Mahindra Ecole Centrale organizes an Industry Connect Program

At a well attended event by industry stalwarts at Gurgaon, the focus was on innovation: "Right/Left – Thinking Forward"

Mahindra Ecole Centrale(MEC) college of engineering organized an Industry Connect session on the central theme "Right/Left – Thinking Forward" in Gurgaon. Targeted at HR specialists, the event witnessed participation from around 35 industry leaders from HR domain who deliberated on the role of innovation within the organization.

 As we enter the age of innovation, it is increasingly obvious that creative and design thinking is an emerging differentiator when it comes to the employability of engineers across the industry spectrum. So the sessions deliberated on the need of the hour in these changing times. The panelists focused on the parameters that support this paradigm shift in thinking. They mulled over the ways to ensure that it is reflected in learning, teaching and deploying knowledge. And finally the panelists discussed the outcomes or benefits that will accrue to those who promote and practice a whole brained approach to education and training.

 The Keynote address of the session titled ‘Reprise Enterprise- the Need of the Hour’ was delivered by Professor Hariharan Krishnan, Head of Creative Sciences at MEC. The talk by Prof K Hariharan addressed the lessons that can be learnt from the journeys taken by the early Creative Designers till today’s Post-Modernist Mavericks to see how we can Reprise the Spirit of Enterprise. He shared that it is the amalgamation of Liberal Arts, Interdisciplinary Awareness, Academia Industry Synergy and Digital Friendly ecosystem that can lead to innovation. It is non-linear thinking, lateral thinking actually, that can lead to any “new” thoughts, processes and advancements. He focused on how it is not text but context that is more relevant in today’s world.

 The Industry Connect platform of MEC seeks to bring together human resources professionals from leading enterprises, business leaders and strategic thinkers to deliberate on the changing role of human capital in reshaping businesses in the near future. 

 Mr. Nishchae Suri, Partner and Head, People and Change Advisory, KPMG, in a special address, touched upon the three dragons that any HR person in a transformational set-up needs to be aware of. These are the dragons of fear, doubt and worry, which can cause transformational graph toplunge initially. It is transparency and creative responses that can save the day, he added.

 At this forum, the panel discussion on “Right/Left – Thinking Forward” threw up interesting possibilities and shed light on what the industry looks for when it looks at creativity in their engineering recruits. The panelists included Mr. Sandeep Tyagi, Director HR, Samsung, Mr. Debasis Satpathy, Global HR Head, Radikal Foods Ltd., Prof. Didier Clouteau, Dean – Academics, MEC, and Prof. TSK Murthy, Dean – Operations and Industry Connect, MEC. Prof. Didier Clouteau was a panelist as well as the moderator for the discussions.

Prof. Murthy kick-started the discussions by sharing some interesting facets of left and right brain concepts and shared how MEC is committed to developing an education that focuses on both sides and how it is the right training and facilitation that can lead to creativity and innovation in the students. He stated that at MEC, the focus is on training the students to include learning as an intrinsic part of their existence.

 Mr. Sandeep Tyagi said that these are dynamic times and the perspectives change regularly. It is adaptation and creativity that save the day for multi-national, multi-locational, multi-product companies such as theirs.

 Mr. Debasis Satpathy spoke about the Edward De Bono concept of 6 hats and lateral thinking. He said that they use techniques such as random entry, provocation and challenge as the starting points for fostering creativity and innovation.

 Delivering the note of thanks, Prof. Didier Clouteu, stated that his one request to the team at MEC is to “surprise” the students with innovation and creativity in the instruction methodology. He said that the focus on left/right is intrinsic to MEC’s thinking.

 The discussions that ensued revolved around the increasing importance of various critical areas of HR such as recruitment and talent acquisition and employee engagement and management on today’s businesses and how the left/right brained focus can create a change in the organizational culture. The role of educational institutions in India in inculcating lateral thinking and innovation was also highlighted.