INDUCTION (BATCH OF 2018-2020)

The induction/orientation for the Symbiosis School of International Studies (SSIS) takes place on the first day of the welcome week, to help studentssettle into their new academic life and network with the faculty, staff and students of the school.

The induction for the batch of 2018-2020 took place on 24 July 2018, which began with a welcome address from the Director of the institute, Prof. Shivali Lavale, who introduced students to the in-house, visiting and distinguished faculty present at the event. She also provided students with a brief overview of the course structure for the M.A. in International Studies (IS) programme. The director then invited the distinguished faculty to share their perspectives on the subject. Speakers included both practitioners and academicians.

Senior diplomats such as Amb. (Retd.) Talmiz Ahmad and Amb. (Retd.) Prakash Shah shared their perspectives on International Relations (IR) from a practitioner’s point of view. Amb. (Retd.) Talmiz Ahmad is the Ram Sathe Chair in International Studies, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), former Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE and former Director General, Indian Council of World Affairs. Amb. (Retd.) Prakash Shah is Chairman, Centre for Business and Strategic Affairs, Mumbai, India’s former Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York and Geneva, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Iraq, former Secretary to three Indian Prime Ministers and Energy Advisor to the Government of India.

Perspectives on IS from an academics point of view was shared by Professor ShrikanthParanjape, Department of Defense and Strategic Studies, University of Pune and Academic Advisor at the Maharashtra Institute of Technology’s School of Government.

The last part of the induction was an ‘Ask Me Anything’ (AMA) session where the students could directly interact with the SSIS visiting faculty. From the visiting faculty, Mr. Rahul Ahmad, Ms. SaloniKapur and Dr. Ankur Yadav were present for the event.

The induction concluded with a vote of thanks by the Deputy Director of the institute, Dr. SukalpaChakrabarti.