On 29th November 2024, this month’s highlight was the highly engaging HR Forum, held in collaboration with Merck Life Science Pvt. Ltd. HR heads from top German companies—including Bayer, Deutsche Bank, Knorr-Bremse Technology Centre India, TUV India Pvt. Ltd., and TUV NORD GROUP from Pune and Mumbai—gathered for an insightful session on the critical theme of training needs within organizations and strategies to keep employees engaged and updated with the latest knowledge. Shiv Kumar, HR Head at Merck Group, shared the company’s best practices, highlighting their commitment to creating a safe and supportive work environment for employees. He emphasized the importance of innovative programs that promote work-life balance and prioritize the well-being of employees and their families. The session provided participants with valuable insights into successful initiatives implemented by various organizations, fostering an exchange of ideas and strategies that could be applied within their own companies. Beena Nair from the Indo-German Training Centre (IGTC) emphasized the importance of addressing employee training needs in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. She outlined the key training programs offered by IGTC to its member organizations and stressed the growing demand for continuous learning in an age of innovation and technological advancement. Beena highlighted how IGTC, in collaboration with member companies, can effectively address these evolving training needs, exemplified by the "hand-in-glove" approach between IGTC and its partners. A special thanks to Roxana Hilloo for delivering a thought-provoking session on sustainability and how companies can prepare by identifying and addressing training needs in this critical area. The forum concluded with Ute Brockman leading a discussion on how companies navigate the challenges of meeting training needs while aligning them with organizational goals. She underscored the importance of equipping the workforce to thrive in a dynamic business environment. This collaborative event provided valuable insights and sparked meaningful conversations around the future of employee training and development. In other news, we are proud to announce that Intercultural Training was successfully completed for Behr-Hella Thermocontrol India Pvt. Ltd. this month. Participants from across the globe joined virtually, and the feedback was exceptional. Attendees described the training as "relatable," "eye-opening in terms of cross-cultural collaboration," and "highly interactive." We remain committed to investing in our PGPBA students, ensuring they have a rewarding learning experience that is highly valued by organizations. Students from PGPBA 32 and 33 participated in an Oxford-style debate on AI in creative industries, while workshops on "Campus to Corporate" enhanced their understanding of the professional world. Our students are evolving and well-prepared for their upcoming internships and final placements. The upcoming months promise to be exciting as we venture into our calendar of corporate training programs for the year. We look forward to fostering new partnerships and achieving continued success!
The Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with IHK Rhein-Neckar, IHK Ulm, and IHK Exportakademie, successfully organized a buyer’s delegation from India to Germany, specifically aimed at connecting Indian machine tool buyers with key players in the industry during AMB 2024 (International Exhibition for Metal Working). Delegation Overview The delegation comprised 14 representatives from nine prominent companies: Abhi-Tech Fab & Machining Pvt. Ltd. Coretec Engineering India Pvt. Ltd. HIM Technologies Innovative Automation Products Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd. Mekatronics Sourcing & Solution Pvt. Ltd. SBP Automotive Private Limited Sparkonix (India) Pvt. Ltd. Yuken India Ltd. Program Highlights September 9: The delegation was warmly welcomed by Jürgen Lindenberg, Vice President of IHK Rhein-Neckar. This was followed by an insightful presentation on current trends in the machine tool industry by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Weigold from the Technical University of Darmstadt. September 10: The group visited TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen SE + Co. KG, where John Winkler introduced the company and its facilities. The day concluded with one-on-one meetings at AMB 2024 in Stuttgart. September 11: Delegates toured INDEX Werke Esslingen, guided by Azad Rowther, who provided an overview of the company and a factory tour. In the afternoon, they engaged in further meetings at AMB 2024 in Stuttgart. September 12: The delegation visited Zwick Roell, welcomed by Klaus Cierocki, who presented the company and led a tour of the shop floor. The program culminated with additional meetings at AMB 2024 in Stuttgart. Conclusion The delegates expressed their enthusiasm for the program and the quality of the meetings organized. Looking ahead, the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce is committed to facilitating such visits, fostering business opportunities and promoting growth in Indo-German trade.
