Prof. (Dr.) Prabir Pal,Chairman The temple city of the country, Bhubaneswar is considered as one of the fastest-growing and important trading and commercial hub in the state of Odisha and eastern India. However, during the 1970s, the scenario was completely different, where the locals were hardly aware of regarding the dynamic facets of the business world including being unfamiliar with the numerous emerging opportunities of business studies. It was then when Prof. (Dr.) Prabir Pal, who had just returned to his hometown Bhubaneswar, after completing B. Tech. from Madras Institute of Technology and Post Graduate Diploma in Management from IIM, Calcutta, realized the city had no idea about the course called PGDM, which was and will be in great demand in the coming future. In 1982, despite facing several challenges, Prof. Pal embarked into the journey of spreading awareness regarding the prospects of management education through establishing Regional College of Management (RCM), the first management institute in the state of Odisha.

Prof. Pal shares, "It was all started with mere 32 students in a rented building. Now, RCM has emerged into the 4th best B-school in Eastern India with having its alumni scattered in different parts of the globe holding top profiles." Emphasizing dedicatedly on fostering an urge for innovation among the students, the institute presently offers a wide range of courses viz. PGDM, MBA, MBA (Tourism Management), MFC (Master in Finance and Control) and so on. Being a pioneering institute in the management education arena, RCM strives to adopt the best teaching-learning practices that are popular worldwide making sure the future managers and entrepreneurs receive the appropriate career foundation. All the programs have been designed to inculcate qualities like decision-making abilities, problem-solving capability in the students along with promising them to provide global exposure and rigorous hands-on experiences.

For ensuring that the students are in the right hands that will shape their future, the institute has been
backed by a team of highly qualified, experienced and dedicated faculty members, who are deeply engaged in education and research. "Strictly maintaining a teacher to student ratio of 9:1, we encourage our faculty members to publish their research work utilizing facilities present on the Research and Publication Department of the institute," claims Prof. Pal. Having demonstrated a high standard of education and training since its establishment, RCM has been granted autonomous status by UGC and posses a triple accreditations having accreditation from two national (NBA, AICTE and NAAC, UGC), and one International Accrediting Body (ACBSP). "The autonomous status provides us the freedom to curate the curriculum and make changes regularly meeting the latest demands of the industry. We are however affiliated to the Biju Patnaik University of Technology," opines Prof. Pal.

Addressing the Contemporary Business Needs
As professional ethics is vanishing gradually, causing great loss in the realm of business, RCM has taken the onus to cultivate strong ethics in the students by adopting high-end ethical management practices. "Being academically brilliant is not enough for today's managers and leaders, they need to be developed wholesomely to flourish in the corporate world and this we preach at RCM," opines Prof. Pal. From the very initial days, the students are rendered training by conducting classes on presentation skills, dressing sense, sitting posture, body language and so on. In order to facilitate the varied activities in the campus, avant-garde facilities have been incorporated including ERP implementation for advanced learning, super-fast wireless network, well-stocked library and many more.

The institute has collaborated with a list of International organizations such as Marshal Goldsmith School of Management of Alliant International University, San Diego, California, USA; University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing, Republic of China; National University of Mongolia, School of Economic Studies, Mongolia to name a few, for resulting productive academic outcomes. Besides, the institute has taken initiatives to tie-up with many international universities to enhance its academic excellence in different fields. "Our students are motivated to participate in student exchange programmes as mingling with other business enthusiasts and obtaining lectures from expert faculties will provide them in-depth insights of the business sphere," shares Prof. Pal. respective working organizati-
-ons. Prof. Pal proudly says, "RCM has been recently honored with International Accreditation by Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), USA and is also in the process of getting accreditation by European Quality Improvement Systems (EQUIS), the UK in recognition to its quality standards. RCM is the second institute in India and third in South Asian Countries to receive such a unique distinction for its quality education and research."

Given the innovative abilities of the RCM students, by the end of the courses, they get placed in reputed and top-notch companies with handsome salary packages. "Along with the support of the faculty members, we also invite corporate trainers who act as mentors to our students and unveils the essential mantras of achieving success and teach about the professional etiquettes, culture, and principals," says Prof. Pal. Annually hosting prominent recruiters such as Hindustan Unilever, ITC, ICICI Securities, Impulse, Redington, PWC and so on, RCM is resolute to commence new academic and training programs, expanding its base of students, initiate new centers for furthering academic excellence and increasing relationships with the industry in coming years.

Prof. (Dr.) Prabir Pal, Chairman
A visionary leader and seasoned professional, Prof. (Dr.) Prabir Pal has more than three decades of rich Industry, Entrepreneurial and Academic Experience. Holding the position of Chairman at RCM, Prof. Pal has received the Best Eminent Educationist Award by International Institute of Education & Management, Best Business School Leadership Award at Suntec, Singapore; Life Time Achievement Award for Institution Building by Indian Society for Training and Development; "B-School Leadership Award" from Le Matinal Education Excellence Awards at Sugar Beach Resorts, Mauritius; "Eminent Directors of Leading Institutes Award" by Competition Success Review and Ravi S Mathai Life Time Achievement Award by Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) and several such other awards in India and abroad. He has undertaken several Social Services Projects in Education and Health Services like development of health services by establishing primary health centres in tribal areas of Odisha and Jharkhand, schools and colleges in his rural areas of Odisha and promoting entrepreneurship among the educated young men and women especially in the field of tassar silk clothes and stone handicrafts sector.
Management Institute of the Year - 2018