The professionals at the convocation. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, July 27: The first batch of XLRI’s executive diploma course in human resource management (HRM) passed out today. Their convocation was held this evening.

Conducted for senior-level working executives, the 16-month residential programme that kicked off in 2005 had 15 students. The course of 16 months’ duration is spread over four terms of four months each.

“The unique programme was launched in 2005 by XLRI in association with Larsen & Toubro Limited. The first batch of 15 students comprised 10 students from L&T, two from Mahindra & Mahindra and three from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited,” said Fr Casimir Raj, the director of XLRI.

Th executive diploma in HRM is an innovative programme aimed at helping working professionals get a professional qualification in HR without interrupting their career.

“There is tremendous need of good and experienced HR personnel today and this programme is a part of that endeavour to bridge the corporate gap,” said Sujatha Patel, head, talent management, Larsen and Toubro Limited (L&T) and a 1981 batch alumnus of the premier B-school.

Besides academics, the course also emphasises on industry practice, as the last term of four months is exclusively devoted to an action research-based project.

“The course follows a unique structure with two contact sessions per term, which are residential in nature. The programme consists of 15 courses with each course having an eight-day contact sessions at places decided mutually by XLRI and the sponsoring organisations,” said officials.

The course also enables the participants to get tuned to the latest developments and best practices in HR and give them the opportunity to head the HR function in the operating divisions once they go back.

The new batch of the course consists of five executives from L&T, eight from M&M and three from Bhel.

On if XLRI was looking at any other such tie-up with companies, the director of the XLRI said another batch with executives from Accenture would graduate this August.

“From next year, we will start courses for Wipro and Cognizant as well,” said Raj.