2024 has been a tumultuous year for our planet. As nations grapple with more frequent natural disasters, poor water quality, and heat waves caused by climate change, great differences have emerged over the scope, timeline, and implementation of sustainability regulations. The effectiveness of international conferences like the COP in driving real actions has also faced growing scepticism. Amidst negotiations on net-zero goals, sustainability events, ESG reports, and more, many reports have suggested that little has been achieved so far. Is it the case that sustainability is experiencing a rocking horse syndrome? A strong sustainability discourse is a crucial ingredient for real change to occur. In simplified terms, corporate sustainability discourse often consists of three parties; one wants industries to do more to shoulder their fair share of sustainability efforts, while the other pushes for a more practical approach to corporate sustainability. The third is caught somewhere in the middle, trying to figure out where to go and what is “enough”, often moving ahead despite having a great fear of making mistakes. While it is possible to have a simplified picture, I am not inclined to assign the three parties in sustainability discourse to a simplified dichotomy of right or wrong. When looking at complex issues, I often find that reimagining them in a different context can lead to innovative solutions. The gap between sustainability discourse and corporate practice draws similar parallels to another long-debated topic: the gap between education and industrial skill requirements. For example, in both cases, the root cause lies in the contention of perceived or real lack of practical application. Therefore, solving this area of disputation could create a stronger resonate between, for example, sustainability conferences and corporate actions that can lead to dual benefits: increase the uptake of corporate sustainable practices and safeguard them from being marginalised during economic downturns. Can we apply some of the remedies that are designed to bridge the industrial skill gap to bridge the gap between sustainability discourse and actions? One of the main key drivers of industrial competitive advantage is through investment in the Global Competency Centre (GCC). A GCC is an offshore unit of a multinational corporation (MNC) that provides services and support to the parent organisation to improve efficiency and reduce costs using access to global talent, resources, and expertise as its driving force. GCCs are innovation hubs that help drive new initiatives and technologies. In recent years, GCCs increasingly hire fresh graduates due to their focus on cost-effective talent which leads to the indirect cause of serving as development centres that convert education research minds and knowledge into innovative industry-ready processes. A smart investment mix by countries and companies on sustainability GCCs can significantly expedite the conversion of sustainability regulations into practical corporate sustainability processes. It is worthwhile to note that while industrial process efficiency and best cost approach have clear winners in several sectors who lead in the world economy, today there is no clear winner in terms of who has the “best” sustainability practices. GCCs on sustainability can well-positioned countries and companies to be global leaders in sustainability practices. Recent reports indicate a significant disparity between the growing demand for sustainability expertise and the availability of skilled professionals. For example, green job opportunities remain unfilled due to a shortage of individuals possessing the requisite sustainability skills. As the Global South continues its economic ascent, the need for local sustainability specialists who possess a deep understanding of regional contexts and nuances becomes increasingly critical. To address this challenge, it is imperative to enhance access to sustainability higher education, particularly in India. Additionally, a curriculum that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical, regionally relevant applications will empower future sustainability professionals to implement effective solutions. This approach will not only facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices but also foster an innovation-driven environment conducive to the development of cost-effective and impactful sustainability measures. Expanding access to higher education is crucial for cultivating a larger pool of skilled sustainability specialists. By providing greater opportunities for individuals to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills, we can better equip them to address the pressing sustainability challenges in the global south. While sustainable business practices aim to permeate all levels of industry, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), significant barriers remain. The current reliance on third-party verification and certifications, which can be prohibitively expensive, poses a substantial challenge for SMEs. While the specific costs of third-party assurance and certifications can vary widely among large corporations, it is generally acknowledged that these expenses are considerable for large companies and prohibitive for SMEs. Moreover, despite the existence of due diligence laws that explicitly state that certification does not guarantee compliance, these costs persist. To remove these barriers for SMEs, it is essential to explore alternative mechanisms that reduce dependency on certification while simultaneously making it more accessible and affordable for SMEs. Ideally, certification costs should be sufficiently low to enable SMEs to independently afford them, eliminating the need for financial support from larger corporations. Once again, collaboration between academia and industry can lead to innovative solutions that reduce certification dependency and improve its accessibility and affordability for SMEs. By framing the sustainability discourse-action gap within the broader context of the education-industry skill gap, we can identify potential solutions that have been successfully applied in other domains. Furthermore, incorporating real-world case studies and projects into curricula can bridge the theoretical-practical divide. By creating opportunities for sustainability graduates and professionals to engage with industry professionals and work on real-world sustainability challenges, we can equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to drive sustainable innovation. In conclusion, by drawing inspiration from the education-industry skill gap, we can develop innovative strategies to address the sustainability discourse-action gap. By fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government, we can create a more sustainable future for all.