The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode welcomed its first batch of Defence Service Officers recently. A total of 44 armed forces officers are a part of the first batch, these officers will be trained by the faculty at the institute which will help them transition from defence services to corporate life. IIM Kozhikode has collaborated with the Directorate of General Resettlement.

The certificate course is six months long and is called ‘Business Management Programme for Defence Personnels’. The first cohort consists of 12 Indian Army officers, 22 Indian Navy officers and 10 Indian Air Force officers.

Addressing the incoming batch, Professor Chatterjee said this programme will provide a unique platform for defence professionals to develop their management skills and broaden their understanding of the changing global business landscape. The programme will enrich their knowledge, foster cross-country collaboration, improve their employability and strengthen their leadership and decision making skills.

The Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) is an Inter Service organisation functioning under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (Ministry of Defence). A large number of Armed Forces service men and women are retired/released every year at a relatively young age. DGR assists these ex-servicepersons to train and acquire additional skills with a strong emphasis on evolving requirements of the corporate world and industry so as to facilitate their resettlement.

The first batch was inducted in the presence of Brigadier Rohit Mehta, ADG, Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) (Ministry of Defence) and Professor Debashis Chatterjee, Director IIM Kozhikode.