Archives April 2025

The automotive supplier MAHLE completed the 2024 financial year with a positive consolidated net result despite difficult market conditions. The operating profit – earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) – rose from €304 million to €423 million compared with the previous year, corresponding to an EBIT margin of 3.6 percent. After eliminating exchange rate and deconsolidation effects, there was an organic fall of 5.6 percent in sales to €11.7 billion. The main reasons for this development were weak markets in Europe and North America as well as sluggish demand for electric vehicles outside China.

“It is only thanks to hard work that we were able to assert our position in terms of business operations,” said Arnd Franz, Chairman of the Group Management Board and CEO, at the company’s Annual Press Conference on Tuesday. “Our MAHLE 2030+ strategy is gaining traction and allows us to be profitable despite difficult market conditions. Our transformation continues to gather pace.” MAHLE has worked consistently to improve its earnings power in many areas. In addition, the company streamlined its portfolio in order to heighten its focus on the strategy areas of electrification, thermal management and efficient, sustainable internal combustion engines. Through these efforts, MAHLE was able to significantly reduce its debt by €186 million. Thanks to successful refinancing, the liquidity of the group is ensured. In view of tougher market conditions expected among other things as a result of the recently imposed US import tariffs, MAHLE remains cautious and cost-aware for 2025.

Market developments and challenges

“Despite the extremely adverse conditions we faced and the resulting fall in sales, we were able to stabilize our position. This is a success and the result of sustained, consistent transformation work,” said Markus Kapaun, Member of the Group Management Board and CFO.

Market developments are reflected in almost all business units. In Thermal Management, MAHLE achieved sales of €4.1 billion. Adjusted for negative exchange rate and deconsolidation effects, this business unit reported an organic fall in sales of 9.9 percent. Sales in the Electronics and Mechatronics Business Unit amounted to €1.3 billion, some 5.7 percent lower than the prior-year figure, adjusted for exchange rate effects. There was also a decline in classical internal combustion engine business. The Engine Systems and Components Business Unit reported sales of €2.4 billion, 8.0 percent below the prior-year figure adjusted for exchange rate effects. Only the Aftermarket Business Unit recorded growth in sales. The sales figure of €1.3 billion represents a 6.2 percent increase on the prior-year figure adjusted for exchange rate effects, mainly due to organic growth of over 10 percent in the Asia/Pacific region.

Profitability boosted by portfolio streamlining and efficiency measures

Despite the fall in sales, MAHLE succeeded in raising its return on sales to 3.6 percent. The main reason was a consistent streamlining of the portfolio. Among other items, the group sold its share in the Behr-Hella Thermocontrol (BHTC) Joint Venture and its OEM business with thermostats.

Furthermore, MAHLE implemented a comprehensive package of process and efficiency improvement measures in 2024. Sales and administration structures were optimized. The production network was reviewed and further adjusted. Property not required was sold and employee numbers were adjusted to falling sales.

Debt reduced, equity ratio improved

Through these measures, MAHLE was able to significantly reduce its debt by €186 million to €1.2 billion in 2024. The debt ratio, i.e. the ratio of net debt to EBITDA, improved from 1.5 to 1.2. MAHLE safeguarded its liquidity through successful refinancing and can therefore continue its transformation path successfully. For the first time in five years, the equity ratio once again moved upwards, improving to 20.1 percent.

Research and development

In the 2024 financial year, MAHLE invested €630 million in research and development. The R&D investment ratio, referred to sales, was slightly higher than in 2023, at 5.4 percent. In the year under review, MAHLE reported 536 new inventions and 427 new patent applications. These figures highlight the innovative strength of the group and the determination of MAHLE to further reinforce its position as a driver of technological progress in the industry.

Innovations and orders received

The innovation highlight of 2024 was the new bionic high-performance fan. The noise-reducing effect of this fan is so strong that fuel cell and battery electric vehicles are only about half as loud as vehicles with conventional fans during battery charging or at full load. Further innovations were a new evaporative cooling system for fuel cell trucks and the integration of the Superior Continuous Torque electric motor with liquid management in a fully electrified drive axle for heavy trucks.

