Faculty Coordinators: Asst. Prof. Rahul Mailcontractor & Asst. Prof. Goutami Maganur

AARAMBH 2025 successfully welcomed the new MBA batch (2025–27) and oriented students to academic expectations, campus environment, professional disciplines, and emerging areas in management. The four-day programme included motivational talks, personal finance awareness, AI and analytics exposure, life skills workshops, placement orientation, and academic policy briefings delivered by distinguished external speakers and KLS IMER faculty.

Day 1 — Wednesday, 05 November 2025

Inauguration and Campus Familiarization

AARAMBH began with the formal inaugural ceremony in the presence of students, faculty, staff, and invited dignitaries.

Dr. Arif Shaikh, Director, KLS IMER, welcomed the new batch and encouraged students to make full use of the institute’s learning environment, faculty mentorship, live projects, and industry engagement. He emphasized IMER’s commitment to nurturing responsible and industry-ready management professionals.

Mr. Umesh Belludi, CEO, BrainTree HR Consulting Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru and USA, and distinguished alumnus of KLS IMER (Batch of 1994), delivered the keynote address.

Shri. Uday Kalkundrikar, Chairman, Governing Council, KLS IMER, presided over the event. He emphasized the importance of holistic development, stating that academic excellence, hobbies, sports, and physical fitness together contribute to shaping confident and well-rounded future managers.

Following the inauguration, students of new batch attended the sessions by: Mr. Umesh Belludi, chief guest of the inauguration function of the orientation programme. Mr. Umesh Belludi continued with the insights from his professional journey of building a global HR consulting organization. He highlighted five key dimensions for success in management careers: Effective Communication, Leadership Initiative, Continuous Learning, Networking and Relationship Building and Being Technology Savvy. He encouraged students to invest consistently in learning and skill-building throughout their MBA journey.

Mr. Omkiran Konge - Student engagement and introductory teamwork activities:

Students became familiar with psychological aspects relevant to confidence, communication and initiative, expectations and values of the institute. They also began building a sense of belonging within the cohort.

Day 2 — Thursday, 06 November 2025

Skill Building, Financial Literacy, Etiquette, and AI Exposure, Sessions for the day included:

Finding Your Balance: Ms. Angeli Pandit

Ms. Angeli Pandit, holding the position of Counseller at KLS IMER conducted an insightful session on emotional well-being and self-awareness. She highlighted how today’s fast-paced environment, combined with academic competition and personal expectations, often leads to stress and mental fatigue among students. Through reflective discussion and relatable examples, she emphasized the importance of seeking support through counselling whenever required, viewing it as a sign of strength rather than weakness. She encouraged students to develop healthy routines, maintain meaningful relationships, and practice time management to balance academic responsibilities with personal care. The session helped students understand that success is sustained when mental health and personal well-being are nurtured with consistency and self-compassion.

Personal Financial Planning

Anita and Datta Kanbargi conducted a practical session on financial awareness and early investment decision-making. They introduced students to the importance of budgeting and keeping track of income and expenditure, especially during the early career phase. The session explained concepts such as Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), mutual funds, and long-term goal-based investing in simple and understandable terms. They encouraged students to start small but remain consistent in their investments to build financial independence over time. The session motivated students to make informed, responsible money choices that support both security and future aspirations.

Corporate Etiquettes – Ms. Darshana Kathariya:

Ms. Darshana Kathariya delivered a session focused on building professional Etiquettes and communication readiness for workplace environments. She explained key elements of corporate etiquette such as formal dressing, punctuality, body language and maintaining a positive presence in professional interactions. Through examples and situational discussions, she guided students on how to present themselves confidently and respectfully in interviews, internships, and corporate settings. The session helped students understand that professionalism is reflected not only in knowledge, but equally in conduct and behaviour.

AI and Analytics: Transforming the Future of Management – Ms. Chetana Sarang

Lateral Thinking Workshop – Ms. Urmi Sherigar

Ms. Urmi Sherigar, Alumna of KLS IMER from 1995 batch, conducted an interactive session that encouraged students to think creatively and approach problems from multiple angles. Through friendly talks and guided reflection, she demonstrated how habitual patterns of thinking can limit behavioural growth. She encouraged students to question assumptions, stay curious, and remain open to alternative viewpoints. The session helped students understand that openness is a skill that can be strengthened through deliberate practice, collaboration, and flexibility in thought.

