategies aligned with customer needs.

Finance for Entrepreneurs – Understanding budgeting, planning, and fundraising.

Go-To-Market Strategies – Techniques for successfully launching and positioning a product in the market.

AI Ventures & Intellectual Property for Startups – Exploring AI-driven business opportunities and legal frameworks.

Capital Investment and Funding models and the role of financial structuring in business sustainability.

MVP- Guidelines for creating an MVP, Identifying key functionalities (example: Zappos). Prioritizing features and testing the MVP and gathering customer feedback for iteration and improvement.

Over all the 5-day FDP was enriching and insightful to understand the start-up ecosystem  supplemented with an opportunity to meet the Policy makers, Start-up Founders, Incubator heads and faculty colleagues from other institutes.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the summit, urging India to actively participate in global economic resets rather than remain a bystander. The summit provided a platform for experts to share essential insights on how India can thrive in a complex global landscape.Key discussions included India's semiconductor ambitions, the future of jobs, the investment landscape and many other current issues both in domestics and international scenarios.

The event featured prominent speakers from government, academia, and industry, including . Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate AffairsGovt. of India.), Uday Kotak (Founder & Director Kotak Mahindra Bank) , Chris Wood Global Head of Equity Strategy Jefferies ,  PK Mishra Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ,  Amitabh Kant G20 Sherpa , Bhupender Yadav Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dharmakirti Joshi ,Chief Economist Crisil , Laveesh Bhandari President CSEP, Sundeep Sikka ED & CEO Nippon India Mutual Fund , Tushar Vikram CEO & Country Head India Mashreq, Admiral (retd) R. Hari Kumar Former Chief of Naval Staff , Rajinder Singh Bhatia, Chairman Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited , Samir V Kamat Chairman DRDO), Amit Singh (C.E.O.): Adani Green Energy LTD., Dupesh Nanda (C.E.O.): Tata Power Renewable energy. Girish Tanti (C.E.O.):  Suzion Group, Sunil Vachani: Dixon Technologies , Ajai Chawdhary (one of the founder member of HCL), Samir Arora(investment Banker) : Helips capital to name a few.

The summit at Taj Palace successfully exposed I.T.S. School of Management students to real-world business perspectives while showcasing student talent to industry representatives. The connections established and knowledge gained will contribute significantly to students' professional development and the institution's industry relevance.

(HR Specialisation), successfully presented a research paper “Conscious Organisations : Finally Important”  at the esteemed International Management Perspective Conference (IMPeC) 2025 at IIM Sambalpur. The conference took place from January 30 to February 1, 2025, focusing on themes such as Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability. The event brought together scholars, researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers to facilitate knowledge exchange and research collaboration.

The IMPeC Conference 2025 served as a significant platform for academic discourse, featuring numerous research contributions, keynote speeches and case study presentations. The research paper presented by Mr. Akash Sharma and Dr. Richa N. Agarwal, titled “Conscious Organizations Finally Important: A Study of Green HRM,” delves into the relationship between Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) and employee engagement, motivation, commitment, and behaviour. The study highlights how organizations embracing GHRM policies foster a sustainable work environment and improve organizational performance.

The research employed a comprehensive quantitative approach, analysing data from multiple IT organizations and proposing a model that demonstrates how “conscious organizations” contribute to long-term business success and sustainability.

The experience was a remarkable opportunity for knowledge exchange and networking with academicians, industry experts, and policymakers.

Students from various colleges participated in the competition, and the evaluation was conducted based on their internship duration and experience in different companies. It was a great opportunity to assess the hard work and learning outcomes of the students.

The FDP focused on enhancing knowledge and skills in data analytics, covering various tools and techniques used in business management. More than 150 participants from different institutions attended the sessions, making it an interactive and insightful learning experience.

Dr. Prachi Pachaury expresses her gratitude to Dr. Ajay Kumar, Director, I.T.S School of Management, for providing this valuable opportunity. The program was highly beneficial in understanding the role of data analytics in decision-making and business applications.