Navarambha (नवारंभः) comprises of three elements – Sutantrata (सुतंत्रता), Shashvatata (शाश्वतता), Sakshamata (सक्षमता) that translate to “Technology, Sustainability, and, Resilience,” – key to staying contemporary to today’s challenges and opportunities encapsulating the Core Values of our Institute.

• WeSchool focus being anchored on three specific areas -"Technology, Sustainability, and Resilience," - Industry Immersion was held for all 720 students who were exposed to industry experts spread across diverse industries / sectors & functions.
• Group activity leading to higher student participation and engagement.
• Effective usage of e-learn to automate various processes namely:
• Planning Leadership series i.e., recommend, approve, connect, obtain, details, and hold sessions on schedule.
• Scheduling leadership sessions
• Reading Material
• Cultural event on 15th August where students demonstrated their personal skill/interests which was centered around our national freedom fighters and martyrs.
• Group activities like Drama / Values/ Social Responsibility, Painting/ doodling, Campus to Corporate, Statistical Insights: Unveiling the Numbers, Finance Workshop.
• Our students visited 67 highly reputed companies across different industries during the 5-day industry immersion program namely – Galaxy Surfactants, Scarecrow. Transunion CIBIL, Adfactors,, Calcite Infra, CIRCOT, MERKLE, Godrej Chemicals, Reliance Retail Ltd, Lijjat and Times of India Press, JLL, KVIC.
• Globally located "WeSchool Alumni" shared their journey and achievements to-date.
• Leadership speakers from highly reputed companies were invited namely: ONDC, Nykaa Fashion, Zepto, Raymonds, Sugar Cosmetics, Dream Theatre India Pvt. Ltd., Jumbo King, LinkedIn, Shenoy Innovation Centre, Unilever, American Express, Procter & Gamble, Capgemini, CEAT, GoPhygital, PCI Security Standards Council, The Legal Swan & POSH at work, Huhtamaki, Tata Chemicals, Network 18, Grasim Industries.

This event was conceived by Prof. Dr. Ramesh Raskar, MIT Media Lab, USA and Prof. Dr. Uday Salunkhe (Group Director, WeSchool) with a view to address the need for upskilling for Senior Management on the fast-growing technological area of Artificial intelligence (AI) which is expected to disrupt every business in the near future with cataclysmic impact.

The event discussed on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI), specifically focusing on ChatGPT and the future of AI, How ChatGPT utilizes information from the surface web, relying on publicly accessible documents, but has limitations when it comes to accessing the deep web, which contains sensitive and private data.

Dr Raskar also introduced the concept of Decentralized AI, where AI can operate independently in cases where the simulation is well-understood. To illustrate this, he encouraged the audience to use an SMS application on their phones to predict the next word in a message, highlighting how AI can make predictions based on preceding words.

Session emphasized the challenges faced by AI in dealing with completely unknown simulations, such as interpreting dreams, predicting consumer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic, and designing drugs. Also discussed was the impact of AI on human skills, emphasizing that while AI is valuable, collaboration with humans is essential for its successful deployment.

He mentioned that Large Language Models, such as Google’s GPT, are based on neural networks and consist of an enormous number of trained neurons. Highlighted various applications of these models, including location services, motion picture industry, search engine services, security services at airports and country boundaries, healthcare, and maps. Though some concerns associated with Generative AI, such as the potential for accelerating the creation of deep fakes (fake images, voices, and videos), the production of misleading results by Generative AI hallucinations, amplification of real-world biases, copyright violations, and challenges to academic integrity.

Vivekananda Kendra in association with Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, Mumbai had organised a C20 Seminar on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

The forum was organised to collate the ideas, thoughts, concerns, opportunities, models and stories of civil society organizations and their stakeholders.

Vivekananda Kendra works to create the awareness for the need of organized work for regeneration of nation. Such awareness is reflected in ever-growing activities. Some of these activities are undertaken by projects especially created to cater to the needs efficiently.

