IIM Jammu concludes Holistic Orientation Programme 2026 with inspiring valedictory ceremony, preparing future leaders for a dynamic global landscape

JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu successfully concluded its five-day Holistic Orientation Programme 2026 with an inspiring Valedictory Ceremony held at the Mandapam Auditorium, marking the formal commencement of the academic journey for the 7th Batch of Ph.D., 11th Batch of MBA, 5th Batch of MBA (Healthcare), and the inaugural Batch of MBA (AI & BA).

The programme reflected IIM Jammu's unwavering commitment to nurturing competent, ethical, globally aware, and socially responsible leaders through an integrated approach encompassing academic excellence, industry engagement, institutional orientation, wellness, and experiential learning.  Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu presided over the valedictory ceremony.  The valedictory ceremony was graced by Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics; Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean Faculty & Research and Shri Arup Bhattacharya, Chief Programme Officer Academics.

Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, encouraged the incoming students to aspire not merely to successful careers but to meaningful lives. He emphasized that the finest leaders are those who transform challenges into opportunities, inspire others through their actions, and create enduring value for organizations, society, and the nation

Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean Faculty & Research, encouraged students to approach the next two years with responsibility and purpose, highlighting that true leadership begins with self-management, continuous learning, and a strong sense of belonging to the IIM Jammu community.

Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, presented the five day programme summary and  inspired the incoming cohort to pursue their MBA journey with curiosity, perseverance, and a lifelong commitment to learning, leaving them with the enduring message: "Keep learning, keep growing."

The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks delivered by Shri Arup Bhattacharya, Chief Programme Officer (Academics), who expressed gratitude to the Director, Deans, faculty members, industry experts, alumni, entrepreneurs, administrative teams, staff members, student volunteers, and all stakeholders whose dedicated efforts ensured the resounding success of the orientation programme. The programme concluded with the National Song and National Anthem.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Baljeet Singh Sani, Co-ChairpersonPlacements, conducted a session on the Institute's placement ecosystem, acquainting students with corporate engagement initiatives, internship processes, career preparedness, and the competencies expected by recruiters across industries.

Students were subsequently introduced to the Language Lab by Dr. Apurva, Area Coordinator, Business Communication, who highlighted the role of the state-of-the-art facility in enhancing language proficiency, communication skills, presentation abilities, and overall personality development to prepare students for global professional environments.

The programme also featured an engaging Corporate Leadership Talk by Mr. Pankaj Sharma, Assistant Vice President, Airtel Payments Bank, on "The 5 Emotional Needs of Every Human Being." Prior to the session, he was felicitated by Dr. Ramswarup A. Bhaskar, Faculty, IIM Jammu. Drawing upon his leadership experience, Mr. Sharma emphasized the importance of empathy, emotional intelligence, active listening, and authentic human connections in effective leadership, encouraging students to lead with purpose, compassion, and integrity.

The programme also featured an important institutional session on Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) conducted by Dr. Harsha Jariwala, Chairperson, Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), who sensitized students about the Institute's commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive campus environment. This was followed by an Anti-Ragging session by Dr. Kapil M. Gumte, Chairperson, Anti-Ragging Committee, who familiarized students with institutional policies, preventive mechanisms, and the shared responsibility of maintaining a welcoming and harassment-free campus.

The day's sessions also included an inspiring interaction by Mr. Sunil Goyal, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Sopra Steria India, who shared valuable insights on resilience, leadership, and lifelong learning through personal experiences and inspiring real-life stories. Prior to the session, he was felicitated by Dr. Vinod Durge, Associate Professor of Practice, IIM Jammu. Encouraging students to embrace challenges with confidence, he emphasized that perseverance, character, empathy, and the

courage to make independent decisions are the hallmarks of impactful leadership.

The final industry interaction of the orientation programme was delivered by Mr. Rajul Kansal, Global Head – Executive Talent Office, HCLTech, who spoke extensively on the evolving global workplace, leadership development, talent management, and the growing significance of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and lifelong learning. He encouraged students to remain agile, purpose-driven, and future-ready as they embark upon their management careers.

Over the course of five enriching days, the Holistic Orientation Programme 2026 brought together  eminent industry leaders, institutional orientation sessions, distinguished entrepreneurs, accomplished alumni, daily mindfulness and wellness sessions, experiential learning activities, academic engagements, mentorship interactions, and vibrant cultural programmes, offering students a comprehensive introduction to life at IIM Jammu. The programme successfully integrated academic orientation, industry exposure, entrepreneurship, leadership development, institutional values, wellness, cultural immersion, and experiential learning into a transformative journey, reaffirming IIM Jammu's commitment to developing globally competent, socially responsible, and ethically grounded leaders for the future.