During his recent visit here, Ambassador of Belgium to India Pierre Vaesen visited the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar and met its Director Fr Paul Fernandes and explored avenues for increasing student exchange programmes and industry-academia linkages between Belgium and India, especially in the State of Odisha.
Vaesen delivered a talk to 26 international students, who are undergoing a one-year programme known as 3Continent-Master of Global Management, a partnership arrangement between the XIMB, the Antwerp Management School in Belgium and the Fordham University, USA. The talk was coordinated by Coordinator of the Global Management programme Prof Sasmit Patra.
The Ambassador also met XIMB Dean (Administration) Fr PD Thomas, Dean (Academics) Prof Biswa Swarup Mishra and Faculty and MDP Coordinator Fr Donald D'Silva.
The Ambassador along with his wife and Belgian Trade Commissioner Christophe Vanoverstraten also undertook a plantation drive in collaboration with the international students of the 3C-MGM programme led by class representative Arnaud Surmount, which was aimed at reducing carbon footprint generated due to international travel by the foreign students. This drive of building environmental sustainability apart from conservation of natural resources is one of the primary CSR activities of the XIMB.
Since the XIMB and Belgium already have a working partnership, the Ambassador hoped that the XIMB would continue to build bridges of mutual cooperation and strengthen the relationship further. Vaesen wished the XIMB the very best for the proposed Xavier University.