A Round-up of the Kreaverse
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Hello October! We have stepped into the last quarter of 2024 and it is a time for healthy reflection, pauses, retrospection and taking a leaf out of lessons learnt. While students are gearing up to wrap up their assessments and head for a break, the campus continues to exude high energy. This week witnessed the inauguration of the sixth batch of the L&T EMBA programme by IFMR GSB (Graduate School of Business). Meanwhile students of IFMR GSB have been busy preparing for the exciting placement season that has commenced. Final year students of SIAS (School of Interwoven Arts and Sciences) are also exploring higher-education and career options that align with their long-term goals.
The learning journey at Krea introduces students to self-discovery and skills-alignment, while also equipping them with qualities that are often underrated – of resilience and adaptability. It is a journey where they co-create; as they explore, experiment and discover. At Krea, students are not passive recipients but active participants in their education. Graduating cohort passes this baton on to the next, preparing themselves to be true leaders, each unique and empowered by the power of knowledge.
As we dispatch this edition, we are also opening Krea’s doors for the next Admissions cycle across the schools and look forward to welcoming eager new minds as they begin their Krea journeys soon.
For real-time updates, please do follow us on our social media channels. If you have stories or news to share with the Krea community, we invite you to connect with us at all.commsteam@krea.edu.in
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Keynote Speaker at BITSLAW Writing Centre Launch
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Dr Anannya Dasgupta, Director, Krea-CWP (Centre for Writing and Pedagogy) was the keynote speaker at the launch of the new BITSLAW Writing Centre. The event was held on 1 October, 2024. On 3 October, Dr Dasgupta held an assessment workshop for the law faculty at BITS Law School for the newly launched centre, working with student writing to demonstrate how feedback to student writing can help fine-tune classroom instruction.
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From Frontiers in Physics 2024
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Dr Sushant Raut, Assistant Professor of Physics, SIAS, Krea University, was an invited speaker at the Frontiers in Physics 2024 conference conducted by the School of Physics, University of Hyderabad between 27-28 September, 2024. The conference included invited and contributed talks from the fields of particle physics, classical and quantum optics, and condensed matter physics. The talk was a review on neutrinos in and beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, and surveyed current research areas and future directions in neutrino physics.
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Delegation at the International Symposium on Student Life
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The International Symposium on Student Life took place at GITAM University, Bengaluru, between 27-28 September 2024. The symposium's theme, Beyond the Books: Unlocking the Full Potential of Student Life, focused on key aspects such as Transforming Student Experiences, Shaping Student Leaders, Building Communities, Empowering Voices, and Technology in Student Life.
A collaborative delegation from Krea University and SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation) presented their research at the symposium. The delegation comprised Amanjit Kaur Ahuja, Director of Student Services, Krea University, Aparna Raghavan, in-house counsellor, Krea University, Diya Ahuja (Alumnus, Cohort of 2024, Krea University), and Dr Shiva Prakash Srinivasan.
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Their research paper, titled Maximizing Their Potential: Providing Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Mental Health Challenges in Institutions of Higher Education: A Krea University Experience, outlined a proposed policy framework to assist higher education administrators, educators, and mental health professionals in developing guidelines for reasonable accommodations for students facing mental health challenges in India. Aligned with existing Indian legislation, UGC regulations, and the social model of disability, their work offers disorder-specific guidelines to support students with mental health challenges. In light of the diversity of higher education institutions in India and the varied manifestations of mental health conditions, the paper proposed a principles-oriented framework to navigate the challenges in providing appropriate accommodations. The paper was well-received at the symposium.
In addition to the research presentation, Amanjit Kaur Ahuja was invited to chair a paper presentation panel titled, Balancing Act: Strategies for Student Well-being and Academic Success. She was also invited to participate as a panelist in the roundtable discussion titled, Global Perspectives on Student Life: Innovations & Best Practices. This discussion featured faculty and administrators from various universities in India and abroad, focusing on effective strategies and transformative initiatives to promote a sense of belonging and strengthen student affairs practices across institutions globally.
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Of Papers and Publications
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Jyothis Maria Franklin, PhD Scholar, IFMR GSB, Krea University successfully presented a research paper titled, Understanding the Literature on Advertising Ethics co-authored with Dr Jayasankar Ramanathan, Associate Professor in Marketing, IFMR GSB, Krea University at the 15th European Marketing Academy Conference (EMAC) Regional 2024 hosted by the ISEG (Lisbon School of Economics and Management) and ADVANCE - Research Center in Management between 25-27 September, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. She also held the position of session chair in the same session.
