NIBM'S 18TH CONVOCATION HELD IN THE AUGUST PRESENCE OF THE RBI GOVERNOR AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FROM THE BANKING INDUSTRY

On the 10th of June, 2024, NIBM held its 18th convocation for the 2022-24 PGDM (Banking & Finance) batch, which was attended by leading academicians and stalwarts from both public and private sector banks apart from dignitaries of the central bank and its associated institutions. As per protocol, the ceremony was presided over by the Honourable Governor of Reserve Bank of India and Chairman of NIBM Governing Board - Shri. Shaktikanta Das, who was accompanied by the RBI Deputy Governor, Dr. Michael Debabrata Patra and other NIBM Governing Board Members [Shri. P. Vasudevan, Executive Director - RBI; Shri. K. Satyanarayana Raju - Managing Director & CEO - Canara Bank; Shri. Rajneesh Karnatak, Managing Director & CEO - Bank of India; Shri. Shaji K. V., Chairman - NABARD; Shri. Amitabh Chaudhary, Managing Director & CEO - Axis Bank; Prof. Ashok Banerjee, Director - IIM Udaipur; Prof. Bhimaraya Metri, Director - IIM Nagpur; Prof. M. S. Sriram, Faculty - IIM Bangalore; Smt. Rajani Prasad, CGM (CS & BD) - RBI; Prof. Partha Ray, Director & Member Secretary - NIBM and Prof. Arindam Bandyopadhyay, Dean (Academic Programme) & Faculty Representative - NIBM].

The welcome speech by Prof. Partha Ray, Director - NIBM, touched upon the key achievements of the institute whilst giving a brief snapshot of the various educational, training, research and consulting activities undertaken by the Institute in the past 1 year. He also exhorted the students to be lifelong learners and retain their drive for excellence as alumni and brand ambassadors of NIBM in the BFSI sector.

Prof. Arindam Bandyopadhyay, Dean (Academic Programme) & Principal, PGDM (B&FS) - NIBM, then introduced the Chief Guest, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman - All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), to the assembled gathering of high-ranking bank officials, industry representatives, academicians, students and their parents.

In his convocation address, Prof. T.G. Sitharam underscored the immense growth potential of technology in banking and finance, which offers abundant opportunities for the recently passed out PGDM students to contribute to this segment. He added that there is a shortage of skilled professionals and managerial talent in the areas of fintech, audit, payment systems, risk management, etc. within the BFSI sector. The critical role played by financial services in the promotion of innovation and startups was another key point shared by the chief guest.

While congratulating the students on the successful completion of the course, he also highlighted the stellar achievements of the Indian banking and financial sector especially with reference to DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure), and urged them to take up challenging projects in order to become disruptors and BFSI product innovators, so that the nation can reach its avowed goal of becoming a fully developed nation ('Viksit Bharat') much before the target date of 2047.

A total of 130 students were awarded the Post-Graduate Diplomas and 9 gold medals were presented by State Bank of India, India Exim Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Bank of India, Indian Bank, Central Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra and Standard Chartered Bank. This year too, the institute has continued its unbroken record of 100% placement with the average package moving up to 14.16 LPA. The batch of 2022-24 now proudly joins the ever-growing list of NIBM alumni working in top-tier consulting firms, investment banks, fintechs, rating agencies in addition to private / public sector banks and FIs both in India and abroad.

The vote of thanks was given by Prof. Arindam Bandyopadhyay, Dean (Academic Programme) & Principal, PGDM (B&FS) - NIBM, and the ceremony came to a formal end after the Chairman of the Governing Board declared the convocation closed.

The Honourable Governor (RBI) declaring the 18th convocation open [L-R: Prof. Partha Ray, Director - NIBM; Shri. Shaktikanta Das, Governor - Reserve Bank of India and Chairman - NIBM Governing Board; Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman - All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), and Prof. Arindam Bandyopadhyay, Dean (Academic Programme) - NIBM].

Prof. Partha Ray, Director - NIBM, delivering the welcome address.

The Chief Guest, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman - All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), delivering the convocation address.

Prof. Arindam Bandyopadhyay, Dean (Academic Programme) & Principal, PGDM (B&FS) - NIBM, proposing the vote of thanks.