In a significant move towards fostering sustainable business practices, Goa Institute of Management (GIM), a Champion School of Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), successfully organised a National Conclave on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) on November 24, 2023. The event, titled ‘Lead, Act and Report on Environment, Social and Governance: Dialogue for a Sustainable Future,’ saw active participation from industry leaders, ESG experts, and academicians.
Spotlight WireKey highlights of the conclave
Leadership initiatives
The conclave commenced with a welcome address by Professor Ajit Parulekar, Director of GIM, and a keynote speech by Ratnesh Jha, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network India. The LEAD panel discussion featured insights from Shrinivas Dempo, President, Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Manish Chaurasia, Managing Director, Tata Capital Cleantech Limited and Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Partner, Financial Advisory Services, Deloitte, exploring the role of executives in driving sustainability-led transitions.
Spotlight WireActionable steps
Professor Neeraj Amarnani from GIM moderated a panel discussion on translating ESG vision into actionable steps, emphasising collaboration with external partners. Representatives included Sridhar L., Head of Sustainability, Bangalore International Airport Limited, Abhishek Ranjan, Senior Director and Head ESG, Sustainability, Brillio and Shalini Goyal Bhalla, Managing Director, International Council for Circular Economy shared their experiences and insights.
Sustainability Tracking & Reporting The afternoon session focused on ESG reporting, featuring discussions led by Jyotsna Belliappa, Founder and Director BlueSky Sustainable Business, Thiruvenkateswaran Ramachandran, CEO and Founder Climeup.AI Professor Anish Sugathan, Associate Professor of Strategy, Chairperson, Arun Duggal Center for ESG Research. The panel explored global ESG reporting standards, readiness for ESG reporting, and the role of technology and sustainable tech startups.
Spotlight WireRole of business schools
The conclave concluded with a session on the role of business schools and higher education institutions in driving the ESG agenda in India. The session hosted dignitaries, including Prof.
Brig. GPS Cheema, Chair, Sustainability and Social Impact, Universal Business School, Dr. Renji George Amballoor, Deputy Director (Academic), Department of Higher Education, Government of Goa, Professor Nilesh A Borde, Finance & Strategy, Vice Dean (Academic), Goa Business School, Goa University and Dr. Prakash Singh, Assistant Professor, Goa Institute of Management. The session was moderated by Professor Chandrika Parmar, Associate Professor, SPJIMR and Head, PRME India Chapter .
Spotlight WireHere are some memorable words from the dignitaries and panellists
Ratnesh Jha (The UN Global Compact Network India):
“ESG is about taking care of the planet. Change is coming in the boardrooms of corporates. India is the first one to legally register the UNGC Network; we are pioneers in this domain.”
Shrinivas Dempo (President, Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry):
“Board meetings now allocate 25-30% time for ESG issues. Collaboration with academic institutions like GIM, BITS Goa Campus and Goa University for Goa-focused research is essential.”
Inderjeet Singh (Partner, Deloitte):
“Data is the most important thing in ESG. ESG ranking and rating agencies operate on their own regulations, lacking harmonisation of output.”
Manish Chaurasia (MD, Tata Capital CleanTech Ltd):
“Tata Cleantech includes ESG risk in risk analysis. Under risk analysis, we take care of biodiversity, land acquisition, and other issues.”
Jyotsna Belliappa (Founder, BlueSky Sustainable Business):
“Multiplicity of standards is healthy. ESG reporting needs to mature with time; it’s more about actions taken than the arrival.”
Thiruvenkateswaran Ramachandran (CEO, Climeup.AI):
“Frameworks lack uniformity, and there is a multiplicity of standards. Climeup.AI is working on an ESG data management platform for comprehensive data collection.”
Anish Sugathan:
“Goa Institute of Management always fosters the spirit of collaboration, innovation and cutting-edge practices in management education.”
Furthermore, The CSSA at GIM announced two partnerships. The first with the International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE). The second with Climeup.AI to promote sustainability. Prof. Vishvesh Singabal will be the coordinator for the first partnership with ICCE and Prof. Shivnath Sinha will be the coordinator for the second partnership with Climup.AI.
Brig Prof GPS Cheema Chair, Sustainability and Social Impact, Universal Business School:
“Universal Business School has adopted various measures towards achieving sustainability, as an educational institution including but not limited to publishing the ESG report, offering various courses to promote sustainable business practices, creating the Centre for Excellence for Social, Sustainable and Spiritual Development.”
Prof Nilesh Borde, Finance and Strategy, Vice Dean (Academics), Goa Business School, Goa University:
“Two dimensions, one – what a university should implement, two- what it should impart. ESG is like values. Need to teach SDGs and ESG at school level as schools inculcate values.”
Dr. Renji George Amballoor, Deputy Director (Academics), Department of Higher Education, Government of Goa:
“ESG must be taught at UG programmes. ESG frameworks are not very popular with UGC, NAAC and the Ministry of Education. The implementation of National Education Policy will facilitate the promotion of ESG.”
Dr. Prakash Singh, Assistant Professor, Goa Institute of Management:
“As an academician, I am concerned if my ideology is aligned with sustainability. There are two aspects: one is that of practice, and two is of wearing the hat of a professional. Can we practise what we teach? We need to be innovative.”
The panel emphasised inculcating sustainability as a mindset. The ESG Conclave at GIM emerged as a transformative dialogue, reinforcing GIM’s commitment to sustainable education. As the nation prepares for a sustainable future, GIM takes centre stage, leading, acting, and reporting on ESG—a call to action shaping the future of business education in India. The felicitation of the speakers and the moderators was done by Dr. Venkatesh Naga, Dean Academics at GIM, Dr. Sumit Datta, Registrar and Controller of Examination at GIM and Ram Kolavennu, COO of Foundation of Excellence and Advisory Board Member of CSSA. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Sreerupa Sengupta Assistant Professor, Healthcare Management at GIM and conclave convenor. The other convenors for the conclave were Aman Jaggi, Marketing Director at Cognizant and Dr. Aanchal Singh, Assistant Professor, BIFS at GIM.
About GIM
Located in Sanquelim, Goa, the Goa Institute of Management (GIM) is a prestigious business school committed to enhancing and revolutionising management education. GIM was established in 1993 by the late Fr. Romuald D’Souza and was recognised as one of the top five innovative B-Schools in the world in the Positive Impact Rating 2023. GIM also achieved a noteworthy milestone by securing joint accreditation from two esteemed bodies in business education: the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Business Graduates Association (BGA). PGDM programmes are currently offered by the institute both full-time and part-time. It was recently placed 33rd among India’s best B-Schools by the Government of India’s NIRF rankings.
GIM has been selected as a PRME Champion for 2023, cementing its commitment to responsible management education and sustainable practices. Achieving the highest rating as a “pioneering” school in the Positive Impact Rating 2023 Report underscores GIM’s dedication to ethical and sustainable business practices. Honoured with the International Flourish Award for three consecutive years, GIM stands out for its remarkable story on Sustainable Development Goal 10, showcasing students’ dedication to inclusivity. As a leading business school, GIM’s joint accreditation, prestigious awards, and global standing reflect its commitment to excellence and sustainability. Embracing a future-focused approach, GIM continues to nurture transformative leaders. GIM has recently opened applications to its PGDM programmes for the intake of 2024.
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