JGU celebrated its ninth anniversary and University Day on September 30, marking the day that the University’s first academic session began in 2009. Mr. R. Subrahmanyam, IAS, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India was the Guest of Honour. As part of the celebrations, JGU held an Anniversary Exhibition on “Institution Building for Nation Building”.

JGU hosted the first Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer Memorial Lecture on “Constitutionalism, Rule of Law and Access to Justice” by Mr. Gopal Subramanium, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India on 23 September 2018 at the University campus. After completing a degree in law from the University of Delhi, Mr. Subramanium began his career in 1980 at the Chambers of Mr. Soli Sorabjee. In the early years of his career, he acted as Standing Counsel for the Union of India before the Supreme Court and was also retained by M/S Amarchand Mangaldas & Hira Lal Shroff & Co. In 1993, he was designated Senior Advocate suo moto by the Supreme Court, one of the youngest in India’s history to receive the designation. Mr. Subramanium served as Additional Solicitor General of India from 2005 to 2009. He served as Solicitor General of India from 2009 to 2011, during which period he was also Chairman of the Bar Council of India.

Professor (Dr.) Sanjeev P. Sahni, Principal Director, Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences (JIBS) delivered a talk on “Maximizing Human Potential through Behavioural Competency” during the 93^rd Foundation Course at Dr. Marri Channa Reddy HRD Institute, Hyderabad on 4 September 2018. Near about 320 trainee officers from the All India Services and Central Civil Services attended the talk. He also conducted Psychometric Test for the participants and individual confidential reports were sent to each participant.

JIBS also conducted a talk on “Managing Relationship and Staying Happy” at the University campus on 25 September 2018. Dr. Yusuf Merchant, a well-known psychiatrist from Mumbai and affectionately called as Doc, was invited to deliver the talk. Nearly 250 students attended his talk. Dr. Merchant spoke about several topics including relationships, ways to manage them and drug addiction. He explained that it is self-belief along with integrity of character that offers a simple route to happiness and intertwined his life experiences with scientific theories on the functioning of the brain and how it alters under stress, depression and addiction. Dr. Merchant has also authored a book titled ‘Happyness: Life Lessons from a Creative Addict’

Four new appointments were made this month that will help consolidate institutional governance at JGU. The new appointments are Chief Operating Officer, Chief Proctor, and Dean and Vice Dean of the Jindal Global Business School.

• Office of Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Jitu Mishra was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at JGU. The Office of Chief Operating Officer will play a significant role in the overall functioning of the University with a focus on execution and implementation of all plans and policies. This Office will facilitate in building a sustainable institutional mechanism and organisational culture based on JGU’s Strategic Vision 2029. The main focus of this office is to strengthen the organisational framework with a view to ensuring that functional units under this office work efficiently and is able and empowered to fulfil its mission effectively.

As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Mishra will design and implement strategies, plans and procedures that will improve the administrative effectiveness of the university. His office will also oversee the administrative operations of the university and the work of the executives and staff of the departments under its mandate. The Office of the COO is expected to develop a culture of institutional performance by analysing and interpreting data and metrics that will measure and demonstrate the effectiveness of various administrative services that are rendered by the university to all its stakeholders.

• Office of the Chief Proctor

Professor Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik was appointed as the Chief Proctor at JGU. The Office of the Chief Proctor will ensure internal order, discipline and compliance in accordance with relevant policies, rules and regulations of the University. The Office will work on three pillars viz. Community Standards, Academic & Social Integrity and Student Discipline, Conduct & Behaviour. The Office will adopt a transactional and transformative approach to create a positive environment of well-being, responsibility, discipline and accountability at all levels. The functional areas of the Office will include the following: Student Involvement and Leadership; Academic and Social Integrity; Student Health Care, Hygiene and Sports; Campus Safety, Property, Access and Liaising with Government Administration; and, Care, Safety and Equality, in order to ensure compliance and disciplinary standards in all the aforementioned areas and work towards holistic development of students. Through these functional areas, the Office will assist the University towards strengthening institutional support; incorporating training, capacity building and outreach; and, building grievance redressal and conflict resolution mechanisms for the students.

The Chief Proctor will also be the Ex-0fficio Chairperson of the University Disciplinary Committee (UDC); and will also consider and recommend policies relating to the coordination and regulation of students’ activities, behaviour and compliance with community standards at all times within and outside the University including the time spent for internships, sports and/ or overseas for study abroad programmes, semester exchanges, summer/winter Schools etc. The Chief Proctor will closely work with Deans, Directors and Heads of various Administrative Units towards fulfilment of the mission of the Office. The Office of the Chief Proctor will be augmented with faculty and professional staff that includes Deputy Proctors and Assistant Proctors.