The consistent focus on innovations paid dividends. In the 2024 financial year, MAHLE recorded new orders with a total volume of €10.3 billion across all three strategy areas, powertrain types and vehicle classes. MAHLE received an order for a thermal management module with a volume of €1.2 billion, the largest single order in the history of the company to date. Further new orders covered battery cooling systems and electric compressors with a total volume in excess of €1 billion.

MAHLE remains on track with the implementation of its group strategy MAHLE 2030+. A key growth market is China, where the company already cooperates with all international vehicle and engine manufacturers as well as key Chinese OEMs. MAHLE sees growth prospects for its electrification and thermal management offerings especially in the field of New Energy Vehicles (NEV).

New group structure and new business fields

At the end of the year under review MAHLE initiated a new group organization. The company has merged business units in order to strengthen the future-oriented areas of electrification and thermal management in industrial and structural terms and has also slimmed down its Management Board. The streamlined group structure will make internal cooperation faster and more efficient and lay the foundation for establishing a high-performance future-proof production network. In addition, the regions will be strengthened.

With the development of holistic solutions connected with mobility and the vehicle life cycle, the Lifecycle and Mobility Business Unit will be a cornerstone of MAHLE’s growth and earnings. The group sees considerable potential for growth in non-automotive business, especially in view of its expertise in thermal management and compact electric motors as well as its broad-based technology portfolio.

Sustainability strategy achieves successes

For the first time, MAHLE reached the “A list” of the independent organization Carbon Disclosure Project. Thanks to the consistent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in production, the upstream supply chain and the utilization phase of its products, the group is among the best companies in the automotive industry. With the figure of 47 percent which has already been reached, MAHLE is well on track to achieve its goal of a 49 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 2030.

(Geo-) political and economic conditions must be right

Looking at the current financial year, MAHLE CEO Arnd Franz referred to conditions that had become tougher. “In addition to the challenges in connection with the transformation of our industry which has been made significantly more difficult in Europe through a lack of commitment to technological diversity, we are now faced by massive burdens as a result of the import tariffs recently imposed by the USA on all imports. As a globally active company committed to free and fair trade, we cannot understand this trade policy.” He said that the tariffs would place a massive burden on automotive supply chains and result in cost increases for the automotive industry and in the final resort to higher costs for consumers. Franz appealed to politicians to negotiate sustainable solutions in order to avoid these burdens.

The MAHLE CEO welcomed the accelerated review of CO2 regulation announced by the EU Commission and once again called for a clear commitment to technological diversity. “In Europe and Germany, two thirds of our jobs depend on the internal combustion engine. This technology offers five times as many jobs as e-mobility. For this reason, we need to take an honest approach to the question of how we intend to shape the path to carbon neutrality effectively in political and industrial terms – not only with respect to climate protection but also with respect to employment and social policies.”

He added that the transformation of the automotive industry and MAHLE would be shaped by economic policy and regulatory decisions. MAHLE would only be able to create jobs again when there had been a sustained improvement in economic and political conditions.

Gurgaon, 16th April 2025: DP World, a leading global provider of smart end-to-end supply chain solutions, advanced its commitment to grassroots cricket by hosting a masterclass for young cricketers at Conscient Sports Arena, Gurgaon, as part of its global Beyond Boundaries Initiative. The girls and boys, who participated in the masterclass have been beneficiaries of this initiative, belonging to Delhi Capitals’ grassroots academies.

The masterclass featured Delhi Capitals stars KL Rahul, Abhishek Porel, and Vipraj Nigam, alongside Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao, Head Coach Hemang Badani, and Bowling Coach Munaf Patel. The training session delivered practical insights into technical skills building, developing physical strength and mental discipline – offering the young players a unique opportunity to learn directly from some of cricket’s biggest stars and seasoned coaches.

Sunil Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Delhi Capitals said, “This masterclass reinforces Delhi Capitals’ and DP World’s shared commitment of empowering the next generation of cricketers, be it by providing access to the right equipment and facilities, or training sessions and inspiration from their cricketing idols. Watching these young cricketers train today and seeing their hunger to learn was incredibly fulfilling.”

