Key highlights included:

- Fundamentals of options trading, call and put options, and practical knowledge of options strategies

- Risk management and market behaviours, with live market examples and case studies

- Hands-on trading experience on Zerodha's platform, with real-time market data and advanced tools

Finvest: The Finance Club welcomed the gathering, highlighting financial literacy's importance. Mr. Kumar shared expert insights, and participants engaged in interactive discussions and practical trading sessions.

DAY 1: DESIGN THINKING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL FOUNDATIONS

The program commenced with a welcome address by Prof. (Dr.) Ajay Kumar, Director–PGDM I.T.S School Of Management, who emphasized the growing relevance of design thinking and entrepreneurship in today’s innovation-driven economy. He highlighted the importance of creativity, empathy, and problem identification as core skills for future professionals.

Following the inaugural address, Dr. Ashu Jain formally initiated the workshop with an energetic and interactive session. An ice-breaker activity was conducted in which participants introduced themselves, shared their favourite entrepreneurs or companies, and discussed what they had learned from them. This activity helped in building rapport among participants and created an open and enthusiastic learning environment.

The core focus of Day 1 was Design Thinking as a human-centred approach to problem-solving. Dr. Jain explained that design thinking is not limited to designers but is a powerful tool for entrepreneurs, managers, and innovators. The session covered the five stages of design thinking—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—with relatable examples and real-world applications.

Participants were also introduced to:

·         The concept and meaning of entrepreneurship

·         Qualities and mind set of successful entrepreneurs

·         Creative confidence and risk-taking

·         Entrepreneurial opportunity recognition

·         Introduction to Business Model Canvas (BMC)

Several short activities, including creative sketching and problem-framing exercises, were conducted to reinforce learning. The sessions were highly engaging, and students actively participated, making Day 1 both informative and enjoyable.

DAY 2: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Day 2 focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of the legal and practical aspects of entrepreneurship, with special emphasis on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Dr. Ashu Jain explained the significance of protecting innovation and creativity in startups and entrepreneurial ventures.

The session covered the basics of:

·         Patents

·         Trademarks

·         Copyrights

·         Designs and Geographical Indications

·         Importance of IPR in start-up growth and market competitiveness

The concepts were explained in a simple and practical manner using real-life examples, making the session highly informative and relevant for aspiring entrepreneurs.

On Day 1, the sessions emphasized the fundamentals of Business Analytics, explaining the distinction between Business Intelligence, Analytics, and Data Science, and highlighting various types of analytics (descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive). A hands-on session on Excel focused on essential techniques such as data cleaning, pivot tables, and advanced functions like LOOKUP and conditional formatting.

Day 2 delved into Business Analysis frameworks, documentation processes such as BRD and FRD, and best practices in Data Visualization and storytelling. This day also included practical exposure to Power BI, enabling participants to design interactive dashboards and work with DAX functions.

On Day 3, the focus shifted to Data Analytics using Python. Participants were introduced to key libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib, followed by a session on the role of a business analyst in project management, covering methodologies like Agile and Waterfall. Practical work involved performing exploratory data analysis (EDA) and basic forecasting models using Python.

Day 4 explored advanced dashboarding and storytelling techniques, offering comparative insights into Power BI, Tableau, and Looker Studio. Business case studies such as customer churn analysis and sales forecasting were discussed. Participants engaged in hands-on practice building interactive dashboards using Tableau and Looker Studio.

Finally, Day 5 was a full-day deep dive into Tableau.

The FDP concluded with the design and publication of comprehensive business dashboards addressing various domains like sales, marketing, and HR.

Overall, the FDP significantly enhanced expertise in business analytics tools and methodologies, equipping the learners with the necessary skills to integrate data-driven decision-making into academic, research, and consultancy projects.

Speaker for the workshop was Mr.VarunKhanna, Senior trainer from Barclays. First day in the beginning of the workshop Dr. Ajay Kumar, Director – I.T.S School of Management, Ghaziabad welcomed the speaker Mr.VarunKhanna by presenting a plant sapling.

Total 21 students from PGDM 1st year & 2nd Years attended the workshop. The objective of the workshop was to equip participants with essential soft skills and communication techniques to enhance their personal and professional effectiveness. The workshop covered the following topics;

·         Building Confidence and self-Esteem

·         Time Management & Prioritization

·         Team Building & Collaboration

·         Presentation & Public Speaking Skills

The workshop was interactive and participatory, with a mix of lectures, group discussion, role plays and games.

During the second day of the workshop Dr. Ajay Kumar in his address said that all the participants should practice the takeaways from the workshop in their professional life effectively. Students will be awarded with certificates of participation by Barclays. At the end Dr. Ajay Kumar presented a plaque to the guest speaker Mr.Varun Khanna as a token of gratitude.

The session aimed to provide insights into how international business differs from domestic trade and the various geopolitical factors influencing global commerce.

