Bhubaneswar, March 25: The silver jubilee convocation of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), was held this evening with degrees being conferred on 412 graduates for various programmes.

Twenty-five students were awarded gold medals. M.R. Raam Kumar of business management bagged the Ravi Sharma Memorial Award for best all rounder while Cathy Teresa Mathew received the Odisha Jesuit Society Medal for securing the first rank in rural management.

Rajive Kaul, chairman of the XIMB board of governors and chief of Nicco Corporation, gave away the Long Service medals to eight staff members for 25 years of service.

XIMB director Father Paul Fernandes presented the annual report of the institute for the academic year 2012-13, which highlighted the achievements of the students.

He said a few students had also got the opportunity to broaden their global outlook and enhance their presence in the international arena through initiatives such as international business conferences and student exchange programmes.

Chief guest Jaspal Singh Bindra, the general manager of Standard Chartered Bank India and South Asia, lauded the academic achievements of the students and called for “integrity, commitment and hard work in leading the country on the path of prosperity”.

Dean of administration Father P.D. Thomas and dean of academics Prof Subhajyoti Ray also addressed the gathering.

Institute authorities said that their first batch of the 3-Continent Master of Global Management programme was concluded successfully. This programme is the result of an alliance of XIMB with the Antwerp Management School, Belgium, and the Fordham Graduate School of Business, New York.

During the one-year course, students are required to stay and study in three different continents for a period of four months each. The aim is to develop students into “borderless managers”, who combine global exposure with local perspectives.