The participants were kitted out in the professional gear they had previously received in 2024, when DP World delivered 500 kits to grassroots academies and unveiled two repurposed shipping containers at Delhi’s Aerocity Ground. These containers, each uniquely designed with custom artwork, now serve as functional changing rooms and pavilions for young players.

Since launching during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, DP World has pledged ten cricket kits for every 100 runs scored in ICC tournaments, pledging 4,470 kits to date. Of that figure, DP World has delivered 2,750 cricket kits so far globally, including 1,250 in India, with five repurposed containers deployed across the country in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Ahmedabad.

Bangalore, India, 16th April 2025 —ISACA’s CMMI Institute announced today that IBM has joined ISACA’s CMMI Performance Solutions as a founding sponsorship lead of the CMMI Artificial Intelligence Working Group (AI WG). This working group is leveraging industry experience and curating best practices for planned updates to the CMMI Model to incorporate AI content.

The AI WG has been providing best practice research, examples, process and tool demonstrations, and other curated information to add to the current CMMI content. This includes topics like robotic process automation (RPA), machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), generative AI, and their relevance to innovation in advanced business processes and AI-augmented software development/services, by using AI in testing, DevSecOps, threat and vulnerability monitoring and analysis.

An early market leader in generative AI with decades of AI innovation, IBM Consulting offers a valuable perspective to the group through its expertise, methods and processes augmented by AI that help create better outcomes faster, at scale.

“Realizing value from AI at scale requires much more than retrofitting agents and assistants to outdated business processes,” said Aman K. Singhal, Partner and Quality Leader, IBM Consulting. “To go beyond modest productivity to real performance gains, we believe enterprises need to take a comprehensive AI-native approach, and we’re ready to partner with the ISACA’s CMMI community on the best practices required to perform at the highest levels in the generative AI era.”

“Making advancements and driving best practices in any emerging technology across multiple business capabilities—and particularly one as complex as AI—takes a community,” says Ron Lear, CMMI Institute Vice President, Models and Frameworks. “We are honored to have IBM play a key role in our community of AI leaders who are dedicated to charting a strong path to understanding and enhancing how AI and CMMI are leveraged to meet performance goals.”

Along with IBM, the group members—across diverse companies and industries—will:

• Provide ISACA with industry subject matter expertise in the area of AI and related practices
• Analyze AI industry information and provide key inputs into the design of the additional AI content
• Contribute to content development and reviews
• Provide input to CMMI adoption relevant to AI content

Outcomes-based Continuous Performance Improvement

CMMI Performance Solutions helps organizations across a wide range of industries around the world keep pace with the rapid changes in technology, business and global requirements to better understand their current level of capability and use that information to enhance their ability to perform, innovate and transform. A CMMI appraisal serves as a critical tool for organizations seeking to improve business results, enhance their processes and align them with industry-recognized best practices.

Current performance data shows that a remarkable 86 percent of the nearly 14,000 global organizations appraised by CMMI achieved their intended performance improvement objectives—two percentage points higher than the previous year. When looking at these organizations appraised from 2019 to 2023, top improvement areas achieved include:

• On-time delivery increased by 33 percent
• Schedule variance (delays) reduced by an average of 48 percent
• Development productivity improved by an average of 17 percent
• Defect rate or density reduced by an average of 31 percent
• Customer satisfaction improved by 13 percent

“Consistent and measurable improvements are required to compete in today’s fast-moving, 24-hour connected global business environment,” said Simona Rollinson, Chief Operating Officer, ISACA. “CMMI provides outcomes-based continuous performance improvement. It offers consistent and independently verified achievement of better quality, improved cost and schedule performance, higher productivity, less risk, and better business results for organizations that have adopted CMMI.”

New Delhi, India, April 16, 2025 – Qlik®, a global leader in data integration, data quality, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), today released a new research paper by International Data Corporation (IDC) highlighting the rapid acceleration of Generative AI (GenAI) adoption in Asia Pacific, including India. The report reveals that AI spending in India is set to grow at 35% annually, reaching $9.2 billion by 2028, emphasizing the need for better data quality, governance, and cloud migration to maximize AI’s potential.

