The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business and the India Gateway are collaborating with the Tata Group in India to deliver impactful programming, including executive education for Tata businesses worldwide and Ohio State student-led global applied projects for summer 2021.
What started as a pilot program in 2018, the Tata Emerging Group Leadership seminar, has not only persevered during a global pandemic, but has significantly transformed to a successful online model. Nine Fisher College of Business faculty are training more than 500 employees of the Tata Group global conglomerate through a dozen fully online learning modules, each spanning 10 or more days. The leadership trainings started in fall 2020 and will conclude in spring 2021.
“Business education at Ohio State has always prepared the next generation of leaders to make an immediate impact in their careers and around the world,” said Anil Makhija, dean of Fisher College of Business. “Fisher’s Executive Education focusses specifically on partnering with companies to drive corporate and individual growth. A strong collaboration with Tata — a global conglomerate that shares the same core values as Fisher — has allowed faculty to deliver multiple programs to Tata executives from across the world while overcoming the challenges created by the global pandemic. The role played by the India Gateway has been instrumental in founding and fostering the relationship with the Tata leadership in India.”
Ohio State faculty and staff are working closely with the Tata Group on two new educational programs. Two planned virtual Global Applied Projects during summer 2021, one with Tata Steel and another with the Indian Hotels Co. Ltd, will create opportunities for MBA students to lead, plan and execute global consulting projects in India. Planning is also in the final stages for delivering virtual learning journeys for cohorts from Tata Motors.
“Forging relationships for Ohio State with international strategic partners is one of the foundational goals of our Global Gateways,” said Gil Latz, vice provost for global strategies and international affairs. “The India Gateway has played a significant role in nurturing the partnership between the Tata Group and Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business, which has produced a variety of mutually beneficial business and leadership programs that have greatly contributed to student learning and faculty research and served as a resource for Tata’s executive leadership.”
While the formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tata Group was established in 2019, an Ohio State delegation visit in 2020 at the world headquarters of Tata, led by Bruce McPheron, executive vice president and provost, helped forge new relationships and further the collaborations. The MOU was updated in 2021 and now covers a broad set of programs by Ohio State faculty for the coming 36 months.
Padmini Roy-Dixon, executive director global gateways and partnerships, appreciates the strengthening partnership, “The Global Gateways are thrilled to witness the deepening partnership between Fisher College of Business and the Tata Group and the pivotal role the India Gateway is playing to make this happen. From virtual internships to executive education programs, the Gateways are excited to see what the future holds and are delighted to be part of this significant partnership.”
For further details on the collaborations with the Tata Group contact Aravind Chandrasekaran, associate dean for executive education and professor of management science, Fisher College of Business, or Manoj Garai, business development specialist, India Gateway.