Experiential Learning Webinar Highlights

Blog Summary

Firebird Institute of Research in Management, in association with AIMA New Delhi, hosted an International Webinar on Experiential Learning on February 9, 2022. The event focused on Gamification, Serious Games, and Simulation in business education, emphasizing hands-on learning. The AIMA BizLab, an AI-powered business simulation platform, was a key highlight, allowing students to experience real-world decision-making. Renowned speakers, including Dr. Raj Agrawal, Shri Ravi Jangra, Ms. Amy Memon, and Dr. S. S. Prasada Rao, shared insights on innovative learning techniques. The webinar reinforced Firebird’s commitment to industry-driven education and equipping future business leaders with practical skills.

Table of Content

FIREBIRD INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH IN MANAGEMENT IN ASSOCIATION WITH ALL INDIA MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIMA) NEW DELHI, SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL WEBINAR ON ‘EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING’ (GAMIFICATION - SERIOUS GAMES – SIMULATION) ON 9TH FEBRUARY 2022 AT 4 PM

About Firebird

Firebird Institute of Research in Management is a B-School that speaks the language of the Industry. It is acclaimed for its Industry linked PGDM program which inspires aspiring management graduates to confidently take up either entrepreneurship or top-notch placements in reputed organizations. Over the last two years, placements were highly impressive, with internships and job opportunities in companies like AMAZON.IN, RAMCO CEMENTS, WILDCRAFT, RELIANCE RETAIL, CAVINKARE, SITEL, INDUSIND BANK, REDINGTON, BYJUS, HFFC, LIDO, etc.,

Every student is known as a ‘learning associate’, who works under the mentorship of a corporate executive in addition to In-house faculty. In order to fit with Industry 4.0 standards, the Post Graduate Diploma Program architects academics which blended with the 70% practical-oriented learning program. This pedagogy will add values to the theories and other conventional learning mechanisms, on a regular basis.

The objective of the Webinar

Firebird has the unique distinction of being the first Business school in the country to have inaugurated the BizLab centre for ‘Business Simulation’ in association with the All India Management Association (AIMA), New Delhi. This facility provides managerial experience on how to run a business through an AI-powered platform, which is a training centre of excellence for aspiring management professionals and entrepreneurs. The uniqueness is that Firebird is an ‘AIMA BizLab Accredited B-School’ which has in its rolls, certified BizLab facilitators directly trained at AIMA Headquarters, New Delhi. This webinar is unique, which stands with Industry standards, along with simulated business model importance powered by AI.

The AIMA BizLab

The AIMA BizLab interface gives the users a virtual feel, right from product design, financial planning, manpower recruitment, production planning, R&D to branding and marketing. Each BizLab user is given a virtual mobile phone company to handle and they assume the role of the Head/CEO in that organization. It is a unique virtual business laboratory designed for MBA/PGDM students/entrepreneurs. Biz-Lab provides hands-on exposure to management concepts to learn entrepreneurial skills and adopt industry practices.

It is built as a business gamification model where they need to compete against five other mobile phone companies. The decisions are taken every quarter and their ultimate challenge is to make it to the top at the end of the 4th Quarter. Through this, they learn the nuances of conducting business in an all-around fashion and get insights into the other departments of the organization also. They get expert guidance and learning support from the facilitators throughout the duration of the workshop.

AIMA Biz-Lab engine which is equipped with Artificial Intelligence technology responds dynamically to strategies and provides a competitive experience that helps to build a real-time experience as mentioned below:

Participants can experiment with various management decisions in a given business scenario.
Specifically designed keeping in view the learning habits of the new generation of learners.
It develops cross-functional orientation among various departments like production, finance, marketing, HR, R&D as mentioned earlier.
It provides an unparalleled learning experience in a short span of time, which is not feasible through theoretical classes.

The webinar Guest and Speakers are,

Dr. Raj Agrawal
Director – AIMA. New Delhi

Dr. Raj Agrawal is Director of AIMA-CME. Before joining AIMA-CME Dr. Agrawal was Director of IILM Academy of Higher Learning, Greater Noida. He is also a “Visiting Research Professor” in Montana State University, Billings, US. He has more than twenty years of academic experience of working in prestigious national institutions like; All India Management Association, Association of Indian Universities, Motilal Regional Engineering College and other national institutes.

Earlier also Dr Agrawal has worked in AIMA-CME as Officiating Director/Dean from 2000 to 2003. He is also guest faculty in prestigious institutes like; IMT, IIFT and Delhi School of Economics. Dr. Agrawal has done Ph.D in Economics from Allahabad University. A prolific writer and keen researcher, he has written more than seventy articles in leading national and international journals.