AI Investment & Business Transformation in India

The newly released IDC InfoBrief, commissioned by Qlik and co-sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS), titled “The AI Pivot: Accelerating GenAI Adoption and Unlocking Data-Driven Business Value”, Doc #AP242509IB, April 2025, found that with 36% of enterprises using GenAI and 46% planning investments within 12-24 months – the highest in APAC, India is emerging as a global AI powerhouse. However, only 22% of Indian organizations report measurable AI/ML improvements, despite leading the region. India is on par with ANZ, with 20% of organizations possessing advanced AI capabilities, though it lags behind ASEAN, where 27% have reached this stage. C-suite leaders expect a 4x ROI on AI investments within a year, signaling strong confidence in AI-driven value.

Data Readiness: Key to Scaling GenAI in India

The study highlights data quality as a major barrier, with 54% of Indian organizations citing it as a challenge, surpassing Australia at 40%, ASEAN at 40%, and even the APAC average of 50.4%. Additionally, 62% of Indian organizations recognize the need to improve data governance and privacy policies, while 28% struggle with AI data bias, more than ASEAN at 21.8% and Australia at 20%.

To overcome these challenges, Indian enterprises are investing in data integration, ML deployment platforms, and analytics to establish AI-ready data strategies. Strengthening data integrity, transparency, and compliance is key to successful AI adoption.

“GenAI is transforming industries in India – from compliance in retail to fraud prevention in finance and predictive maintenance in manufacturing,” said Deepika Giri, Associate Vice President, Big Data Analytics, Blockchain, and Web3 Research, IDC Asia/Pacific. “But to unlock its full potential, organizations must prioritize trusted data, robust governance, and infrastructure readiness to scale AI effectively and responsibly.”

Accelerating Cloud Adoption to Power GenAI Growth

Cloud migration is a priority, with 51% of Indian enterprises deploying AI solutions in the cloud. As AI investments grow, 80% of organizations see cloud migration as essential. India leads ASEAN in public cloud adoption, with 40% of enterprises leveraging one or more public clouds, compared to 31% in ASEAN. Additionally, 30% of organizations prefer a hybrid model, a significantly higher proportion than Australia’s 19%.

“Indian organizations see cloud adoption as a critical step toward AI success,” said Varun Babbar, Vice President, India, Qlik. “To scale AI-driven innovation, businesses need a strong, scalable data infrastructure that supports high-performance AI applications. At Qlik, we help organizations enhance data integrity, reduce bias, and strengthen compliance frameworks- ensuring AI delivers meaningful and lasting business value.

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IndianOil), one of India’s largest public sector enterprises, is leveraging Qlik to drive data-driven decision-making at scale. Through its i-DRIVE initiative, it tracks over 3,000 KPIs and empowers 10,000 users with self-service analytics. By integrating AI/ML with Qlik’s analytics, IndianOil is enhancing predictive maintenance, optimizing supply chain efficiency, and improving operational agility. With a strong focus on data integrity and governance, it is ensuring AI delivers measurable impact, fueling innovation and sustainability in India’s energy sector.

With AI becoming central to enterprise strategy, Chief Data Officers (CDOs) and Chief Analytics Officers (CAOs) are taking on a more prominent role in shaping AI investments and governance. Organizations that empower their data leadership teams with strong governance frameworks and AI-ready data strategies will gain a competitive edge in India’s evolving AI landscape.

Pune, 16 April 2025 – Conrad Hotels & Resorts is proud to unveil The Art of Experiential Dining, an inspired initiative set to launch across Asia Pacific, a region renowned for its rich tapestry of culinary traditions and vibrant food cultures. This transformative program reimagines luxury dining as an immersive cultural journey, one which is thoughtfully curated to blend storied heritage, culinary mastery, and bespoke exploration. The aim of the initiative is to encourage guests to connect deeply with each destination through the universal language of food.