Public Speaking Activity – Toastmasters Club (Led by Ms. Chitra Veeresh)

Members of the KLS IMER Toastmasters Club facilitated a hands-on session focused on voice clarity, body posture, structuring thoughts before speaking and overcoming stage anxiety. The session laid the foundation for developing effective communication skills, an essential requirement for future managers. Previous batch students also were invited to showcase their speaking skills in front of peers in a supportive environment.

Day 3: Friday, 07 November 2025

Motivation, Personal Leadership, and Team Influence

Pursue Excellence – Mr. Praveen Gudi, Life Coach and Motivator

Founder of My Life®, motivational trainer, and youth empowerment facilitator who has inspired over 3.5 lakh students and professionals across India. Known for his storytelling- driven transformation approach. He conducted a powerful motivational session emphasising personal responsibility, resilience, and self-belief. Drawing from real-life experiences and inspiring stories, he encouraged students to define clear goals and commit themselves to consistent effort. The session included group activities designed to strengthen teamwork, trust, and coordinated action. He highlighted that excellence is not a one-time achievement, but a disciplined daily habit. The session inspired students to adopt a positive attitude, overcome self-doubt, and actively contribute to learning and growth during their time in the MBA programme. His session focused on:

Self-discipline and goal ownership

Breaking limiting beliefs

Building resilience and intrinsic motivation

Team synergy exercises

Outcome:

Students developed clarity regarding personal goals, mindset, and collaborative growth.

Day 4: Monday, 10 November 2025

Academic and Institutional Orientation (Internal Faculty Engagement)

MBA Programme Structure & Examination System – Prof. Shrirang Deshpande

Prof. Deshpande provided clarity on the MBA programme structure, academic credit system, evaluation methods, internal assessments, and university examination processes. He explained the attendance requirements, academic calendar flow, and expectations for continuous classroom participation. The session ensured that students understood the academic rigor and standards they are expected to maintain.

POSH and Gender Sensitization – Dr. Shailaja Hiremath

Dr. Shailaja discussed the importance of maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive campus environment. She explained the provisions of the POSH Act, the institutional grievance redressal mechanisms and the importance of recognizing and preventing harassment. The session encouraged students to uphold dignity, mutual respect, and responsible behavior.

Placement Roadmap and Employability Expectations – Placement Cell Faculty

The Placement Cell - Faculty co-ordinator Asst. Prof. Atul Kadam briefed students on the structured placement process, timelines and skill development milestones over the two-year MBA programme. They emphasized resume building, communication skills, internships, certifications, and active participation in placement preparation activities. The session highlighted that employability is developed through consistent effort, not last-minute preparation.

Community Engagement Programme (CEP) guidelines at IMER – Dr. Ajay Jamnani

Experiential learning is a unique initiative at KLS IMER, Belagavi. The course is designed with the aim of sensitizing the future business leaders to the social environment, issues and challenges. It is expected that the students understand the issues and apply their knowledge and expertise to provide feasible solutions to the pressing social problems. The course shall also focus on policy initiatives, its implementation and execution gaps if any. This initiative shall help students apply their skills & knowledge in real life situations and also help them shape the right attitude

Aims & Objectives of Anti-Ragging Committee- Dr. Shailaja Hiremath

Dr Shailaja Hiremath explained the aims and objectives of Anti-Ragging Committee at KLS IMER. Ragging is a social evil and criminal offense under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and students should not indulge in any form of ragging in or outside the campus. KLS IMER being a follower of high ethical standards and values has been turning out professionals of high caliber with a strong sense of ethical judgments, social integration, and leadership committed to prohibit, prevent, and eliminate the scourge of ragging

Disciplinary Committee, Students Code of Conduct and MOOC Courses - Prof. Sumanth Desai:

He explained the importance of professional discipline, responsible classroom behavior, and ethical conduct on campus and online. He also introduced students to MOOC platforms such as NPTEL, Coursera, and SWAYAM for self-driven learning. The session encouraged students to cultivate self-discipline, digital etiquette, and accountability as part of their personal development.

The outcome of above all sessions was students received clarity regarding programme requirements, academic compliance, behavior policies, certifications, and placement preparedness. Thus, AARAMBH 2025 created a strong foundation for the new batch by weaving together academic clarity, professional orientation, and personal transformation. The programme was coordinated with dedication by Asst. Prof. Rahul Mailcontractor and Asst. Prof. Goutami Maganur, with valuable support from senior student volunteers under the guidance of Dr. Arif Shaikh, director KLS IMER