News from the University

• DR. JAGDISH SHETH DELIVERS THE 3RD DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH LECTURE SERIES IN NMIMS UNIVERSITY

The eminent academician Dr. Jagdish Sheth delivered his lecture on the topic “Chindia Rising: Impact of Emerging Markets on Academic Research in Technology and Management” as part of the 3rd Distinguished Research Lecture Series. Dr. Jagdish Sheth is the Charles H. Kellstadt, Professor of Marketing in Goizueta Business School, Emory University. The session organized at Juhu Jagruti Hall, Mithibai College on November 1, 2011, saw an overwhelming participation from both faculty and students.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sheth said that while the 20th Century was driven by government policy and politics of advanced nations, the 21st Century will be driven by competitive markets and resources of emerging nations. It can be termed as the Asian century. The Growth of emerging markets will produce profound changes in our academic research. It will require searching for new prospectives and new domains of research. Biological sciences, democratization of innovation, entrepreneurship as a competitive advantage, conscious capitalism and disciplined democracies are exciting new research prospectives. Inclusive growth, globalization of competition, rise of social business, sustainability, and holistic human development provide new domains for research. India is a great laboratory for academic research. Scholars in India have home turf opportunity and should capitalize on these exciting new opportunities through a mindset change.

• VC CONFERRED ‘CHANGE LEADER AND INNOVATOR’ AWARD BY THE DEWANG MEHTA BUSINESS AWARDS ORGANISED BY BUSINESS SCHOOL AFFAIRE

• ANIL AGARWAL, VEDANTA CHAIRMAN, VISITS NMIMS

Mr. Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Group, was present at NMIMS in December 2011 for an interactive lecture. The number of Faculty members and students that attended the session was overwhelming to the extent that a few had to be refused entry into an auditorium bursting at its seams. He started with a 20 minute video that detailed his life. The surprise was how he had come to Mumbai with little more than a high school education and big dreams. Having shared his life’s story in a refreshingly humorous way, he opened the floor to questions. The jam-packed auditorium fired a slew of questions, each of which was answered in Mr. Agarwal’s trademark style that mixed humour with inspiration. At the end of 90 minutes, an enthralled audience rose in thunderous applause for a person who was more than a guest – he was an entertainer as well as an inspirational figure, an idol for many to look up to.