In its inaugural edition, The Art of Experiential Dining makes its debut in India at Conrad Pune, bringing together the expertise of one of India’s most renowned commentators on food Anoothi Vishal and the culinary artistry of Pradeep Rao, Executive Chef, Conrad Pune. Together, they reimagine the splendor of 19th-century Indian gastronomy, blending inspiration from royal kitchens and culinary archives to present a contemporary take on classic dishes that celebrate heritage, authenticity, and the bold spirit of the Conrad brand.

The curated menu showcases dishes like Pulled Mutton Dhansak Raviolo, a nod to Pune’s Camp Connections, and the Peshwai Plate, a tribute to the regal legacy of the Peshwas. The ever-popular Modak has been reimagined with a bold new twist, reflecting Pune’s vibrant duality—a city where the past and present coexist in flavorful harmony.

Candice D’Cruz, Vice President of Luxury Brands, Hilton Asia Pacific, shares: “With The Art of Experiential Dining, Conrad Hotels & Resorts invites guests to discover the essence of a destination – not just through innovative cuisine, but through thoughtfully woven stories, immersive encounters, and curated moments that linger long after the last bite. More than a dinner, this is a cultural revival that is bold in spirit and refined in execution. We’re bringing India’s rich culinary traditions to life in a contemporary, sensory way that reflects the Conrad brand’s spirit, debuting this initiative in Pune and soon in Bengaluru—each city offering its own distinct narrative and charm.”

“This exclusive, invite-only dinner brings India’s culinary heritage to life through storytelling on the plate. We’re pleased to extend the experience beyond the event by featuring select dishes on our restaurant menu for a limited time, giving both guests and local diners a chance to enjoy this unique collaboration,” said Abhishek Sahai, General Manager, Conrad Pune.

Enhancing this gastronomic adventure, Conrad’s distinctive 1/3/5 program—a brand hallmark that reflects the commitment to showcasing the most authentic aspects of a destination, thoughtfully personalized to each guest’s time and interests—adds another layer of discovery.

In a tailored expression of the program in Pune, select guests are invited to delve into the city’s rich cultural fabric through curated experiences designed around one, three, or five-hour windows. These include explorations of historic landmarks like Shaniwar Wada, vibrant food trails, and hands-on encounters with local craftsmanship, such as a masterclass in Goda Masala making or up-close encounters with traditional brass artisans.

Crack Academy, India’s pioneering ed-tech platform with a constituency-based coaching model, had earlier invited applications from educators, entrepreneurs, and academicians to be a part of its 90+ centre expansion plan in Himachal Pradesh. The academy received an exceptional response with 1,137 applications pouring in from across the state.

Following a detailed evaluation process, Crack Academy has successfully allotted centres to selected applicants. For those who could not be accommodated in this phase, the academy has initiated a smooth and transparent refund process. Moreover, due to the overwhelming response, allotment process for nine specific locations is still going on and refund of application money for these has been extended by 10 days.

“We’re deeply encouraged by the incredible response from the people of Himachal Pradesh. It’s a reflection of how strongly communities believe in the power of quality education. While the journey has begun with great momentum, we remain committed to expanding further and creating more opportunities for those eager to be a part of this mission,” said, Neeraj Kansal, CEO and Founder, Crack Academy.

New Delhi, April 16, 2025 – HP unveiled the OMEN MAX 16 laptop in India, a gaming powerhouse designed to deliver unrivaled performance, personalized aesthetics, and seamless connectivity. It is equipped with Intel’s 24-core Ultra 9-275HX processor and NVIDIA’s RTX 5080 GPU. It comes with 32GB of DDR5 RAM (5600MT/s) and a 1TB PCIe 5.0 SSD. Built for India’s rapidly growing gaming community, this latest addition to the OMEN lineup combines AI-powered optimizations with superior hardware, setting a new benchmark for immersive gaming experiences.

Gamers need unleashed performance, personalized design, uninterrupted gameplay and a strong cooling mechanism from their PCs. The all-new OMEN MAX 16, powered by OMEN AI technology, intelligently optimizes performance and thermals in real time. With advanced cooling, ultra-low latency connectivity, and AI-driven enhancements, it ensures fluid, high-performance gameplay, keeping gamers at their peak without interruptions. HP claims a combined CPU and GPU power draw of over 250W (75W CPU + 175W GPU), supported by a dual fan cooling system. The thermal setup includes heat pipes, a vapor chamber covering 61% of the motherboard, and a hybrid liquid metal compound, which improves heat transfer compared to traditional thermal paste.