Dr. Agrawal has considerable expertise in WTO and related matters. He has been regularly invited by national and overseas organizations to deliver talks on contemporary economic issues. He is also a consultant in UNCTAD and resource person in Globalisation of Service Project of William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan, Ann-Arbor, U.S. Dr. Agrawal has also authored four books including the text book on “Business Environment” which is very popular among MBA students.

Subject Master

Shri Ravi Jangra
Deputy Director – AIMA, New Delhi

An innovator and reformist in implementing Business Projects, Ravi Jangra, an IIM Lucknow alumnus has more than two decades of experience in leadership roles with big brands and startups. He has worked with companies / business groups like Punj Group, NIIT Ltd and Multisoft Group of Companies for strategic development and alliances, business continuity, innovation and research in business and marketing. Currently he is the Deputy Director – Center for Management Development at AIMA, a department which is into setting up various platforms for management development.

The three divisions under the department look after flagship events of AIMA, retreats in various functions like HR, Digital Marketing and Leadership, National competitions under Business Simulation and Competitions and quiz categories.

He has been a keen concept person and has been instrumental is setting up business eco-systems and large properties in the commercial, corporate and education fields. In his various stints he has been able to make contacts with CXOs, government departments, semi-government trade bodies and across corporate networks pertaining to large turn-key activations.

Area of specialization is into identifying new market opportunity, research, product development, national & international relations, strategic alliances, corporate communication, setting up team for new ventures, brand building, marketing and sales, and expansion planning. He is also a management advisor with other companies in India among various industries like Education, Energy Engineering, Media, Event Management, Healthcare and few others.

Special Guest

Ms. Amy Memon
Regional Head - South Asia.
AACSB International, USA

Currently the Regional head - South Asia at AACSB International, having more than a decade of experience working with business schools to improve the quality of education globally. Most of that time has been spent working with schools in Asia-Pacific with a focus on India. Prior to her relocation to Mumbai, India, she was Manager of Research at AACSB's US headquarters, where she contributed to research reports, including ‘The Globalization of Business Schools and Impact of Research: A Guide for Business Schools’

She also represented AACSB at the UN Global Compact to co-convene the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). She had begun her career at AACSB developing and executing conferences and seminars across five continents.

Guest Speaker

Dr. S S Prasada Rao
Director – Teaching and Learning Center (TLC)
Sharda University, NCR

Currently working as Director, Teaching and Learning Centre, Sharda University, Greater Noida. Former Director, Centre for Learning & Sustainability, GITAM (Deemed to be University. Prof. Prasada Rao held several administrative portfolios at GITAM University. Member of many professional bodies such as Global Economic Progress & Research, All India Commerce and Economic Associations, HMA, NHRD Network and AIMA. With a Ph.D. from Berhampur University in the “Venture Capital Industry”, Prof. Prasada Rao taught Post-Graduate and Under-Graduate students and guided research students.

An author of 4 standard textbooks, Prof. Prasada Rao, presented several research papers in national and international conferences and published them in national and international journals. He is a peer reviewer for Emerald Group Publishing. He has actively participated in, as a resource person and conducted several Management Development Programmes (MDPs) and Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) on general management & finance and accounting functions. He has been an invited speaker at several international and national level conferences.

He is an adjudicator of M. Phil and PhD theses of various universities in India and abroad. He underwent several training programmes, including the FDP, organised by IIM, Ahmedabad, in 2009. He could earn 12 online certifications from the top globally reputed universities, such as Yale University; Michigan University; University of Bocconi; University of California, Irvine; KAIST; University of Virginia; ISB; University of Sydney; The University of Hong Kong; University of California, Irvine. Prof. Prasada Rao has received recognition for his contribution to management studies and education administration.

He is a recipient of the Mahatma Gandhi Gold Medal Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Education & Research by GEPRA, New Delhi, Lifetime Achievement Award for Education Excellence by Association for Economic Growth & Social Development, New Delhi, Shiksha Bharti Puraskar by All India Achievers Foundation, New Delhi, Innovative Leader in B-Schools for Director by Lemon Bridge Research and Innovation, ‘Thought Leader in Management Education by National HR Association of India (NHRAI) and Dronacharya Award from International Knowledge and Opportunities Network, Hyderabad.

Presided by

Dr. P. Shrinivas Rao
Director – Firebird International B-School

Dr. P.Srinivas Rao, Director, Firebird is a proficient professional with 30 years of experience in carving academic institutions through technology and strategic planning right from inception, covering various functional areas like academic administration, power branding, and integrated campus development. He spent his preliminary career with multinational corporations and started his academic journey in the mid of 1990.

He was a Vice-President and CEO in reputed intuitions with International collaborations, Dean of the first global MBA program in India, Coordinated academic exchange programs, attended many global summits and conferences in the Indian School of Business, BHU, IIFT, XLRI, IIM Kolkata, IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, and leading institutions and universities of the country.