Group No: CBL1 & CBL3 Destination: Cambridge, , London

Cambridge Gota was one of the best trips ever planned my IIPM. Not only was it a great experience for students but also for faculties. The trip started with the meeting with European parliament and our own IMI hostel facility. European parliament informed our students about all important facts and figures w.r.t European Union. The second day was Port of and coca cola which took the entire trip to touch new heights of intellect and experience. The which is one of the largest in the world left our students wondering and dumbfounded. It was sheer excellence to manage such massive business. Not only the port even the coca cola factory was an experience of sorts. We got to know some interesting facts about coke. For ex: to make one bottle of coke they need 2.25 liters of water. The quiz and the video really left us speechless. The second half of the trip took us to Cambridge (Judge Business School). Six days of hardcore academics and really intellectually stimulating subjects. If it was general management, marketing management or global economy all these subjects were taught with utmost expertise and prowess. In six days a complete overhauling of knowledge test of intellect transformed all the students into global MBAs. Such an experience comes only with lot of effort and planning. With due respects to the entire fraternity behind this GOTA deserves lot kudos and encomium.

Group No: CBL10 Destination: Cambridge University+ IMI,

The global opportunities and threat analysis educational trip to UK and Belgium was a memorable experience. Our visit to Port of Antwerp in Belgium was enriching in terms of academic exposure and practical orientation to cargo operations. The guides assisting us were polite, well acquainted with the port details and of its history and were patient enough to answer any/all questions posed by IIPM students. The visit lasted for approximately 5-6 hours where we got real-life exposure to a number of things, to point a few; a. Significance of Antwerp’s port in world sea-trade. b. History and development of the port of Antwerp c. Mechanics of the port and shipping d. Rare sight of an up-stream ship parking in the port e. Storage, Warehousing, Cargo handling etc. Students were very impressed by the visit as seen in the nature and type of questions asked during our visit, often taking down important notes and listening intently to all information, guidelines and security instructions. Our stay in Cambridge University (Judge Business School) was one of the most academically exhilarating experiences I have ever had. World-renowned professors like Prof. Ben Hardy, Prof. Omar Merlo, Prof. Amir, Prof. Mark De Rond and others taking classes on management topics such as general management, marketing, finance and accounting, strategy etc. was an eye-opener to where management education has reached. The mix of concepts and practical examples coupled by case-studies was enough to keep us in awe for the entire programme. IIPM’s initiative to give global exposure to students in the form of management programme at leading b-schools in the world, company visits, corporate forums and seminars is a vital step towards helping students to not only think global but act global.

Group No: F30810 Destination: Munich & Turkey

The GOTA trip to Munich & Turkey was one of the most exciting trips in terms on knowledge, exposure & fun, the students enjoyed visiting two new countries & understanding two new economies equally, the very purpose of the program. The first meeting was scheduled at MUSAID Center in Instanbul (Turkey), the topic of the discussion was the Energy Sector in Turkey & Information Technology Sector, which was very nicely taken up by Mr. Nail Olpak & Prof. Davut Kavrangolu. Our first meeting in Munich was with Dr. Robin Bartels fro Deutche Bank briefly introduce Deutsche Bank group at a glance, and their businesses in Germany and Bavaria. He also presented their global presence as well as their operations in India, particularly. Finally, he gave insights into the current financial crisis. Next meeting was at Ministry of Economic Affairs where there aws an elaborate discussion on • Economic policies in times of crisis • Regional policies and land use planning • Energy policy The meeting at German Patent & Trademark Office was very interesting as : Dr. Mariam Schamlu gave a point presentation on "the system of Intellectual property in Germany and the organizational structure of the DPMA".

The tour to Munich Trade Fair (Messe Muenchen) was a great experience and the students found Presentation of Film about Messe Muenchen very interesting which was followed by Q & A session. There were very informative sessions at Allianz Se, TCS, Siemens AG & Munich International Airport etc. which students found very informative & interesting Overall the trip was great & a very nice opportunity for students to gain valuable knowledge & exposure abroad.

