India: IILM Institute for Higher Education organised its first felicitation ceremony for the IILM – IBM FMP Batch 1A at its Gurgaon campus on November 12, 2010. Mr. D.P. Singh – Director HR was the chief guest. Other guests included Mr. Ajay Bhatia, Vice President – HR and Mr. Raj Nehru, General Manager – Learning and other IBM managers. The convocation procession was led by Ms. Kakoli Sen, Program Director and lasted for over an hour. Ms. Sapna Popli, Executive Dean and Director welcomed the IBM HR Leaders and the participants following which the diploma was conferred on all the successful participants of batch 1A from NCR in person and other locations in absentia. Mr. D.P.Singh in his address, congratulated all the participants and emphasised on the need to carry on the legacy and do complete justice to the diploma well earned by them, both at work and in life.

Mr. Ajay Bhatia also congratulated the participants and reiterated that IBM believes in investing in its own people and nurturing from within for a more engaged workforce. Mr. Raj Nehru equated the award of diploma to the participants with the first footsteps of a child seeing which the mother feels most proud. He has been the force behind the relationship with IILM for the Foundational Management Programme and said that it gives him immense pleasure to see the same culminating into the first batch completing and receiving its diploma in a grand ceremony.

The Foundational Management Programme is a six month Executive Diploma programme for the Band V top talent at IBM. The participants are identified and nominated by IBM for the programme. The contact sessions are conducted at the IBM premises to six locations including NCR through Video Conferencing. The classes are conducted in an interactive manner using simulations and case studies. The first batch started with 75 participants, out of which 56 participants successfully completed and earned the Diploma. The second batch which is in progress has 55 participants and the third batch to start in 2011 has 80 participants. The Foundational Management Programme is a unique opportunity provided jointly by IBM and IILM to the budding frontline managers to develop skills which can be immediately put to use at work and also paves way for higher responsibilities.