The Office will also facilitate and ensure due process standards and enjoy oversight over conduct and discipline, and incorporate grievance redressal mechanisms involving Students.  The Office, therefore, positively aids in bringing various Departments of the University – academic, administrative, student-affairs etc. together so that there is an improved atmosphere that is amenable to pursuit of academics and community life in the University.

• Acting Dean, Jindal Global Business School

Professor (Dr.) Rajesh Chakrabarti was appointed as the Acting Dean of Jindal Global Business School (JGBS). Professor Chakrabarti joined JGBS as Professor & Executive Vice-Dean in October 2016. He is an accomplished researcher, educationist and author. After completing his Bachelor’s degree from Presidency College in Kolkata, he obtained his Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. After a year of work at the Industrial Finance Corporation of India, he completed his Ph.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Professor Chakrabarti carries a rich set of experiences and perspectives from both academics and the real world. The range and depth of his academic work combined with his abiding interest in real-life issues will be highly relevant and valuable for JGBS.

• Vice Dean, Jindal Global Business School 

Professor (Dr.) Mayank Dhaundiyal was appointed as the Vice Dean of Jindal Global Business School (JGBS). In this capacity, Professor Dhaundiyal will be responsible for all aspects of administration at JGBS and report to the Acting Dean.

Professor Dhaundiyal joined JGBS as Associate Professor & Associate Dean in September 2017. He holds a Ph.D. in Strategic Management from Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, an M.Sc. in Marketing from Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland and a B.Tech. in Information Technology from Vellore Institute of Technology. Additionally, he also holds certifications in various domains from University of Manchester (UK), University College Dublin (Ireland), Northern Illinois University (USA), Indian Institute of Management (India), IDEO-U (USA) and Innovative Learning Solutions (USA).

Professor Dhaundiyal has a number of research papers to his credit which he has presented at the top strategy and management conferences around the world including Academy of Management, Strategic Management Society, Academy of International Business, European Academy of Management, British Academy of Management and Irish Academy of Management. He teaches courses in the areas of strategy, international business and innovation to executive, postgraduate and undergraduate students.

The Centre for Wellness and Counselling Services (CWCS) aims to offer comprehensive services, and will have trained psychologists who will offer full time guidance and counseling services at the University. Two psychologists will serve the Centre, in addition to 24/7 tele helpline access for the benefit of the students and the university community. In addition to the Counsellors, there will also be a Visiting Psychiatrist available on the campus.

The services at the Centre will first be rolled out for the students. In due time they will be extended to all other members of the JGU Community. Services will include therapy sessions and consultations (individual and group), workshops, capacity building programmes and cultural activities. The Centre will focus on the following – Time Management Skills, Self-Management Skills, Understanding Life, Motivation Building, Relationship Management, Emotional Regulation, Self-Esteem, Work Life Balance, Addictions etc. The work of the Centre will also focus on building Peer Mentors for Youth Leadership, prevention of Ragging and Bullying including concerns like cultural/ social adjustment; Emotional Wellness; Early Preventive Interventions; bridging the gap between Students and Faculty; promoting Positive Mental Health, Life Skills, Happiness and Harmony. All these activities will be implemented in a phased and structured manner which will be interactive and target oriented.

JGU organised the first Dr. Granville Austin Memorial Lecture on “The Judge as a Teacher” by Mr. Salman Khurshid, Senior Advocate Supreme Court of India at the University campus on 14 September 2018.

Dr. Granville Seward Austin was an American historian of the Indian Constitution. Austin received most of his early education at Norwich, Vermont, USA. Austin graduated from Dartmouth College with a BA in American Literature. He then earned a doctorate in Modern Indian History from Oxford University. He worked as a journalist/photographer and later served with the U. S. Information Service, Department of State, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and on the staff of a U. S. senator. He has held fellowships or grants from St. Antony’s College, Oxford, the Ford Foundation, the Fulbright Program, the American Institute of Indian Studies, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, and the Institute of Current World Affairs. Austin is the author of two seminal political histories of the constitution of India, The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation and Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience. Granville Austin died on 6 July 2014 and is survived by his four children, three grandchildren, and his wife, Nancy Austin, in Washington, D. C. In 2011, in recognition for his writing on the framing and working of the Indian Constitution, Granville Austin was awarded a Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian honor of the Republic of India. National Translation Mission of the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India has selected The Indian Constitution: Cornerstone of a Nation for translation into Indian languages. The book has already been published in Telugu, Marathi, Punjabi and Odia languages.