Group No: F50810

Destination: Switzerland & Turkey

GOTA has perhaps been one of the best experiences as a faculty for us. Our GOTA took place in Switzerland & Turkey, the 2 most beautiful places on Earth. The journey was a perfect blend of knowledge, fun, adventure and lots and lots of learning. The Fourteen days trip was a platform to learn, enjoy and was an experience in itself for both the students and the faculty. The visit started World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) wherein first an introductory presentation of WIPO by Mrs. Cathy Jewell, Senior Information Officer. Along with the introduction she even familiarized the students with Media Relations and Public Affairs Section and other lecturers rendered their knowledge on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The students really enjoyed the session with Ms. Veena Jha at Warwick University as she kept the grip of the lecture with her astounding ways of conducting quizzes and Q&A sessions. The students gave in their 100% for winning the quiz played by her as she announced to give chocolates as a prize to the winner. In addition to this the students also got thrilled at the Michael Page where the presenter was Julien Bonnet who captivated the students with his witty and intelligent answers. Apart from that the students really appreciated our visit to Cailler Chocolate factory. Here we were mainly explained about the production of the chocolate: from the import of the cocoa beans to the export of finished chocolate. On the 10th day of our stay we left for Turkey (Istanbul) one of the paradise on this planet. The hotel in which we were accommodated was one of the best hotels we have ever visited. It was a very comfortable stay and all the faculties along with the students had an amazing time as we had 3 days to our disposal. We visited best of the places in Istanbul and had the best time ever. All in all the whole experience was once in a lifetime experience and we had a wonderful time in acting as a mentor to a bunch of students who we think are the best batch we have ever witnessed. And we would sincerely like to thank the students as during the entire journey of our lectures & seminars, they were attentive, enthusiastic and had zeal to learn.

Group No: F90810 Destination: Belgium & Paris

GOTA academic tour is one of the most important events at IIPM. It is an opportunity for students to expose themselves to the outside business world. They can see the different cultures, systems etc.

We visited Belgium and Paris which are European countries, so most importantly people are very punctual and well disciplined here. We visited many companies like Port Of Antwerp, Palm Breweries etc and European Parliament and everywhere we observed that they are technologically advanced and they have developed infrastructure.

It helped the students to understand how they did everything. During the company visits the students came to know what are the strategy they are following, their target market etc where students can correlate their management knowledge. Overall students were very happy during the tour.

Group: F10-08-10

Destination: Belgium and Paris

An experience like the GOTA program is a rich learning experience. From the multifarious concoctions that it offers, students and accompanying teachers alike, relish diverse political, geographic, socio-cultural, religious, historic, and most importantly the economic travails of the countries visited. This time around the destined nations were the sanctum sanctorum of the European world; i.e. Belgium and Paris.

Amongst the extravaganza of management practices that were there for the taking the most remarkable to the mind would be that of the facets of Time Management. IIPM students visiting European countries have imbibed a great deal of time management. And apparently, from day one, the visiting team assiduously managed their precious time between the academic sobriety of the conference halls and the fun and frolic just outside its walls.

Next on the list of takeaways was the Operations Management learning that the keen visitors derived from their industry visits that formed an essential part of the itinerary. The intricate yet ever so seamless work process at the European parliament and the Palm Breweries, Jacques, Parfums delforge to name a few, left and indelible mark on the mangers of tomorrow.

And the list goes on with the experiences galore. From the sharing of anecdotes with their IMI counterparts at the latter’s hostels to the sheer awe striking road and rail transport systems of Europe, IIPMites had their hands full. No wonder, the GOTA program plays such a pivotal role in the education propagated at IIPM, how else would you know that there is so much more to Belgium than Hercules Poirot and Justine Henin Hardenne and Paris is way beyond the ramps of Armani, Gucci and Dior.

