IIM Kashipur awards degrees to 546 students at 13th convocation

IIM Kashipur held its 13th annual convocation ceremony, awarding degrees to 546 students across five programs and marking one of its most diverse graduating cohorts with a notable rise in women’s participation.

The graduating class included 280 students from the MBA program, 160 from MBA Analytics, 34 from the Executive MBA, 58 from the Executive MBA in Analytics, and 14 doctoral candidates.

The ceremony was presided over by former Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice Guhanathan Narendar as chief guest, with Kamal Poddar, managing director of Choice International Limited, attending as guest of honor.

The event was also attended by interim board chairperson Sandeep Singh and director Neeraj Dwivedi, along with faculty and staff.

In his address, Narendar said, “You have earned your place through perseverance, discipline, and determination, with each degree reflecting resilience and effort. Do not be afraid of taking risks early in your career, for growth rarely happens within comfort and true success lies in what you contribute.”

“The difference between power and impact lies in values, ask yourself whether your decisions will uplift others, whether you will lead with integrity, and whether you will stand firm in difficult moments. In life, you will often face shades of grey, and it is your intellect and morals that must guide you to choose what is right,” Narendar added.

Poddar congratulated the graduates and emphasized the importance of adaptability and self-motivation beyond campus, highlighting “IIM” as Integrity, Innovation, and Motivation as key to long-term success.

Women made up over 73% of the MBA Analytics cohort, while their overall representation rose to 39.19% from 33% last year, reflecting improving gender diversity at the institute.

A total of 10 medals were awarded for academic and overall excellence, while 22 students were named to the director’s merit list. The institute also reported that more than 24 persons with disabilities were part of the graduating cohort.

Addressing students, Singh said, “As you step beyond these walls, you enter a world defined by both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges. Be leaders who think deeply, act responsibly, and remain anchored in integrity. Measure your success not only by personal achievements but also by the impact you create in the lives of others.”

Director Dwivedi highlighted the institute’s focus on developing responsible and future-ready leaders, saying, “Convocation is always a special occasion in the life of an academic institution. For our students, it marks the successful completion of years of hard work, discipline, and learning.”

“For the institute, it is a moment of pride, because we present to society a new group of graduates who are ready to contribute with competence, confidence, and character. At IIM Kashipur, we remain committed to academic excellence, integrity, innovation, inclusion, and societal relevance. Our task is not merely to prepare skilled professionals but to nurture thoughtful, ethical, and future-ready leaders,” Dwivedi added.

For the 2024–26 batch, the institute’s experiential learning program facilitated 73 live projects across more than 80 organizations, involving over 300 students in areas such as sustainability, rural development, and MSME growth in Uttarakhand.