Jamshedpur, July 23: XLRI – Xavier School of Management on Tuesday inaugurated its new batch of the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) Blended Programme under the XLRI Online Learning (XOL) initiative, marking the start of a two-year academic journey for 135 working professionals.
The batch of 2025–27 comprises participants from varied sectors and roles, and the programme aims to integrate academic rigour with practical leadership training.
The ceremony began with a traditional lamp lighting and invocation prayer led by Dr. (Fr.) Donald D’Silva, SJ, Dean of Administration & Finance.
Addressing the cohort, XLRI Director Dr. (Fr.) Sebastian George, SJ, invoked the concept of “learned helplessness” to underscore the importance of resilience and proactive learning. He encouraged students to embrace failure as a stepping stone to performance marked by integrity and purpose.
Dean of Academics Dr. Sanjay Patro highlighted the evolution of XLRI’s academic offerings in alignment with industry needs and stressed the value of peer-to-peer learning. He described the programme as demanding but transformational.
Chief Guest Harish Rajagopalan, Chief Human Resources Officer at fintech firm CRED, urged students to navigate the fast-evolving AI-driven landscape with a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. He identified decisiveness, mission orientation, structured problem-solving, and empathy-based trustworthiness as key leadership traits.
Dr. H.K. Pradhan, Director of PGDM (Finance), outlined the programme’s strategic vision, emphasizing adaptability, continuous self-investment, and collaborative growth amid the pressures of professional life.
Associate Dean of XOL Dr. Giridhar Ramachandran welcomed the batch and reflected on alumni experiences. He praised the diversity of the new cohort and the role of disciplined communication and community learning in student success. The event concluded with calls for commitment to academic excellence, collaborative learning, and leadership for the greater good.
