The International Immersion Program (IIP) of the 3rd batch of IIM Sirmaur, conducted at SDA Bocconi concluded on 29 June 2018. The program is designed to complement the IIM curriculum, providing added exposure to international business practices, strategic operations management and current issues in the European markets. The students had an amazing experience in the program and were able to identify the importance of improved and effective decision making in the international business scenario. Aditya Vasa, Akshay Devapal, Amber Sahu and Binoy Ninan share snippets about their enriching experience here.
Aditya Vasa
"I plan to live in Milan someday - simply put, such has been the impact of our month-long Immersion program. It’s still difficult for me to wrap my head around my experiences. People ask how the IIP was, and the first thing I can say is 'Incredible'. Incredible because it was one of the greatest, eye-opening experiences I’ve ever had. Be it an industrial visit to Ferrari & Maserati (You read it right), working on real-life cases, discussing EU’s economic priorities, walking up to landmarks you never thought you’d get to see in person, exploring different countries over weekends, interacting with locals, gaining cultural awareness or breaking stereotypes, IIP not only allowed us to submerge in their amazing culture and society but also helped us gain new perspective of the world and humans.
Reflecting back at the memories, experiences, and people I met, if I hadn’t made use of this opportunity, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.
Akshay Devapal
June 9, 2018, a day that cannot be forgotten. 66 of us, off we fly to Milan, the Fashion Capital of the world in a brand new 787 Dreamliner. Milan was just simply perfect and we had our plans ready. Throughout the weekdays, we were diving into the ocean of knowledge at SDA Bocconi and during the weekends, our travel journals were filled with itineraries.
The experience we had at SDA Bocconi was simply mind-blowing. The teaching methodology went up to a notch higher. All the faculties taught us to find the solutions to the toughest problem in the simplest and systematic way. The best part during the time at SDA Bocconi was the factory visit to Ferrari and Maserati. I have no word to explain as it was a dream come true.
For anyone who loves to explore new places, Europe is the best destination. During the weekends, few of us travelled to explore the natural beauties such as Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Lugano Lake, Mont Brie, Genova etc. and marvellous architecture of Rome, Florence, and Pisa. It was indeed a challenge for us to break the barriers of language and culture.
The experience of IIP has broadened our mindset and our perspective to see things from multiple angles. It also helped in the self-development of the students of IIM Sirmaur. Most importantly, it was an eye-opener for each and every one of us that the world is full of opportunities and all you need to do is strive for it.
Amber Sahu
“Empowering lives through knowledge and imagination”
This motto does not just encapsulate the fundamental belief of SDA Bocconi but also the reality it is creating since its inception. Classroom learning complemented with experiential learning through Industry visits broadened our horizons and deepened our understanding of the international business environment. In an attempt to create a stimulating environment for learning, we ran a torch simulation. It gave us insight into the challenges faced by operations managers and intuitive ways to tackle them.
Apart from formal learning, the natural learning that happened by immersing myself into the history, traditions, and culture of various European countries was altogether an unforgettable experience. We happened to exchange thoughts and ideas with many by-passers, shopkeepers, and fellow travellers which made us appreciate the beauty in differences. This IIP brought the best out of me. Taking care of time and budget while travelling to different countries on weekends was in itself an entrepreneurial experience.
These three weeks were undoubtedly the best part of my MBA journey.
Binoy Ninan
On 10th of June 2018, the third batch of IIM Sirmaur went to SDA Bocconi, Italy for the much-anticipated International Immersion Program. It included courses on Strategy and Operations with actual cases on the challenges faced by the domestic Italian companies in terms of expansion and business development along with plant visits. The professors made sure that we understood the nuances, caveats, the cultural differences and the rationale of the people in the European countries. This was essential for us, as future managers, to have an understanding of improved and effective decision making in the international business scenario.
The program also gave us the freedom and opportunity to explore the picturesque locales and the broad-minded cultures of various countries in the EU. From the long cobbled pathways to the sharp and elegant dressing sense of the people, every minor detail of the region left a lasting impression on our minds. The scenic beauty coupled with the warm hospitality extended by the locals has made this short stay truly memorable for each one of us.