From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 20: Archbishop of Bengaluru Dr Bernard Moras along with former captain of the Indian Cricket team Rahul Dravid inaugurated the sprawling and spanky new campus St Joseph’s Institute of Management (SJIM) in the heart of the city on Sunday.
Provincial of Society of Jesus (SJ) Karnataka, Dr Stanislaus D’Souza, Rector Fr Anthony Joseph and Shanthinagar Congress MLA N A Harris were among the dignitaries, who attended the function.
The Archbishop earlier consecrated the building and invoked Almighty’s blessings for all academic and extra-curricular activities taking place in it and said it was a matter of pride that a world-class business school campus is coming up in the heart of the business district, just off the busy Mahatama Gandhi Road.
He drew upon the Catholic teaching to remind all the institute’s stakeholders to keep the poor at the center of their discourse and reach.
The Archbishop expressed hope that Catholic institutions can continue maintaining their high standards of educational excellence in the country, without fear of political interference.
Rahul Dravid, himself an alumni of Josephite institutions in the city, expressed his confidence that the institute would soon become one of India’s premier business school under what he called the outstanding stewardship of the Jesuit management.
He promised continued association with the institute and its activities.
Congress MLA N A Harris, who represents the Shanthinagar assembly constituency,lauded the number of institutes and programs started by the Jesuits in the constituency and expressed happiness that this ties in with his own aim of ensuring 100% literacy in Shanthinagar.
He also noted the excellent infrastructure in the current campus, saying that the new institute was on par with international standards.
The function began with the Director, Dr Peter pointing out the immense sense of achievement the Jesuit management feels at having a world
Fr Jason Furtado, Treasurer, Dr Peter and Fr Manoj D’Souza felicitated all those who contributed to the new campus, including the architects, contractors, interior designers, electricians and so on.
The St Joseph’s Institute of Management was established in 1968 and thus is the first business school in Bengaluru.
The new campus comprises of two four storied buildings – a classroom block and a seminar block – laid out in the grey stone that is the signature style of Josephite buildings in Bengaluru beginning from the early twentieth century.
The new campus also boasts of brand new state-of-the-art infrastructure, numerous classrooms, ample parking, and several amenities for the students. Currently, the institute offers its flagship Post Graduate Diploma in Management, along with two other AICTE approved programs for working professionals.