Mr. Salman Khurshid, who delivered the inaugural lecture, is a well-known educationist, social reformer and political thinker. He has been the Union Minister for External Affairs, Law and Justice, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, Minister for Water Resources, and Minority Affairs. Mr. Salman Khurshid always evinced a keen interest in academia. Having been a lecturer of Law at Trinity College, Oxford before joining the legal profession in India, he has continued his love for academia by writing books and articles, organizing and participating in Lectures and seminars, engaging with students of Law and young lawyers. In 2014, Mr. Khurshid was elected as an Honorary Fellow of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University. As a practitioner of Law in India, he has appeared in matters pertaining to different areas of Law. Mr. Khurshid was designated as a senior Advocate in 1999.

JGU hosted an interactive session on “Rights, Politics and Governance” on 19 September 2018 at the university campus. The panel included Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Hon’ble Minister for Local Government & Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Government of Punjab; Mr. Deepender Singh Hooda, Member of Parliament & Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy; Mr. Krishna Allavaru, Joint Secretary, All India Congress Committee & National In-Charge of Indian Youth Congress; Mr. Gautam Seth, Spokesperson, Indian National Congress; and Ms. Gurmehar Kaur, Writer, Student and Peace Activist.

The session was also attended by Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, JGU; Professor (Dr.) Y.S.R. Murthy, Registrar, JGU; and Professor Sudarshan Ramaswamy, Professor & Dean, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, JGU.

JGU held the fifth HR Conclave on the theme ‘Industry 4.o and Human Resource Challenges’. The conclave was hosted by the Jindal Global Business School (JGBS) at JGU in collaboration with Global Compact Network India. The event took place on the JGU campus, Sonipat on 6 September 2018.

The conclave witnessed professionals and specialists from the field sharing their views on the topic and mapping out Smart HR 4.0 practices.

HR Conclave 2018 aimed to draw attention towards the profound impact of Industry 4.0 on management practices, organisational processes, and new business models at large. The event provided a platform for industry veterans to discuss how Industry 4.0 is disrupting the future of Human Resources and address exciting challenges and opportunities for the HR function to tap the transformative power of Industry 4.0.

• About the Speaker

Mr. Tanveer Ahmed Mir, Advocate is a New Delhi-based criminal lawyer and founder partner of the law firm Lex Alliance in New Delhi (India). He has been practicing law since 1996. Originally from Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir and having had his schooling in Burn Hall School, Srinagar. Mr. Mir in early 1990’s shifted to the University of Delhi to pursue his legal studies. Mr. Mir completed his LL.B. & LL.M. at the Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. Since 1996, Mr. Mir has gained a stellar reputation as a high caliber criminal lawyer having appeared in a large number of important cases in New Delhi and elsewhere. Mr. Mir is the lead defence counsel for Dr. Rajesh Talwar & Dr. Nupur Talwar in the Aarushi Talwar – Hemraj Double Murder case having conducted the trial as well as led the defence of Talwars at the Allahabad High Court leading to their exoneration. Mr. Mir also represented accused in the 2G Spectrum case; he represents the accused in the Ryan School murder case.

Jindal Initiative on Research in IP and Competition (JIRICO) organised a seminar talk on IPR and emerging trends by Prof. Padmanabha Ramanujam, Dean, Academics, Unitedworld School of Law and United World School of Liberal Arts and Mass Communication, Karnavati University. The seminar took place in the JGU campus on 14 September, 2018.

About the Speaker

Padmanabha Ramanujam was awarded the distinguished Asia Link Fellowship, sponsored by the European Union at Hamburg University Institute of Law and Economics, Germany and the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Intellectual Property Rights from the University of East Anglia, UK, with a distinction. At University of East Anglia he was awarded the prestigious University of East Anglia International Scholarship, Norwich Law School Scholarship and was also adjudged the University of East Anglia “Best International Applicant Award”. He also holds a Master of Business Laws degree from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore and Bachelor of Law degree (B.A.L., LL.B.) from University Law College, Bangalore University.

• Some of the outstanding performances are as follows-

Dr. Mousumi Mukherjee, Assistant Director of IIHEd and founding Executive Director of the Centre for Comparative and Global Education was recently invited by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to serve as a resource person to develop a Handbook for teacher educators on “Global Citizenship Education” and “Education for International Understanding”. Dr. Mousumi Mukherjee was also invited to deliver a lecture on “Tagore @Illinois: Researching Global Connections in Education” on 28th August 2018 at the College of Education, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Mukherjee inaugurated the new semester of the “Global Studies in Education” programme at Illinois with her lecture as a successful alumna.

The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign is observing 150th anniversary celebrations and Tagore’s son, Rathindranath Tagore was the first Indian student at UIUC back in 1903. Dr. Mukherjee’s current research is exploring the historic connection between Tagore and Illinois bridging internationalization and social responsibility of higher education. Her lecture at Illinois was well attended by current students, as well as number of senior College of Education faculty and noted historian, Prof. Rajmohan Gandhi, who is Research Professor at the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Visiting Professor at the College of Education, University of Illinois.