IIM Sambalpur’s 10th MBA batch (2024-26) has set a new benchmark in gender diversity by enrolling three times more female students than male students. With women comprising 76% of the cohort, this milestone underscores a significant shift towards inclusivity and empowerment in higher education.
Key Highlights:
- Gender Diversity: Female students make up 76% (244 out of 320) of the cohort, setting a new standard for IIMs nationwide.
- Academic Background: 60% of students are non-engineers, with diverse academic backgrounds in science, commerce, management, and arts.
- Professional Experience: 46% of the students have prior work experience, while 54% are freshers, adding a dynamic mix of perspectives to the batch.
IIM Sambalpur, recognised for its commitment to gender diversity, has demonstrated remarkable female representation in its 10th MBA batch (2024-26), with female students outnumbering male students by threefold. Notably, the cohort includes 76% female students (244 out of 320) and 24% male students (76 out of 320). Additionally, non-engineers dominate the batch at 60% (194 students), compared to 40% (126 students) from engineering backgrounds. Among the non-engineers, 19% come from science and commerce backgrounds, respectively, 12.5% from management, and 4% from arts. Furthermore, 46% of the students have prior work experience, while 54% are freshers.
The inaugural event was graced by eminent industry leaders, including Subrat Tripathy, President of Business Development at Adani Group, as the Chief Guest; Sumit Sangwan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Havells India Pvt Ltd, as the keynote speaker; and Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director of IIM Sambalpur, who delivered the welcome note. Faculty members and students also attended the ceremony.
During his welcome address, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal highlighted the institution’s founding by the Government of India in 2015 and said, “Welcome to IIM Sambalpur, where we stand by our core values of Innovation, Integrity, and Inclusiveness. We pioneered the idea of gender diversity at IIM Sambalpur. Before 2017, the percentage of women students in MBA classes across IIMs was less than 11%, including here. In 2017, we made a bold decision to implement a policy that provided an additional 5% cutoff reduction for female candidates when calling for interviews, then creating a common merit list. This initiative made history by achieving a 50% female enrollment from 2017 onwards, a model now adopted by all IIMs.”
Chief Guest Mr. Subrat Tripathy remarked, “As we stand on the threshold of a new era, we must embrace the transformative power of technology while grounding ourselves in the timeless values of humanism. The journey ahead will be defined by our ability to integrate innovation with empathy, creating a future where progress and compassion go hand in hand. To the young minds embarking on this path, remember the words of Swami Vivekananda: ‘Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.’ Let this be your guiding light as you navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Keynote speaker Mr. Sumit Sangwan added, “We all call our life a marathon. Career is a marathon. A triathlon is the toughest race in the world. It’s like a triathlon, and today marks the flag-off of that triple end. Phase one is your current stage; phase two is when you start your job or become an entrepreneur, and phase three is when you progress further in your career.”
Prof. Siddharth G. Majhi, Chair of Admissions, introduced the 10th Batch of MBA, while Prof. Atri Sengupta, Chair of PGP, introduced the MBA Programme. Prof. Soumya Guha Deb, Chair of Ranking & Accreditation, narrated the journey of AOL and IIM Sambalpur’s accreditation so far. Prof. Diptiranjan Mahapatra, Chair of Placement, delivered the vote of thanks.
The orientation program included a detailed briefing on the MBA Ordinance and Anti-Ragging policies by Prof. Atri Sengupta. Day two will feature a Case Analysis Workshop led by Prof. Nilesh Khare and an Online Simulation Workshop conducted by Prof. Sabyasachi Sinha from IIM Lucknow. Day three will host expert panels and workshops, starting with a CHRO Panel Discussion on “How to Kickstart Your Corporate Career from Day 1,” followed by a Leadership Roundtable on Sustainability and a crucial workshop on Gender Sensitization & POSH Training.
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