Group No: F11 Destination: Belgium and Paris

The onward journey to Belgium & Paris was absolutely smooth. It was a great experience for the students and all of them enjoyed the entire trip. The return journey till Paris was again perfect and hassle-free. c

If we talk about the best example in terms of exposure in IIPM for the students, then only one thing comes to my mind and that is GOTA Academic Programme. In this programme, students’ can see the different corporate cultures, systems etc outside. People from Belgium & Paris are very punctual and well disciplined here. We visited many companies like De Klok, Jacques chocolate, perfumes Delforge etc. everywhere we observed that they are technologically advanced and they have developed infrastructure. Students learned how the European countries are more advanced in terms of technology. How the country is running without any corruption. During the company visits the students got to know about their marketing strategy, their target market etc where students can correlate their management knowledge. Overall students were very happy during the tour.

They enjoyed a lot & learned a lot.

Group No: S140810

Destination: Paris & Turkey

The trip started off with us reaching the beautiful city of Istanbul. Istanbul is a city that architecturally enchants you, takes control of you and opens your mind and heart. The attribute that made the city so desirable, its incomparable location for trade and transport between three continents, was also its nemesis. Savour its gourmet selection of cheese, chocolate, wine and seafood. Feel the wind in your face as you rollerblade through Bastille, or a frisson of fear and pleasure atop the Eiffel Tower. The first session was with Mr. Bikas Sanyal & session started with lot of excitement as it was the first session in Paris &. Mr. Bikas Sanyal was talking about why Indian Mgt. Institutes should focus on Management and how? He was focussed on continuous research work done by leading MBA institutes and various ways of reaching out to students across the country. Later on he talked about Opportunities in Education. It was about how one can identify immense opportunities available in the field of education, making money out of it and at the same time educating people i.e. serving the social cause as well. Then was the meeting with Mr. Prem Puri . His session was very interesting and participation of students was very healthy. He was talking about Role of Technology in today’s era of Globalisation and innovation. He was talking about kinds of technological advancement which may take place in future and how to anticipate it successfully. Later on he talked about importance of networking and connectivity and its contribution in Globalization and innovation. The meeting with Mr. Mohan Kumar was very interesting as he talked about the Role of Indian Embassy in foreign countries especially in FRANCE. He spoke about the relation between India and govt. of France and also with other European countries. The next was our meeting with Mr. Philip Humbert, who gave an elaborate & interesting presentation on the “Perception of Indian Co.’s abroad. The last session was again with Mr. Mohan Kumar & in this session Mr. Mohan Kumar spoke about WTO and the role of negotiators in developing and growing relations with WTO.

Group No: S150810

Destination: Switzerland & Turkey

GOTA provided students with a platform for global exposure and has helped them to expand their horizon beyond India. During GOTA trip students visited two countries i.e. Switzerland and Turkey. On one hand there was Switzerland which is a composition of 26 cantons with four different languages and dialects across the country. The Swiss nationals were very friendly and open people who respected and welcomed tourists. The country has a unique and value driven way of branding which is globally known as branding it the Swiss way. Lectures and seminars delivered to them were of supreme quality and have helped them academically understand topics like ‘integrated marketing’, ‘Intercultural management ‘and ‘WTO’ from an entirely different perspective. Turkey on the other hand comprises of a closed ended culture, where people are not very open and interactive. It is one of the key members of the European Union and has a major say in decisions. The country is open to the Black Sea as a result of which major exports & imports take place via this channel. Students strongly felt that India could learn a lot from these European countries. In India the population is considered as a bane whereas this is our major strength, but the only fact is that population lacks initiative and direction. For a developing nation like ours it is extremely important to focus and develop our infrastructure and technology. We recommend that India could do a major learning from these countries by understanding their level of infrastructure and technology. It is extremely important for us to not only maintain such standards but also look and work to put India on the path of success as this is just the beginning to a long road ahead. Opportunities are there, they just need to be identified and reaped. If even half of our population realizes this fact then we guess no one could stop us and we firmly believe that ‘India, the world is waiting’. To sum it up we can suggest through initiatives like these(GOTA) IIPM helps students to learn a great deal about other developed world economies also they derive great amount of international exposure and learning, which eventually makes a great difference in building up a student mindset and global outlook