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This study reviews the literature on advertising ethics and identifies research gaps to provide scope for future work. The relevant literature was identified by searching Scopus and Web of Science. The final sample of 119 articles was carefully read to determine dimensions and variants, which were used in morphological analysis (MA) to construct a cross-consistency matrix (CCM) and obtain a comprehensive understanding of the domain of advertising ethics. The CCM was used to identify explored and unexplored areas of study. A comprehensive MA framework of 6 dimensions and 27 variants of advertising ethics research was constructed and led to the identification of 87 research gaps. This study contributes to the literature by identifying research gaps to be pursued in subsequent work. In addition, this study is the first in the advertising ethics literature to construct an MA framework.
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On 28 September, 2024, four families of prospective students visited the Krea University campus as part of Discover Krea. The students were from International School of Hyderabad; Sishya Senior Secondary School, Adyar, Chennai; APL Global School, Chennai and a transfer student from The Pennsylvania State University. Discover Krea, the campus tour aims to provide an overview of the campus, its facilities and a 360 degree view of life in this green and vibrant space for students who may wish to pursue their studies at Krea.
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Cryptocurrency Research Conference 2024
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Professor Srinivasan Kalyanasundaram, Professor of Practice in Finance, IFMR GSB, Krea University attended Cryptocurrency Research Conference 2024 (CRC 2024) at Zayed University in Dubai and presented his paper co-authored with Sanjana Mattaparthi, Cohort of 2026, SIAS, Krea University on Role of CBDCs in Shaping International Payments and Promoting Inclusive Finance. The paper presentation was well received with interactive questions and answers at the conference.
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The conference was filled with engaging discussions and innovative research on Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, and CBDCs from all parts of the globe. The conference showcased groundbreaking ideas shaping the future of digital finance and promoting financial inclusion, and papers were presented by experts in the field of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain.
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Dr Sayandeb Chowdhury, Senior Assistant Professor of Literature, SIAS, Krea University recently penned an article for The Wire titled, The Rise and Fall of Ambedkar University. The article, in the author’s words, is an insider’s regretful look at how a good institution in the making has declined so rapidly.
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Navigating the MBA Journey
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IFMR GSB, Krea University, had the pleasure of hosting Debashish Ghosh, Senior Vice President & Country HR Head at Berkadia, for a guest lecture on 29 September, 2024. With his extensive experience as a strategic HR leader, Debashish offered invaluable guidance to students on navigating their MBA journey.
In the first session, Winning MBA, he addressed the first-year students, outlining three essential skills every MBA student must cultivate for success. He emphasised the significance of all aspects of the MBA experience, particularly the value of peer-to-peer interactions and learning beyond the classroom.
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Debashish reminded students that failure is a stepping stone to success and the ability to recover from setbacks is crucial in shaping one's journey. The second session, Cracking the Campus Interview: How to Answer the Tough Questions, was a detailed masterclass on understanding CVs and job descriptions, underscoring their interdependence. Debashish shared expert insights on preparing for personal interviews, offering strategies to confidently handle challenging or unexpected questions.
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On 30 September, 2024, Krea University hosted a thought-provoking talk by Professor Raghuram Rajan, Member, Governing Council, Krea University and Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at Chicago Booth, where he discussed the future of India's development, drawing from his book Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India's Economic Future. Professor Rajan emphasised that India faces significant challenges, particularly in creating enough jobs and increasing female employment rates. He noted that the pandemic has worsened these issues, making it even more crucial for India to explore new, innovative pathways. Rather than fixating on one specific route, he argued that India must expand its options.
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Professor Rajan challenged the traditional belief that manufacturing is the key to prosperity. While China has succeeded through manufacturing, India has developed a stronger service sector. He posed an important question: Is India prematurely de-industrialising, or is it playing to its strengths? He pointed out that many semi-skilled jobs, which are important to our day-to-day lives, like plumbing and repair, are found in the service industry and hence shouldn’t be seen as inferior to manufacturing.
He also highlighted the global challenges in low-skill manufacturing, noting fierce competition from countries like Vietnam and Mexico along with protectionist policies, as well as the increasing role of robotics. He used the "smile curve" to illustrate how value in production is now concentrated in research, development, and marketing. Companies like Apple, which focus on intellectual property, capture most of the profits, leaving little room for those focused solely on manufacturing.
