The Higher Education Review

Keeping up with the latest advancements in the education arena, the Universities require lots of collective effort, dedication, and commitment. While a number of Universities of the country lags behind in terms of embracing the changes, Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB) while overcoming all the challenges, makes it a point to keep a pace with the dynamic industry requirements. This is facilitated by introducing cutting-edge and industry relevant and market-oriented courses whenever necessary. "Established as a private unitary university in accordance with Xavier University Odisha Act 2013, XUB inherits the legacy of Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar (XIMB), which is counted as a premier world class B-School in the country. "It gives us immense pleasure in seeing our graduates today turning into productive professionals and innovative entrepreneurs," shares Prof. Dr. Fr. Paul Fernandes, S.J., Vice-Chancellor, XUB. The testimony of the University's continuous endeavor in offering innovative courses can be well witnessed by the XAVIER-EM-LYON Business School, which is the result of the XUB's partnership with EMLYON Business School, France.Prof. Fernandes pinpoints, "Through XAVIER-EMLYON Business School, we are all set to offer a Global BBA and MBA programmes, which are carefully designed to provide inter-national exposure to the students." XAVIER-EMLYON Business School, is a first of its kind Indo-French partnership aimed at drawing students from Western Asia, South Asia, South-East Asia, Europe, Africa and other parts of the world to create a Global Campus.

Xavier University Bhubaneswar has created the first digital university of India, which has been a rich experience for all involved. It is an instrument for providing 21st-century IT enabled learning, research, and teaching, writing and communicating experience of a learning community, the Xavier University. XUB forged a new partnership with Microsoft Corporation to enhance the existing data center leveraging the Microsoft Azure Cloud technology. The institution of "Xavier Microsoft Phoenix Lab", first of its kind in India, takes Xavier University deeper into the realms of a "Digital Uni-versity". The Computer Resource Centers (CRC) at XUB provides the backbone support to the University's academic activities, embraced technology to an extent very few of its peers have done to increase the digital experience of the students.

XUB has always focused on updating the academic course curriculum and offers relevant programs to cater to needs of industry. New-age Academic programs, such as Executive MBA-Business Analytics and Executive MBA-Agri Business Management for working executives, M.Tech. Program in Artificial Intelligence, MS program in Data Science and Analytics, and Master of Urban and Regional Planning will be offered from the academic session 2019. The University offers niche MBA programs in Sustainability Management, Urban Management and Governance, apart from Business Management, Global Management, Human Resource

Management, Rural Management. The University also offers Masters Programs in Business Finance, Economics and Mass Communication, Undergraduate Programs in Commerce, Business Management, Computer Science & Engineering, Sustainable Development, Environmental Science, Mass Communication, and Integrated programs in Law. "We are also contemplating on commencing a School on Public Policy as soon as possible," adds Prof. Fernandes.

"While a number of Universities of the country lags behind in terms of embracing the changes, Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB) while overcoming all the challenges, makes it a point to keep a pace with the dynamic industry requirements"

The key intellectual resource of XUB has the distinction of consistently being rated on the criteria of intellectual capital amongst top Business Schools in the country. For all its schools, the University has appointed the best pool of 120 faculty members with high qualifications and extensive experience in educating the future of the country. The faculty and research scholars have consistently published their research papers in reputed, peer reviewed and top tiered journals, and have authored mono-graphs, books, published by national and international publishers.The faculty members emphasize on inculcating strong ethics and values in the students, so that they can develop themselves into responsible leaders and global citizens.A transparent bond with the faculties outside classroom puts in their very best to make XUB a great place to live and learn in. XUB has been able to get the best of visiting faculty and also some big recruiters. "This lets us carry out an effective teaching-learning process. When students engage with their faculty members, the learning outcomes tend to be more fruitful," pinpoints Prof. Fernandes. Standing strong on the philosophy of 'Inspiring Futures', the University promises the students to provide a learning experience that will eventually help them in confronting the hurdles encountered in the professional as well as personal life, and rise against all odds to survive in this rapidly changing world. Prof. Fernandes adds, "Case study, live projects, group discussions, lectures and so on, are the teaching pedagogies embraced by our faculty members. The ultimate idea is to make our students future-ready."

Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB) is honoured with Four Palmes Global Award by France-based Eduniversal Convention 2018 at the University of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia for outstanding academic excellence in management education and research. The result of these efforts is stepping up from Three Palmes Global Award to Four Palmes Global Award since 2017. The honor is recognition of the fact that Xavier University Bhubaneswar has made a mark by exhibiting tremendous growth and development at par with global standards among top business schools in India.

Xavier University Bhubaneswar was approved for membership in 2018 by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) Board of Directors. Membership in GMAC is school-based and is open to institutions that maintain a selective admissions process and offer a master's program in business administration or management subjects or equivalent. Xavier University Bhubaneswar, as a Member of the GMAC, is committed to maintaining and enhancing the quality of management education and are open to the exchange of ideas and best practices to serve the collective interests of

management education worldwide.

Catering to the Goals of Learners
In order to enter XUB, students have to go through a rigorous selection process as the University believes in enrolling only those who have a passion to excel and the commitment to work towards their goals. "We take the entire responsibility of fulfilling the dreams of our students; so, we keep a strict watch while admitting each of the candidates, as only combined efforts can result in success," says Prof. Fernandes. The University boasts on sustaining a 40 percent women student population, making the campus a dynamic learning space.

XUB is spread over 55 acres of land across two different campuses, XIMB Campus and Xavier City Campus. Xavier University Bhubaneswar has set up a 1000 KW solar power project in its campuses, the first Solar City Project in Bhubaneswar. This laudable initiative towards zero carbon footprint has created clean and green campuses in the true sense. "Each campus is WiFi enabled and is endowed with best-in-class facilities," claims Prof. Fernandes. The facilities include rich library, media lab, sports and fitness clubs, air-conditioned Class Room Complex, clean and green campuses, Management Development Center, Resource Centers, such as Center of Excellence in Fiscal Policy & Taxation, Center for Case Research, Center for Humanities & Compassion Studies, Center for Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Corporate Social Responsibility (CRRCSR), to name a few.

Within the campus, the students have formed Student Executive Council, Core Committees, Functional Committees, and Interest Committees, which look after varied aspects- from placement to grooming and research to organizing events. Notably, the University conducts two big Cultural-Management fests in its two campuses, viz. Xamboree and Xpressions, where participants from leading B-Schools and Universities visit the campuses to participate in Business and Cultural events. "Through-out the year, we keep on organizing varied events as a part of the industry connect, which helps to make the campus a vibrant one. XUB is hosting an international conference, IAJBS World Forum, where apparently 50 Deans round the globe will be gracing the event," shares Prof. Fernandes. On the other side, in an attempt to stay abreast with the happenings in the education sector and carrying out several activities smoothly, the University has established extensive international partnership and network for collaboration with around 44 international business schools.

Prof. Fernandes says, "We leave no stone unturned to confirm that both the job seekers and those with entrepreneurial dreams are given equal opportunities. For this, we encourage our students to go through two months internships to undertake live projects. We have also registered with MHRD for the incubation center." The University welcomes top-notch companies in the campus for the student recruitment as well as internship purpose. 100+ companies participate in the placement program of the University. Standing strong on the pillar of its Mission of "Education in the spirit of Magis" and Vision of "Enabling people to live extraordinary lives and be the light for the world", the University in near future plans to strengthen the start-up ecosystem coupled with upholding the pledge of training about 2000 women leaders, in which the University has already crossed training 800 women to its credit.