Group No: S160810

Destination: London

It was quite an experience to be in London, and what generated a feeling of pride in us was the fact that quite a bit of the country's economy which ruled India for a century is now being run by the Asians and the Blacks (Majority being Indians) . Apart from that the most enthralling part about this trip was the venue of the seminar-London School of Economics. We had some brilliant sessions where the students got to learn a lot about Financial Sectors, Leasing and its Policies, Corporate Social Responsibility and its importance in the corporate sector, Change Management and its effect on the company, Marketing Concepts and the Changes it has Undergone over the years. The students also got to learn about certain general topics Like: Disability in Corporate Sector, How to choose the right Career Path and Maintenance of records. Over all the sessions were very interactive, each meeting was a fresh learning and the presenters were very patient to answer all the queries of the students. Following were the sessions that we had: • Hudson (Ms. Caroline Vanovermeire) • South Thames College (Mr. Nigel Donegan) • Amsterdam Institute of Fashion (Mr. Marco Mossinkoff) • Citigroup (Mr. A.Basu) • Royal Bank of Scotland (Mr. Steve Lennon) • Oxfam (Ms. Sheeba Harma) • Virgin Media (Mr. Bjorn Gravsholt) • IBM (Mr. Pradip Varier) Students were well-behaved as a slight hush would make them silent, many of them were attentive and ready with intelligent questions. Future batches must note that although London is a relatively safe place, but they should still be careful and not carry their Passports along with them while sight seeing or shopping specially while visiting Elephant and Castle or stanmmore. Over all, a great opportunity to learn, interact and enjoy!

Group No: S200810 Destination: Belgium & Paris

The trip to BELGIUM and FRANCE of Group S-20 (28.07.09 to 10.08.09) from the student viewpoint was one of the most informative, educative and was one which provided them global exposure. It really inculcated within them the confidence that they can “Dare to Think Beyond” as it gives them an edge over all the other MBA institutes. They really get to understand the culture beyond their country boundaries. The students really felt it a great opportunity to know the world better. They were overwhelmed by their visit to the organisations like European Parliament guided by Ms. Nicolaides Nektarios ; Port of Antwerp guided by Ms. Christine Laenen; Coca Cola Guided by Ms. Patrik Smet was most enjoyed by the students which really made them understand the difference in the working of the organization in India and Europe.; Chocolaterie Jacques guided by . Stephanie Crutzen; Parfums Delforge guided by Ms. Veronique Gilson; Breendonk guided by Ms. Anika Mercelis; Palm Breweries guided by Ms. Barbara Potysch and each was an experience on its own and last IMI whom they were most excited about as they got to see the university whose degree they will be holding. Over all the trip was a very enjoyable and disciplined trip and the students were really cooperative. It was really pleasurable to see the contentment on the students face of the Global exposure they got.

Group No: S210810 Destination: London

GOTA academic tour for the group 21S0810 has been an astounding success. Our seminars and corporate interactions started off from the at The London School Of Economics with Mr Pradip Varier from IBM, giving the students the first glimpse of what GOTA is all about. He discussed in details the relative practices in case of complete business diversions as seen by IBM itself after selling their computer business to Lenovo and focus on strategy consulting. The next seminar was on same day but on the latter half taken by Mr. Maneesh Kumar, British telecom, on Futuristics in which he gave an insight in the future of telecom technology. He explained how the technology of robots used in movies is not far from becoming reality.On the same day, Ms. Caroline Vanovermeire of Hudson took a session with us in which she explained various recruitment processes as they have a tie up with monster jobs in India. Our next meeting was scheduled with Mr Marco Mossinkoff from Amsterdam Institute of Fashion who spoke on issues as to how technology & management are playing the key role in the Fashion Industry. Our meeting was scheduled with Mr. Arup Basu of The Bank Of England on the topic Corporate Governance. He explained the mechanism of corporate Governance & how to measure effective. Similarly lectures from other speakers took place as per schedule. The Best part about all the lectures was that they covered all varied topics and sectors giving all students something of their interest. During the entire tour students got a golden opportunity to enhance their knowledge on various global issues which are being discussed at every platform & has groomed them to deliver quality at every stage. The Students in this particular group were very well behaved and cooperative with the faculties. I was delighted to see the enthusiasm, pride and self confidence among students while interacting with the below mentioned companies and was honored to be the part of the group. In my opinion, this is one of the best opportunities a student can have during his education, where he can make the best use of the available resources for his own career growth.