Professor Rajan repeatedly stressed that India doesn’t have to choose between manufacturing and services but should strive to excel in both. He cited examples like Tilfi, which rebranded traditional weaving, and Agnikul, a company innovating in rocket design, as successful models that combine services and manufacturing.
A particularly compelling point he made was the need for India to focus on developing intellectual capital rather than just industries. He argued that while building industries is important, nurturing minds and fostering innovation are the true engines of future growth. By investing in education, research and creativity, India can position itself as a leader in high-value services. Professor Rajan suggested that India prioritise the development of intellectuals — those who can drive innovation and design the products of tomorrow — rather than focussing solely on physical industries.
Report by Pranvi Khare, Cohort of 2027, SIAS
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From the World of Retail Dynamics
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On 19 September, 2024, IFMR GSB, Krea University hosted a guest lecture by Shriram Sanjeevi. With 27 years of experience in retail, Shriram has played a critical role in the Great Indian Retail story and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Minmini, a hyperlocal social discovery app.
During his lecture, Shriram shared valuable insights into the evolving landscape of retail management. He spoke about four key factors that influence consumer purchases being price, location, merchandise, and special services. He also discussed the concept of the retail mix, emphasising how a well-balanced combination of product, price, place and promotion can significantly enhance a retailer's performance. He explained how leveraging technology and data analytics is vital for understanding consumer preferences and optimising operations. He shed light on agility and customer-centric approach, wherein future retailers must remain adaptable and focused on customer needs, as the retail landscape continues to evolve rapidly.
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Shriram’s extensive experience and insights serve as a valuable guide for aspiring retail professionals, highlighting the importance of understanding consumer behavior and adapting to the dynamic retail environment.
Report by Oshi Kumari, MBA Cohort of 2025, IFMR GSB
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The Chemistry Discipline at Krea University presented a talk titled, From Overtone Spectroscopy to Spin Noise – Some Unconventional Applications of NMR by Professor K V Ramanathan on 1 October, 2024. NMR spectroscopy is an indispensable tool for many areas of chemistry, material science and structural biology. In addition to routine usage, NMR is also known to be a versatile technique with several unconventional applications. In this talk, some of these were highlighted. Professor K V Ramanathan, is CSIR Emeritus Scientist, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
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Welcome to Decoding Disciplines - The Krea Way, where we break down the unique academic approach of IFMR GSB, Krea University. In this episode, we have Dr Debashish Mishra, Assistant Professor, Data Science & Information Systems, IFMR GSB, Krea University explaining the philosophy and pedagogy of the Data Science & Information Systems area at IFMR GSB. Join us as we explore the Krea Way of learning and gain a deeper understanding of the Data Science area at IFMR GSB.
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Dreams do come true, especially if you have apt skills to support your journey, combined with grit, resilience and the right mentors. Prakhar Gupta recounts how Deloitte was one of the first few firms on campus for the summer internship recruitment and his participation and selection was nothing less than ticking off a major one from the wish list. His unifocal determination and zest to truly live his dream internship each day, come clear in all his conversations. Isn’t that what MBA is all about? Honing the right skillset, being guided by fine faculty, supported by enthusiastic peers and finally landing on your dream career. It is here at IFMR GSB.
Nine students from IFMR GSB take us through their internship experiences through the Summer of '24. In this episode, hear from Prakhar Gupta.
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Say hello to the newest members of our Krea family
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Farewell and Thank you 🙏🏾
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Wishing our colleagues all the best as they move on to their next adventure
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Associate Professor, IFMR GSB
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Postdoctoral Fellow, Moturi Satyanarayana Centre
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Manager, Admissions & Outreach, IFMR GSB
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Senior Executive, IFMR GSB Outreach
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Assistant Manager, IFMR GSB Outreach
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Postdoctoral Fellow, Moturi Satyanarayana Centre
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Manager, Financial Assistance
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Teaching Fellow, IFMR GSB
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As a part of an employee engagement initiative, the HR team had organised a farewell to Dr Gayathri Sampath, which took place on 1 October, 2024 virtually.
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Admin office: 196, T.T.K. Road, Alwarpet, Chennai - 600018
Campus: 5655, Central Express Way, Sri City, Andhra Pradesh - 517464
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