“India’s gaming industry is evolving rapidly, with players demanding high-performance and personalized experiences. At HP, we are committed to empowering the gaming community with unmatched innovation. The OMEN MAX 16 delivers elite performance and security, AI-driven optimization, and seamless customization—pushing the boundaries of immersive gaming and ensuring players stay ahead with technology designed for speed, efficiency, and precision,” said Vineet Gehani – Senior Director (Personal Systems), HP India.

The OMEN MAX 16 offers personalization through the OMEN Gaming Hub, enabling gamers to fine-tune system settings, power modes, and cooling preferences for a tailored experience. With customizable per-key RGB lighting and an optional RGB light bar, both fully adjustable via OMEN Light Studio, players can synchronize their device’s aesthetics with their unique gaming style. Additionally, for security, the OMEN MAX 16 has a Full HD IR camera for Windows Hello login, along with a physical privacy shutter.

OMEN AI: The Future of Intelligent Gaming Optimization

OMEN AI Beta introduces a revolutionary AI-driven solution for optimizing gaming performance effortlessly. Instead of spending hours tweaking settings, gamers can now rely on AI to automatically fine-tune their system for the best frame rates and smoothest gameplay. OMEN AI eliminates trial and error by offering a personalized, one-click solution tailored to each game. It continuously adapts, learning from gameplay patterns to refine OS, hardware, and in-game settings for peak efficiency.

As the first AI-powered game learning application, OMEN AI evolves over time, ensuring optimal performance across a growing list of supported titles, starting with Counter-Strike 2. By removing the guesswork from gaming optimization, it allows players to focus on what truly matters – winning and enjoyment.

OMEN AI

OMEN MAX 16: Pushing Gaming Performance to New Heights

Performance is paramount for gamers, and the OMEN MAX 16 delivers what they want and need to perform at their best. It ensures smoother gameplay and heightened responsiveness, empowering players to excel in AAA titles.

Power-Packed Performance: Runs on up to an Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 processor[iii] with up to 64GB DDR5 RAM for effortless handling of intensive gaming. Unleashed Mode in OMEN Gaming Hub enables users to optimize power settings for peak performance or efficiency.

Next-Gen Graphics: Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell, GeForce RTX™ 50 Series Laptop GPUs deliver advanced AI performance, stunning graphics, and enhanced creativity with NVIDIA DLSS 4 and Studio. Unlock new possibilities with NIM Microservices for AI-powered assistants, agents, and workflows.

Advanced Cooling System: Featuring OMEN Cryo Compound, which blends liquid metal and thermal grease for superior heat dissipation. The OMEN Tempest Cooling Pro architecture ensures optimal airflow, while Fan Cleaner Technology reverses fan direction to prevent dust accumulation, extending longevity and maintaining peak performance.

Tailored Aesthetics: Built with a sleek metal chassis in Ceramic White or Shadow Black, it features an optional RGB light bar and a HyperX-inspired per-key RGB keyboard—both fully customizable via OMEN Light Studio.

Lag-free Connectivity: The OMEN MAX 16 integrates seamlessly with HyperX peripherals, enhancing HP’s gaming ecosystem. With Ultra Low Latency Gen 3 technology, gamers can connect up to three HyperX devices instantly. A new ULL radio frequency design and optimized antenna placement provide fast, reliable responsiveness for an uninterrupted experience.

Immersive visuals: Featuring a 16-inch 2560×1600 IPS panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, 500 nits peak brightness, and full sRGB coverage. It also supports a variable refresh rate (VRR) to minimize screen tearing during gameplay.

Sharp Interaction: HP True Vision 1080p FHD IR camera with temporal noise reduction and dual-array digital microphones ensure crystal-clear video calls, improved low-light performance, and seamless facial recognition.