C20 India 2023 is one of the official Engagement Groups of the G20 that provides a platform for Civil Society Organizations (CSO) around the world to voice the people’s aspirations to the world leaders in G20. It gives CSOs a forum to protect the agency of this sector, reflect the primary and common concerns affecting the world’s peoples, and to promote social and economic development with the vision of leaving no one behind.

The Event was graced by the visionaries like Dr Patil from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mr Wani Gupta from Rishabh Foundation, Mr Shailesh Mishra from Silver Innings Foundation, Dr Bhatawdekar.

Faculty Development Program on ‘The elephant in the room – Chat GPT’. Was conducted in Welingkar Institute, Mumbai Campus by

Ms Anette Strömberg, Senior Lecturer and Mr Christer Nygren Lecturer, Mr Bengt Gustafsson Lecturer, School of Innovation, Design and Engineering, Division of Innovation Management , Malardalen University, Sweden

The main contents of the Faculty Development Program were centered on the topics –

• Open AI
• How does it work?
• Transparency
• Microsoft, Bing, MS Office.

The use of AI and ChatGPT . with practical examples on using ChatGPT

• As a translation tool
• Testing AI capabilities
• Using for quick literature review.

Various aspects on the topic such as violating the content policy while using ChatGPT as a translation tool, its ability / lack of ability to experience emotions having an impact on the ability to judge different kinds of data, and the use of ChatGPT in literature review were discussed.

The conference aimed to provide an outstanding platform for researchers, academicians, scholars, practicing Managers, and Business & Industry leaders from around the globe to interact, exchange their thoughts and experiences, and present their ideas on the selected topic. The conference also intended to serve as a forum for the industry to present ongoing research and development activities relevant to the conference’s theme.

The conference outcome provided a suitable medium for sharing, exchanging, and learning about the difficulties and opportunities that have arisen/will occur in the context of accelerated Technological advancement, pressing need for heightened pace of Innovation in business and social sphere and considerable disruption of corporate models and even social structures.

The scope of the conference was expansive, encompassing impact of all frontier technologies (AI, Robotics, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, VR, IOT, and Cognitive Computing), current and potential innovations in business, economic and social sphere besides ways and means to be adopted for green or eco-friendly transition.

Strategies to reshape our institutions to fit the new realities of globalisation; to address the pressing need to save the planet; harness the potential given by the current technological revolutions while navigating the perils of unpredictable growth and increased risk.

A six-day Short Term Training Program “i2We – 6 day Leadership Development Program comprised of interactive workshop session, experiential learning, peer learning. The main focus of STTP was to encompass leadership across levels in the institution and to identify and develop depth and readiness of future leaders amongst the community of talented academicians, administrators & professionals.

The Chief Guest was Padmashree Prof. Jagdish Seth, Dr. R. Nandagopal, Director General, Sree Saraswathi Thyagaraja College, President AIMS, Dr G K Shirude, Vice Chancellor, Sri Balaji University, Mr G. P. Garg, Executive Director SEBI, Dr S.S Mantha, Ex AICTE Chairman, Dr Suhas Pednekar, Vice Chancellor, University of Mumbai.

Panel Discussion Sessions were Future of Management education: Role of leadership, Experiential Learning where ‘DOMINO’S TOWER’ Activity and ‘MINEFIELD’ was conducted . There were sessions on Leadership and how institutional goals can be achieved by imbibing these qualities in us- Importance of interdependence and alertness. Experts also suggested that situational leadership must be inculcated in the culture of the organization which depends on two factors

The topic of Appreciative Inquiry was also touched upon. This was about trying to find out the best in the people, the organization and also the external world around them. This is termed as a co revolutionary process which was done by Experiential Learning Activity .

Panel discussion of “Ask Me Anything” & Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset along with ‘Technology and its impact on higher education-Role of faculty members’ showcased & focused on Categories of AI: ANI: Artificial Narrow Intelligence, AGI: Artificial General Intelligence, ASI: Artificial Super Intelligence. What is changing with technology? Singularity.

Implications from Generative AI/Chat GPT . Implication on Class Structure

The world is changing fast due to AI and emerging technologies. Institute needs to embrace AI than banning it. Students needs to learn to use AI, prompt engineering.