The first India@Campus_D and education for the future event hosted by Polimotion e.v. at the University of Mannheim was a delightful, inspiring and intense flight through the thriving key issues: education, entrepreneurship and ethics in India. To illustrate the global matters we had a comprehensive glimpse on the trendsetting company MindTree consulting that was represented by Vishaal Gupta.

“There is no recipe for success for any country - India is no exception. In the end every single individual makes up a countries growth. However India’s clear focus on education, innovation - especially in the IT sector – connected with democratic values and the Hindu open-minded mentality are the best basis one country might ask for.”  The final words of Consul General Mukul summarize the entry speech and underline his depiction of India’s development into a democracy with international impact. (here is more information)

Vishaal Gupta’s entry presentation about MindTree’s knowledge management blended smoothly into the individualist perception of Consul General Mukul. The features and practical experiences of the innovative entrepreneurial employee-ship that is practiced in MindTree consulting astonished the audience. The sophisticated social responsibility program incorporating every employee and the effort to support their employees to realize their entrepreneurial desires in the company seem to be two very suitable answers for the darwiportunistic labour market. The academic league rewarded Mindtree consulting making it two times the most favorite employer in India. As a reasonable competitor of google in terms of human recourse management; Mindtree consulting gave us lively picture of why education, entrepreneurship and ethics are crucial for the “arms race” in a global knowledge based economy and why India with its background is likely to succeed.

The open discussion principally picked up the impetus given by the keynote speakers Consul General Mukul and Vishaal Gupta. Ulf S. Baecker, Managing Partner, usbaecker, and spokesman of India@Campus_D Initiative – and Bjoern Lasse Herrmann – host and founder of the “education for the future initiative” moderated the debate.

The main topics “Education, Entrepreneurship and Ethics” and “How does India perform in today’s Globalizing World” were linked into a three dimensional discussion. Regarding education the innovation centers become increasingly Companies. Google and Mindtree proclaim that trend. Apart from that Consul General Mukul defined the social- and methodical skill education as the essential challenges that have been insufficiently covered by Indian Universities. Nevertheless they will determine the individual success on a fast moving and highly interactive knowledge market.

In a vote half of the present students announced to be seriously attracted in being an entrepreneur – but most of them still being unsure of how to proceed. Indian students deal with similar problems. Different however in India is the more flexible perception of time and life and the higher tolerance towards mistakes favoring the “lets do it” mentality. Although Consul General Mukul, Vishaal Gupta and Ulf Baecker encouraged the students to use chances and taste the challenge of entrepreneurship; Ulf Baecker concluded two more alternatives of living entrepreneurship: the spin-off and the start-up in a company. 

Finally the topic ethics and etiquette in a global environment were covered with the spotlight on difference in perception in Germany and India. The much-discussed topic was finished quickly with the mutual understanding that openness, acceptance and professional communication are the basics and only necessary.  Consul General commented that “every discussion going further than that is without sense”.

After every student had the chance for another individual talk the keynote speakers had a meeting with the President of the University of Mannheim Prof. Arndt. During the 100-year celebration of the University of Mannheim they were also welcome by President of the Mannheim Business School, Prof. Homburg.