ASBM University Holds National HR Symposium
The 11th National HR Symposium was held at ASBM University, Bhubaneswar on the theme ‘Work, Work place and Work Force – Re-strategizing HR’. After introduction of the guests by the Coordinator of the symposium Dr. Smaraki Pattanayak, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Kalyan Shankar Ray rendered the welcome address and set the ceremony in motion. Quoting great writers like Robert Frost and George Bernard Shaw, Prof. Ray emphasized on creativity and being original by walking the untrodden path. While elucidating the theme of the symposium, the Founder and President of ASBM University Prof. Biswajeet Pattanayak accentuated the need for adaptability. Quoting the father of the theory of evolution Charles Darwin that it is neither the strongest of the species, not the most intelligent, but the most adaptable that survives, Prof. Pattanayak dwelt at length on change management and gave examples of various companies who could not adapt to the changing times and hence disappeared from the market. He announced that keeping the new developments in view ASBM University has designed a new Master degree programme in HRM in collaboration with National HRD Network and will offer it from the next year.
The Inaugural session was addressed by thought leaders in HR like Mr. Nihar Ranjan Ghosh, President-HR of Emami, Dr. C. Jayakumar, Chief Human Resources Officer of Larsen &Toubro, Ms. Renu Bohra, Chief Human Resource Officer of D B Schenker Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Bharat Chhabra, Head, Change Management and Learning & Development of Tata Power Central Odisha Distribution Ltd. Mr. Ghosh explained how people are the ultimate assets of any organization and emphasized on revamping the present HR strategies. Stating how COVID-19 has affected the functioning of the multinational corporates, Dr. Jaykumar narrated the challenges they faced in L & T and how they rose above it. Ms. Bohra explained the effect of the pandemic on the psychological state of the employees and how it impacted the organizations at large. Mr. Bharat Chhabra threw light on how a power distribution company handled the physical and mental health of its employees during the pandemic and how thereby they re-strategised their HR systems.
The plenary session in the afternoon saw deliberation by eminent HR practitioners like Dr. G.P. Rao, Founder of GPR HR Consulting, Dr Sujiv Nair, CHRO & CTO of Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd, Col. (Dr.) Ashwani Kumar Joshi, Director of Ernst & Young LLP and Mr. J. Subhramanian, Head-HR of the Keller Group. Ably moderated by Dr. Smaraki Pattanayak, it was an engaging session that brought forth many innovative dimensions with special emphasis on strategies for improving the mental health of the employees alongside reskilling, upskilling and cross-skilling to rejuvenate the work, the workplace and the workforce.
The sessions were anchored by students of ASBM University Aisswarya Yogaroopa and Prachi Jha. The Co-Coordinator of the event Dr. Bhaktabandhu Dash proposed a vote of thanks. Many invited guests, delegates, industry practitioners, academicians and students were present both offline and online, along with Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Phalgu Niranjana and the other faculty members of the University.