Students of the human resource management school of Xavier University, Bhubaneswar, hosted a conference on industrial relations titled “Make in India: Initiatives and Changing Paradigms of Industrial Relations” on December 4 and 5. It was a national-level summit aimed at stimulating discussions between students and industry personnel by giving students a new perspective on existing and emerging trends in industrial situations. 

The students discussed various issues with the experts. There were panel discussions on issues, such as repositioning of industrial relations in the context of Make in India initiative, labour reforms and problems of handling disciplinary issues of contract labour. Students also presented papers on various topics. Justice Gopal Ballav Patnaik, former Chief Justice of India was the keynote speaker. An enthralling dance recital by dancers of Odisha Dance Academy left the audience mesmerised.

Philosophy day

A state-level seminar on the philosophy and practice of yoga was organised at Utkal University of Culture last Monday to mark World Philosophy Day. Scholars and students from various educational institutions took part in the seminar. Harmohan Mishra, a Sanskrit scholar, discussed yoga and the secrets behind its worldwide acceptance while former professor Aditya Kumar Mohanty spoke about the ever increasing importance of yoga in modern days. Students were shown various yogic postures to deal with a number of health-related problems and also to improve skin tone and reduce headaches and tension. The students were also engaged in debates on the core values of Indian civilisation.

Managerial skills

Students of International Management Institute, Bhubaneswar, took part in a management development programme on honing managerial skills last week. The two-day programme was custom designed for executives to sharpen their day-to-day executive and soft skills, including communication and presentation skills, leadership skills, interpersonal and negotiation skills, along with business etiquettes. 

The programme also covered team building and students discussed a number of topics related to management, advertising, marketing of media products and emerging trends in advertising. The faculty members of the institute cited the pressing need for enterprises to train their personnel to enhance learning and productivity. Another three-day programme was organised on.

“Applying Psychology to Influence and Persuade Others” for the executives of Power Grid Corporation of India from across the country. Students also took part in it and took lessons in influence of tactics, psychology of persuasion, verbal and non-verbal communication and attitude formation.

Philanthropy

Jaago, the students’ socio-educational club of the Shiksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University recently launched a playschool for underprivileged kids on the varsity campus at Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar. The university has provided space to the students to run the playschool. The students would spend an hour every evening and would make the kids learn rhymes and alphabets and numbers. They would also give them training on cleanliness and hygiene techniques. Every evening, the university buses bring schoolchildren from various nearby slum areas to the playschool. The students also provide them with snacks after the classes. The slum kids also undergo medical check-ups periodically. Various other students’ clubs of the university, such as photography, music and dance, also engage the students in various extracurricular activities. 

Cultural event

The cultural association of Sailabala Women’s College, Cuttack organised its first event of the academic session on December 8. Prominent young political leaders took part in the event and interacted with the students. Higher education minister Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi said the state government had planned to accord autonomous status to the college. The college was established in 1913 and is affiliated to Utkal University in Bhubaneswar. The students of the institution also organised including dance and music performances. Donning traditional Odia attires, the students grooved to a number of folk songs. Students from various departments of the varsity got an opportunity to know each other and exchange goodwill messages. 

Management meet

Asian School of Business Management, Bhubaneswar, organised its 25th National Management Colloquium on December 5 on “Logistics Optimization — Strategy to Execution.” N. Vaiyapuri, deputy chairman of Paradip Port Trust interacted with students and stressed on the effects that ports have on logistic industry in developing countries. He also presented some effective logistic optimisation strategies. The students presented their opinions on the difficulties faced by the logistic section in any business and stressed on the importance of honesty in logistics. Experts elaborated on the interdependency of logistics with the economy of the region and emphasised on the need of innovative solutions.

Self-defence camp

A self-defence camp for girl students was organised at Jaleswar Women’s (Junior) College in Baliapal. The students were given training on various self-defence skills through demonstration and training programme. The girls were taught various martial art skills to face an untoward situation. Martial art trainer Shankar Mandal conducted the programme. Students learnt martial art techniques with much enthusiasm.