A computer with a rainbow colored keyboard

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OMEN MAX 16 Gaming Laptop

Keeping up with its goal towards a sustainable future, the HP OMEN MAX 16 is made with ocean-bound plastics, recycled metals, and post-consumer recycled materials, it reduces environmental impact. Sustainable packaging further supports HP’s commitment to minimizing e-waste, while ENERGY STAR® certification and EPEAT® Gold registration reinforce its vision for greener technology.

Hyderabad, April 15, 2025 – EThames Business School (EBS) a Hyderabad based futurinstic business management school today announced that it is teaming up with KPMG in India to offer a suite of forward-thinking, industry-relevant academic programmes that bridge the gap between education and professional practice, preparing students to excel in the ever-evolving business landscape.

Sandeep Paidi, Officer Mang Partner KPMG; Kali Prasad Gadiraju, Chairman Ethames Business School; Narayanan Ramaswamy, Partner and Head of Education and Skill Development, KPMG in India; seen announcing their partners

As part of this collaboration, KPMG in India, as an academic partner, will help in the delivery of the following programmes offered by EThames Business School (EBS). These include B.Com (Taxation), B.Com (Financial Accounting), BBA (Business Analytics), BBA (Financial Markets and Investment Banking), BCA (Data Science and AI), and BCA (Cyber Security).

These programs combine EBS’s academic excellence with KPMG in India industry expertise, thereby providing students with practical, real-world insights and a good blend of academic rigor and practical applications. Additionally, students enrolling for these programmes, will also have access to hands-on learning experiences, valuable insights and skills, mentorship from experts, directly relevant for their future careers.

Narayanan Ramaswamy, Partner and Head of Education and Skill Development, KPMG in India.

“The job market today is constantly evolving, and it is essential for young professionals to stay up to date with the latest trends and skills to stay relevant,” said Narayanan Ramaswamy, Partner and Head of Education and Skill Development, KPMG in India. “Our future-ready programmes, developed in collaboration with EThames Business School, are designed to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow and propel their career forward. With a curriculum that covers emerging industry trends, practical skills, and real-world applications, we believe, this dynamic approach can equip students with the critical thinking and technical abilities needed for long-term success in a competitive global workforce,” added Ramaswamy

One-third of the global workforce will be from India in the future. Job requirements will change, and Ethames is sensitive to marketing requirements. In a connected world today, content is abundantly available, but what is missing is context. You know about swimming; you talk about it as a professional. But you don’t know swimming unless and until you get into the swimming pool. That is the context I was referring to. It is a win-win association, he said. This is the first time in this region that we have entered into a partnership with an institution. We have always been associated with universities, he stated. We not only define teaching, curate content, and curriculum provide 360-degree expertise. We bring the best of KPMG to this partnership, he said.

Kali Prasad Gadiraju, Chairman, Ethames Business School

“This partnership with KPMG in India is a game changer for our students, who will be entering the globally competitive job markets equipped with the knowledge and skills that align with cutting-edge industry expectations,” said Kali Prasad Gadiraju, Chairman, Ethames Business School. “Our courses have been designed to prepare the students for the jobs of tomorrow in the post-Gen AI world. Students can gain a competitive edge through a curriculum that covers emerging trends, real-world applications taught by experienced industry experts and mentored by professionals from KPMG in India. This dynamic instructional approach bolsters our graduates towards becoming world-class professionals, ready to meet the challenging needs of GCCs,” says Gadiraju.

By harnessing combined strengths, this collaboration aims to pave the way for high-quality and advanced education that aims to foster innovation, leadership, and critical thinking, making students professionally ready for a career in a competitive global workforce.

Bengaluru April 14, 2025: United Way Bengaluru (UWBe) collaborates with Marvell’s CSR support to implement ‘Rural Rising’, an integrated rural development program in the Bagepalli, Chikballapura district, Karnataka. The partnership is driven by a collective vision to uplift the communities with a commitment to enhancing education, health and sanitation, livelihood, and the environment.

