XLRI Jamshedpur: Ethics Matters
THE INCEPTION OF THE JAMSHEDPUR MISSION was just over a year ago when an officer from the Tata Iron and Steel Company proposed the establishment of a "labour school". Armed with a zeal to serve and a blessing from the Jesuit community, Father Thomas Quinn Enright embarked on the mission to set up this school. On October 11, 1949, the Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) was established. As the institute took shape, it found its purpose in offering a first-of-its-kind full-time two-year programme in Industrial Relations & Welfare in 1956. The story of XLRI's inception mirrored the commitment and dedication of those involved, setting the stage for a transformative journey in the realm of labour relations and welfare education. Today, XLRI remains India's top educational institution, with impeccable performance across all parameters.
XLRI's journey began with a focus on management-centric courses for trade unions. With time, the curriculum has evolved to meet industry needs, emphasising ethical and socially responsible aspects of management. Short and long-term programmes for working executives reflect XLRI's commitment to continuous growth and addressing professionals' evolving needs. The institute proactively responds to industry dynamics.
In addition to its portfolio of full-time flagship management programmes in Business Management, Human Resource Management and General Management, XLRI offers programmes for diverse segments of students through part-time and virtual interactive learning, management development programme (MDP) and customised in-company programmes offered to enhance managerial and leadership skills of working professionals. XLRI is the only institute to launch Asia's first PG Diploma in HRM (Online) for CHROs in making. Executive Diploma in Human Resource Management (EDHRM) for working executives was also launched in 2024. XLRI also offers doctoral and fellow programmes in management and an executive fellow programme in management. In 2022, PGDM—IEV (Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Venture Creation), XLRI—Rutgers Double Masters programme in Supply Chain Management & Analytics and Xavier Online Learning programmes (XOL) were launched.
In tandem with augmenting its academic offerings, XLRI also undertook significant infrastructure expansion to cater to the increasing demands of both industry and students.
XLRI Jamshedpur and XLRI Delhi NCR have successfully achieved 100 per cent placements for the outgoing batch of 2021-23 for its flagship programmes, two-year PGDM (BM) and two-year PGDM (HRM), with all 463 candidates securing offers through the final recruitment process. The process saw participation from 117 recruiters with 484 domestic offers and three international offers, including 30 new recruiters. These also include pre-placement offers (PPOs) which were offered to 43.8 per cent of the batch. The highest international offer stands at ₹1.1 crore per annum for the HR domain. The highest domestic offer of ₹78.2 lakh a year is from the ITES sector. The median salary offered to the batch stood at ₹30 lakh per annum (LPA) with the top 10th and 25th percentile average being ₹57.7 lakh and ₹46.8 LPA, respectively. The average salary saw an increase to ₹32.7 LPA from ₹30.7 LPA in 2022.
The placement drive for XLRI's 15-month flagship MBA programme for the 2022-23 cohort was a resounding success. XLRI's PGDM (GM) programme witnessed a notable increase of 11 per cent in the average CTC, reaching ₹29.40 LPA, and a 6 per cent increase in the median, reaching ₹27.50 LPA, during this campus placement season. The highest salary offered reached a record high of ₹80.35 LPA, with the top 10 per cent of students earning an average of ₹55.27 LPA, the top 25 per cent earning ₹41.90 LPA, and the top 50 per cent earning ₹35.89 LPA during the recruitment process.
"There are 30 committees on campus that have a flagship event as well as a smaller one—60 events straightaway. Then there are the calendar events and all the college activities. XLRI's student calendar is full with a diverse mix of events ranging from finance or marketing competitions to dance presentations to social service drives," says General Secretary of Student Affairs Council, Vishruthi K Acharya.
The Delhi Jesuit Society gifted 10 acres of land to XLRI at Jhajjar and leased out another 10 acres to start its operations. XLRI purchased 30 acres of land from the neighbours and in 2017, the foundation stone for the XLRI campus was laid by Om Prakash Dhankar, cabinet minister, Government of Haryana. The Jesuits of Delhi Province, Father John Ari, SJ and the team coordinated construction works and in 2020, XLRI started a business management programme in the newly-built Jhajjar campus with Father S George, SJ as its first director.
The new state-of-the-art campus has been designed to promote an eco-friendly living experience and to foster climate consciousness. The orientation of the campus buildings has been planned using detailed sun studies and applying concepts of solar-passive architecture. The areas that receive harsher sunlight have a second skin in the form of ventilated cladding. The new campus has earned a Gold-level Green Building Certification, and it has been designed using IGBC guidelines to be able to earn a platinum rating from IGBC in the future.
The XLRI XAT 2024 exam date is January 7, 2024, and the last date for XAT registration is November 30, 2023. XAT is the mandatory entrance exam for admission to XLRI and its score is accepted by other 160+ MBA/PGDM colleges, including XIM, IMI, IMT, MICA, Great Lakes among others. In order to be a part of XLRI for Indian candidates, the XAT score is mandatory. Through XAT, they can apply for PGDM (BM), and PGDM (HRM) admission to XLRI. NRI/foreign nationals can apply through either XAT or GMAT. The overall performance and sectional performance of the candidate also determine the cutoff for the interview. For BM & HRM programmes, there may be a differential cutoff, which is followed by a personal interview of the candidate. The final merit list is prepared based on the XAT score, the score obtained in GK, essay and interview.
"XAT is not just another exam; it's a measure of your preparedness for the multifaceted challenges of the real world, a crucial stepping stone in your academic pursuit. What sets XAT apart is its holistic approach to assessment. Beyond just verbal and quantitative expertise, it delves into your decision-making capabilities. XAT isn't a test of rote learning but a stage where you can demonstrate your knack for resolving dilemmas and your potential for leading and managing. Seize this opportunity to manifest your strategic intellect," says Rahul Shukla, the convenor of XAT 2024.
XLRI was the first B-School to introduce sustainability as a core subject in 2006. At XLRI, sustainability is a way of life. XLRI's vision is to be an institution of excellence nurturing responsible leaders for the greater common good and a sustainable future. Ethics, sustainability and social responsibility are important pillars of XLRI's Vision and mission. Over the years, the institute has augmented its faculty resources, programmes, research, operations, outreach and stakeholder engagement to fulfil its sustainability commitments.
XLRI was also the first Indian B-School to introduce "Business Ethics" as a mandatory core course in 1969. As one of India's premier business institutions, XLRI stands as a beacon of excellence in management education. XLRI's motto, "Excellence and Integrity", encapsulates the institution's core values. It reinforces the idea that academic excellence must always be coupled with unwavering integrity. This motto serves as a constant reminder to all stakeholders, from students to faculty, of the non-negotiable commitment to ethical conduct in every aspect of management.