Group No: S90810

Destination: Belgium & Paris

GOTA trip to Belgium & France was in every sense the most fulfilling experience of my life, be in terms of travel, learning, seeing natural beauty, having good time with students, fruitful discussions, fun etc. Belgium manufactures variety of beers and we happened to visit Palm breweries to sense the exclusivity. Visit to Coca Cola and its adopted advanced manufacturing technology is worth finding. And also the visit to port of Antwerp has made the students to rethink about enhancing the trade relations between India and Belgium. The trip to Belgium & France was amazing in every sense be it the place, be it the appointments everything was really great. It was very well organized, coordinated & logically linked to academic value. The first appointment was at IMI & the discussion was at about “Strategic Management”, which the students found very interesting. Then was the visit to the Port of Antwerp, which was a very informative appointment as they highlighted the relevance & core competency of the Port of Antwerp, which contributes a major portion to the country’s GDP. Visit to the Blegny Coal mines was more of a “walk down memory lane”. But the presenter highlighted effectively why all the coal mines in Belgium have been shut down & converted into a tourist destination. The next was the visit to Coca Cola bottling plant, which was very different from the bottling plants in India. The visits to European Parliament & European Union were very exciting; the students got to realize that how an international organization functions combining 27 Europaen nations. The visit to Arcelor Mittal was once in lifetime visit for many students as there was a great presentation given by Mr. Yolande Rokar & amazing trip round the plant. The appointment with Chocolaterie Jacques was very nice a very deep insight was given on the Chocolate Industry.

The visit to Breedonk was a great way of looking into the history & culture of Belgium. The visit to Palm Breweries was an eye opener owned by the fourth largest beer producer of Belgium. The last was the visit to Mercier, Chanpagne, whict the students liked a lot. So at large the trip was great & very informative

Group No: S100810 Destination: Switzerland & Turkey

THE Global Opportunities & Threat Analysis (GOTA) tour is a very integral part of the MBA program at IIPM. This tour brings a lot of awareness about the functioning of the global economy for the students. Moreover, it offers a different outlook to the students making them receptive to various aspects of management. The GOTA program focuses on giving a far-fetched international exposure and the real knowledge of how an MNC actually works to the students. These seminars are conducted by professionals from various companies falling under different industries, which are undoubtedly very helpful in understanding the functionality of the foreign market. Some world-famous Professors are also a part of these appointments as they share their valuable management learning with the students. The chain of appointments and lectures are of great value in terms of providing many insights into world class management practices and equally focuses on providing entrepreneurial learning to the students. The tour aims at providing knowledge at an altogether different magnitude and platform, which is the core advantage for the students studying at IIPM. Overall, the tour is a right balance of academic and practical exposure along with a right dose of fun for the students.

Group: UG Destination: Singapore

Singapore Gota without an iota of doubt was the most planned and organized trip ever. From meeting delegates to management of the trip everything was picture perfect. A great trip backed by great faculties, what more IIPM students can ask for? But the highlight of the trip was the meeting with Michael Page headed by Ms. Tulika Tripathi and Lecture at Nanyang technical university on Singapore Economy. These two meetings were really comprehensive, and inclusive of all details. The lecture by Ms. Tulika Tripathi was absolutely thought provoking and full of intellect. She informed our students the best possible ways to crack interviews. Her ideas were a mixed bag of psychology and Human resource expertise. Our students enjoyed this session and learnt maximum out of it. Then was a detailed and a simplest explanation of insurance sector, directly from one the best organizations on the globe i.e. AXA. The Second half of the trip was even more interesting. We saw the king of innovation called as NEWATER. The process of Reverse Osmosis and making the purest form of water. Then came NTU and the lecture on Singapore economy. This was one the best session we could have arranged for our students .The entire 1 hour was flooded by questions and discussion from our students side. IIPM students actually reflected the strength and prowess of their intellect. Our confidence high as always impressed the Nanayang Technical University’s proffesors. Such experiences are rare when everything falls in place, students enjoy and learn and return with an enriched experience.

