Jagdish Sheth School of Management (JAGSoM) conducted its 27th Convocation at its Bengaluru campus, with Ms. Sanskriti Dawle, inventor of Braille tutorial device ‘Annie’, as the Chief Guest for the ceremony. Ms. Sanskriti Dawle becomes one of the youngest Chief Guests ever to grace the convocation of a AACSB accredited Business School.

Bengaluru, 20th 2023: JAGSoM conducted its 27th Convocation ceremony with the conferral of degrees to the graduating Class of 2023. The Chief Guest of the Convocation ceremony was Ms. Sanskriti Dawle, Co-founder and CEO of Thinkerbell Labs. She is best known for inventing a Braille Tutorial device named ‘Annie’ that has revolutionized education by making it easier for visually challenged students to learn Braille. The Braille tutorial device was named after the remarkable teacher – Annie Sullivan – who taught Helen Keller to communicate and read braille, even helping Helen Keller to write her autobiography.

Ms. Sanskriti Dawle congratulated the graduating students and addressed them on the importance of an inclusive society, stating, “15% of our society is specially-abled. It is important to see who is not in the room rather than who is in the room. On a societal level, developing empathy and an emotional perspective is very important to contribute towards innovation and engagement”. Dr. Atish Chattopadhyay, Director, JAGSoM, praised the JAGSoM students for recommending Sanskriti as the Chief Guest, stating “Sanskriti Dawle represents the future of the country, a young woman who has leveraged technology to enable social inclusivity. Her vision for a more inclusive country is in sync with JAGSoM’s mission of nurturing socially responsible professionals”.

The Guest of Honour for the event was Prof. A Parasuraman, Pro-Chancellor, Vijaybhoomi University. He has been recently featured in the Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list for 2022 and the only researcher amongst a total of 92 researchers worldwide who is listed with the affiliation of an Indian institution in the Economics & Business category. Parasuraman shared his thoughts with the Class of 2023, stating “You are a very unique batch because your batch is the first batch to graduate post Covid. I can say with confidence that the curriculum you have gone through is truly unique which included interventions like Industry internship and Corporate mentorship. Today, You are the walking billboard of JAGSoM. You are the brand ambassadors of JAGSoM”.  

Speaking about the progress of the Institution, Dr. Atish Chattopadhyay said “JAGSoM has experienced a year of exceptional growth and accomplishment. It is noteworthy that JAGSoM has maintained its position in the QS Business Masters Rankings for three consecutive years”. In keeping with the essence of optimal learning, JAGSoM has achieved outstanding results in the placements drive this year, both domestically and internationally. The Research/Innovation Incubation-Request for Problem-Industry Internship Program Integrated pathway for students resulted in around 50% pre-placement offers from the industry. The highest domestic offer for the graduating Class was INR 4.3 million per annum, while the highest international package stood at USD 103,000. 

JAGSoM is launching two new programs – the PGDM Executive program for professionals, and the PGDM Entrepreneurship program designed for the benefit of early-stage entrepreneurs who are part of incubators. JAGSoM offered last year a total merit-cum-means scholarship worth Rs.1.23 crores to 21 participants of which 4 received full scholarships covering tuition, boarding and lodging. This is the first of its kind in India where boarding and lodging is also covered supporting those who are with merit but economically challenged. Dr. Atish Chattopadhyay stated, “In a developing country like India, given the inequality of income distribution, we as an institution believe that no aspirant should be denied access to quality education owing to economic challenges”.

JAGSoM’s 27th Convocation ceremony also saw the participation of Dr. Jagdish Sheth, Chairman, JAGSoM and Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Marketing, Goizueta Business School, Emory University and Mr. Sanjay Padode, Founding President of Vijaybhoomi University and Chairman, Centre for Developmental Education. Congratulating the graduates, Dr. Jagdish Sheth said, “Today’s entrepreneurship is all about creating jobs and it isn’t limited by faith or capital. You only need the skills to execute your innovative ideas as a tech-savvy and aspiring entrepreneur, you can access the materials on any platform”.

The batch topper of 2023, Mr. Arasavilli Shanmukha Rao said, “A PGDM Degree at JAGSoM is not just a degree, it’s a journey that transforms you both personally and professionally”. Sharing his experience he added, “My time at JAGSoM was a thrilling ride that I wouldn’t trade for anything! From the start, I was captivated by the prospect of engaging in practical courses, a T-shaped curriculum, RI/RFP, and many other exciting activities. JAGSoM provided me with a solid foundation in my field of study and a better understanding of the VUCA world. Through participation in various teams such as External Relations and Placement committee, HR guest lectures, and Kanyathon, I developed essential skills such as teamwork and time management that are indispensable in the corporate world. Looking back, I am deeply grateful for the enriching journey of the past two years”.