Chennai, July 5, 2012: Great Lakes Institute of Management, a leading management institute founded by Prof. Bala V Balachandar in 2004, today witnessed a grand campus dedication ceremony. Honourable Dr. K. Rosiah , Governor of Tamil Nadu dedicated Great Lakes new green campus, located at Manamai village, near Mamallapuram, to Prof. Bala V Balachandar, Management guru and Global thought leader for his services to promoting Management Education in India.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rosiah lauded the efforts of Prof Bala V Balachandran’s vision of putting Chennai on the International Management Education Map leading to the setting up of Great Lakes Institute of management that changed the way India looks at management education. The Governor also launched the two year PGDM program of Great Lakes, an AICTE approved course that will offer a MBA curriculum with a focus on emerging economies.
The Campus dedication was initiated by the Management, faculty, Alumni & students of Great lakes to Prof. Bala, a visionary who foresaw a sea change in management practices in the aftermath of globalization, has redefined modern management education in India. A humble man from Pudukkotai and a faculty at Kellogg Business School for the last 40 years, he is revered as Management Guru globally. He was awarded Padmashree for actively promoting Management Education in India. Following his involvement with many B Schools in India over the last four decades, he founded Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai in 2004. His vision for Great Lakes is providing Quality Education at an affordable cost and building Human Capital for Emerging Economies, while remaining true to its core ideals of ‘Global mindset, Indian roots’.
Accepting the dedication and speaking on the occasion, Prof. Bala V. Balachandran said, “We at Great Lakes are deeply honored and touched by the presence of one of the astute statesman of the country Honorable Dr. K. Rosiah for his presence and that the eco-friendly green campus with the state-of-the-art facilities is an incubation centre for global minds in India and grooming business leaders of tomorrow.”
During the ceremony, Hon. Gov. Dr. K. Rosiah interacted with the students of Great Lakes Institute of Management and shared his insights on leadership qualities and nation building.
The Great Lakes Institute of Management’s green campus that has been set up near the famous Mamallapuram near Chennai is spread over 27 acres of land and a built up area of 300000 sq. ft. The campus has also created history of sorts as a state-of-the-art campus in an environment friendly green building with different blocks dedicated to research, faculty offices and housing, administrative, student residences and recreation centers. It has been designed to be a LEED Platinum rated green campus and is one of the first in India and among very few in the world. The institute’s design concept derives itself from the tagline of the institute “Global mindset – Indian roots”. It aims to generate in students a sense of social responsibility. The campus reflects the basis essence of simplicity, humbleness and clarity of thought.
The two year PGDM program will offer the first batch of 120 students the regular MBA curriculum but with a focus on emerging economies. Most MBA programs are based completely on the economic models of advanced and industrialized countries, however, the needs of emerging economies are unique. The institute has signed MoUs with universities such as University of Bordeaux, France; CUOA, Italy and FUDAN University, China which will help in exploring activities such as student exchange program, international immersion, internships and research activities.
The PGDM program lays a special focus on higher education of women which is visible in the fact that the first batch of PGDM comprises of 40% females. The program brings together students from every region of the country with almost equal number of freshers (no work ex) and students with work experience. Great Lakes tradition of delivering the MBA differently will always be there. The value proposition offered through this program is unique and will attract students with a clear focus on Emerging economies.
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