2.0     Highlights
The workshop began with a fundamental question: “How different is international business from domestic trading?” This set the stage for a discussion on key distinctions such as regulatory frameworks, currency fluctuations, market dynamics, and cultural considerations that businesses must navigate when operating internationally.

The workshop also shed light on the dominance of the US dollar in global transactions, emphasizing its role as the world’s primary reserve currency. A thought-provoking discussion emerged when a student raised question about the potential of a BRICS currency as an alternative to the USD, leading to an engaging debate on the feasibility and implications of such a financial shift.

The discussion progressed to the significant role geopolitics plays in shaping international business. Key topics covered included:

1.      Resource Nationalism: The control and protection of natural resources by sovereign nations and its impact on global supply chains.

2.      Protectionist Policies: The principles of protectionism, including tariffs, quotas, and subsidies, and their effects on international trade.

3.      Trade Wars : Analysis of recent trade conflicts, including the economic tensions between major economies.

4.      Role of the World Trade Organization(WTO):How the WTO facilitates trade dispute resolution and enforces trade agreements.

The workshop covered the various instruments used in international trade to exert political and economic influence, including:

a.      Sanctions:Economic penalties imposed on nations to enforce international laws and norms.

b.      Embar goes: Trade restrictions imposed on specific countries to achieve geopolitical objectives.

c.       Other Trade  Barriers: Non-tariff barriers such as licensing requirements and customs regulations that impact global trade.

The interactive nature of the workshop fostered active student participation. Engaging discussions, critical questions, and insightful debates marked the session. The satisfaction and enthusiasm of the students were evident in their expressions and positive feedback as they exited the auditorium.

3.0     Conclusion

The workshop successfully provided students with a comprehensive understanding of international business and its geopolitical influences. By addressing real-world trade issues and engaging with thought-provoking questions, the session enriched students’ knowledge and critical thinking abilities, preparing them for future challenges in the global business landscape.

The workshop took place on 17 February from 1:30 pm to 5 pm focusing on HR Analytics. Mr. Rohit Bharadwaj conducted the initial session, followed by Dr. Richa N. Agarwal subsequent one. 

Mr. Rohit Bhardwaj delivered an informative and insightful session on HR Analytics, providing a comprehensive overview of its definition, types, importance, and applications. He elaborated on the various aspects of HR analytics, including descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, highlighting their significance in driving organizational success. The session also delved into key HR metrics and KPIs, such as workforce demographics, diversity, recruitment, employee performance, engagement, satisfaction, retention, and turnover, emphasizing their role in informing strategic HR decisions. Furthermore, Mr. Bhardwaj underscored the importance of HR analytics in enabling data-driven decision making, leading to improved recruitment, retention, enhanced employee experience, increased diversity and inclusion, and ultimately, driving business outcomes.

Dr. Richa Narayan Agarwal led an interactive and informative session, focusing on the practical application of Excel formulas in creating dashboards and charts. Participants gained hands-on experience in designing various types of dashboards and metrics, exploring the capabilities of Excel in data visualization.The session delved into the importance of correlation formulas in data analysis, enabling attendees to identify relationships between different variables. Dr. Agarwal provided clear explanations and examples, illustrating how correlation formulas can be applied to real-world organizational challenges.By mastering these formulas, participants learned how to uncover valuable insights, detect trends, and identify areas for improvement. This knowledge will enable them to inform data-driven decisions, drive business outcomes, and contribute to organizational growth

Through this session, attendees developed a deeper understanding of Excel's capabilities and gained practical skills in data analysis and visualization, empowering them to make a more significant impact in their organizations.

A financial model represents a company's past and present operations while forecasting future performance. Understanding these models is crucial, as they serve as decision-making tools for businesses. Executives use them to estimate costs and project potential profits for proposed ventures.

During the workshop, students developed a PPP Financial Model in Excel, integrating past, present, and forecasted data. The model was structured into three key components: Input, Output, and Management Summary. By the end of the session, students were able to analyze whether an investment in the project would be viable.

The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation, with students actively engaging in discussions. The debriefing session highlighted the importance and real-world relevance of financial modeling. The highly interactive nature of the session ensured deep learning and engagement among students.

The workshop introduced students to the CHAMPS framework, which emphasizes Commitment, Hard Work, Attitude, Motivation, Passion, and Self-Discipline as essential qualities for career success. Dr. Kumar explained how these attributes play a crucial role in shaping an individual’s professional journey and how students can integrate these principles into their daily lives to achieve their long-term goals. Dr. Kumar elaborated on the importance of understanding corporate culture, workplace ethics, and industry demands. Real-world case studies and examples were shared to help students align their academic learning with practical industry applications. Additionally, the session emphasized the need for a success-oriented mindset, encouraging students to develop resilience, adaptability, and a continuous learning approach to stay competitive in the ever-evolving job market.

The session not only enhanced their understanding of success principles but also motivated them to take proactive steps towards personal and career growth.