In a historic moment, Prof. Rohit Singh, Director of the Centre for Management Education at the All India Management Association (AIMA), and Dr R Premkumar, Registrar of SRM University-AP, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This MoU aims to foster collaboration between the two institutions and introduce a part-time PhD programme for working professionals.

The signing ceremony was attended by distinguished personalities including Dr Ganesh Singh, Professor and Programme Director at the Centre for Management Education; Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor of SRM AP; Prof. Bharadwaj Sivakumaran, Dean of Paari School of Business; Prof. Ranjit Thapa, Dean of Research; Dr Vinayak Kalluri, Dean of Academic Affairs & Controller of Examinations; Dr Maheshwar Dwivedy, Associate Dean of Practice School & Associate Professor; Dr Mahesh Kumar Ravva, Assistant Dean of Research; Dr Satyanarayana Duvvuri, Professor of Practice; Dr CA Mahalakshmi Mudliar, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Management; Dr A Lakshmana Rao, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Commerce; and Dr Lalita Mohan Mohapatra, Assistant Professor, along with other faculty members and students.

To date, more than 250 working professionals have earned their PhDs through AIMA. The institution also boasts an illustrious alumni network employed in leading companies such as Samsung, Schneider Electric, Accenture, Amazon, and Tata.

In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj K Arora underscored the importance of a supportive research environment and the critical role of the student-guide relationship. Prof. Arora also insisted that the faculty undergo a specialised programme on “how to effectively guide a PhD.” Dr Rohit Singh, Director of AIMA, elaborated on the strategic significance in the broader educational landscape, especially for working professionals.

Members of the academic leadership, faculty, and PhD scholars joined together to congratulate the varsity on its initiative to shake hands with AIMA.

In a bid to empower working professionals and foster their continued growth, the Directorate of Executive Education and Professional Studies (DEEPS) at SRM University-AP organised a comprehensive 2-day Management Development Programme on “Selling Skills and Customer Relationship Management” in the presence of Vice Chancellor, SRM University-AP Prof. Manoj K Arora; Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh State Co-operative Bank, Dr R S Reddy; Dean-Academic Affairs, Dr Vinayak Kalluri; Dean-Paari School of Business & Director-DEEPS, Prof. Bharadhwaj Sivakumaran; and Assistant Director-DEEPS, Ms Sailaza Kosaraju. This programme was specially designed for the employees of the Andhra Pradesh State Co-operative Bank.

The MDP played a crucial role in honing customer relationship management among working professionals, thereby enhancing their knowledge, skills, and leadership capabilities. The industry-oriented faculty members of SRM AP trained the participants to unlock the employees’ full potential, promote leadership, and drive organisational success.

During the inauguration, Vice Chancellor Prof. Manoj K Arora emphasised the broader impact of the programme, stating, “In these two transformative days, you will immerse yourselves in a wealth of knowledge and practical insights that will revolutionise your approach to customer relationship management. Our esteemed faculty members will guide you through the intricacies of selling skills, empowering you to build lasting connections with customers and drive organisational success.”

Dr R S Reddy, shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I am filled with unwavering confidence that our employees will acquire the desired skills through this MDP. SRM AP has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence, and we eagerly anticipate forging stronger connections with this prestigious institution. Together, we will not only elevate the capabilities of our employees but also foster enduring partnerships that will shape the future of our organisations.”

Prof. Bharadhwaj Sivakumaran added, “Our goal is to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. MDPs like these will provide participants invaluable insights into customer relationship management and selling skills, which are crucial for their day-to-day operations.”
SRM University-AP is committed to organising more MDPs in an array of areas, including Business Analytics, HR, Finance, Operations Management, and technical areas like Cyber Security, A/IML, and Robotics, among others. The primary motive behind such training and workshops is to facilitate overall professional development among the participants.

The MDP will begin a transformational journey for the participating employees, which is expected to boost their career trajectory and contribute to the broader success of their organisation.