The ‘Rural Rising’ program, now in its second year of implementation in Bagepalli has improved the quality of early child care and development services, supported school infrastructure, promoted drinking water, improved the health and sanitation standards and livelihood enhancement resources such as solar lights, and E-bikes to Public Health Centres (PHCs) to improve National Health Mission services.  Distinguished delegates and community leaders graced the occasion, including Mr. Navin Bishnoi, Country Head, Ms. Bharathi Kanuj, CSR Head, Mr. Ganesh Karnatakam, Finance Controller and Mr. Anshuman Ray, Head -Human Resources from Marvell India, Venkata Sudhakar Namala, Sr. Vice President, United Way Bengaluru, representatives of Gram Panchayats, and the local community.

Under the program, several key interventions have been implemented to ensure quality education- 3 Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) have been constructed to create a safe and conducive environment for children (0-6 years), pregnant and lactating mothers, and adolescent girls. Additionally, a total of 17700 sanitary napkins have been distributed along with 8 incinerators installation in two years, toilet refurbishment has been undertaken at 6 government schools and 5 Water ROs of 50 LPH each have been installed in schools and 6 community RO units to ensure access to safe drinking water.

Further, recognizing the significance of clean energy, 428 solar streetlights are installed to promote sustainable energy practices across 3 Gram Panchayats. Rural Rising has also extended mobility support by providing 9 e-bikes to Public Health Centres (PHCs) and 1 basic life support ambulance vehicle to Taluka hospital, Bagepalli.

‘Our commitment to rural development is rooted in the belief that education, income stability, clean energy, and access to safe drinking water are the key pillars for transforming communities. Our partnership with United Way Bengaluru towards the ‘Rural Rising’ program is a testament to our commitment to driving sustainable change for rural communities and building a more self-sufficient future for the community’, said Navin Bishnoi, AVP and Country Manager, Marvell India .

‘A key feature of the Rural Rising flagship program lies in the ‘collaboration’. By working with local authorities and involving community members, the program ensures that local voices and needs are included in the development process. This approach helps identify key issues and priorities, creating an implementation plan that matches the community’s specific needs’ said Rajesh Krishnan, CEO, of United Way Bengaluru.

Delhi/ Bathinda, 12 April 2025

In a proud moment for Indian academia, a student-faculty team from Guru Kashi University (GKU) has earned a spot among the Top 10 global teams at IDEATHON 2025, hosted by Florida International University, USA. The competition brings together emerging thinkers from around the world to develop solutions to some of today’s most pressing global issues.

The GKU team—Dr. Manita Paneri, Dr. Vikas Gupta, Suraj Kumar and Mr. Rajender Kumar—competed in the Health Tech & Well-being category, where their project was selected for its practical innovation and human-centered approach to healthcare challenges. The team’s work focuses on bridging gaps in preventive care through scalable digital interventions, tailored especially for underserved populations.

Chancellor S. Gurlabh Singh Sidhu congratulated the team on this remarkable feat, saying, “This accomplishment highlights the global calibre of our students and faculty. It is heartening to see our university contribute meaningfully to international dialogue in the field of healthcare innovation.”

Echoing this sentiment, Vice Chancellor Dr. Rameshwar Singh said, “This recognition reflects the values we stand for at GKU—collaboration, innovation, and the pursuit of socially relevant research. I hope this achievement motivates more of our students to think globally and act with purpose.”

IDEATHON is known for its rigorous selection process and its diverse pool of participants from leading global institutions. This year’s theme challenged teams to rethink the future across areas such as health, sustainability, and digital well-being.

Dr. Paneri who was the part of the team, reflecting on the recognition, said, “This is more than a moment of celebration—it’s a reminder that meaningful change in healthcare doesn’t always require massive infrastructure. Sometimes, it just needs a fresh perspective and the willingness to collaborate across disciplines.”

“We’re thrilled to see our students being recognized on a global platform like this,” said Dr. Vikas Gupta. “What started as a conversation in a classroom turned into a project that now stands among the world’s best ideas in health innovation.”

For GKU, this achievement is more than a win—it’s a reminder of what’s possible when students and educators come together with a shared sense of purpose. It reflects the university’s growing focus on applied research, social innovation, and hands-on learning that extends beyond the classroom.

The university plans to support the team in further developing their idea and hopes this milestone will inspire more students to think boldly and work collaboratively to solve real-world problems.