Group: US1

Destination: USA, Darden School of Business

Few words on our Darden experience:

Our educational trip to the Darden Business School at the University of Virginia was a learning experience in more ways than one for students and faculty members from IIPM. The university town environment at Charlottesville is extremely conducive to learning.

Though the learning methodology at Darden is significantly different from that at IIPM, our students were able to adapt quickly and make us proud in the class room. The professors were uniformly impressed at the analytical abilities of our students. As faculty members we had insight into the use of new technologies in education as well as program management methods and curriculum development. Overall a terrific experience all around for all involved.

Group: US2 Destination: USA, Darden School OF Business

Darden followed a case study approach to understand marketing, HR and Finance. The case study approach was very beneficial since it encouraged debates among students and also encouraged them to voice their opinions and also come up with creative strategies. The case studies used were very well thought of since they catered to the contemporary market scenario and also helped to give an insight of the industry, the market trends and the techniques to manage people. All of them followed a participative approach which proved to be beneficial for the students since a lot of questions were encouraged. Also, the kind of business knowledge imparted by the faculty (other than that written in books) was valuable. IMC The duration of the industry meeting could be increased (it lasted for an hour only) and could be made more interactive and insightful. During these meetings, only a background of the students was discussed and just a brief idea of the company was given. It would have been more interesting if the students could have been taken around the office and given an idea of how different departments operate. US Chamber of Commerce and Indian Embassy Consular The meetings were extremely interesting and insightful. However, it would be great if the meeting can be arranged within the premises of the office rather than the hotel.

Group No: US6 Destination: USA, Darden School of Business

Charlottesville a small campus town in state of Virginia is from where our GOTA tour started, the weather that evening was a minus 5 degrees. Charlottesville is the campus city of the University of Virginia and Darden Business School was where the group of 36 was to spend the next 6 night and have full day sessions at the Darden School which uses a methodology of Case Studies as a major teaching tool. Though the students were given the different cases prior to the trip but every evening was mostly spent on preparing for the case to be discussed the very next day. The interesting case studies on diverse fields of management included an all round teaching of Marketing, HR, Finance and Operations. On the very first day students were awed by the beautiful campus at the Darden School which had an entrance not less imposing than the white house, the first day session was by Prof. Elloit Weiss who is the Director cum Professor for operations management who gave an orientation to students for the program on Advanced Global Management, which was followed by a case on IBM on Human Resources which covered an outlook on how IBM wanted to retain it’s senior management. Further students covered many concepts using cases on Lincoln Financials, Star Bucks, GE, Wyatt Chemicals, Black and Decker etc. Students were quite impressed by Prof. Raj Venkatesan who was the marketing faculty and appraised students on many concepts in consumer behavior, advertising, multi-level marketing and Retails concepts of America using some excellent examples and cases. Towards the end of the trip students were taken through some management games which were both experiential and fun for the group. The tour enlightened students with how Thomas Jefferson had set up the University from a scratch to making it one of most popular Universities now in America, the history of the University goes back to the time of civil war and how the University campus still continued with teaching even during times of disturbance. ______

Group No: US 7

Destination: USA, Darden School Of Business

The first three words that come to my mind to describe the program are - Superior, wholesome and Stimulating. Following are some highlights of the program: 1. The Professors - All four professors teaching the program were very experienced in their respective subjects and were very interactive 2. The Case Studies - All case studies were very relevant and current and what made them that much more interesting is the fact that the professors teaching them were actually connected with those cases or companies. GE, B&D and Nordstorm in particular were involving cases 3. The Name Tags - Every student had a name tag on the desk in front of him/her which ensured that the professor could address them by name and ask them questions and interact with them. This as a result ensured that each student was (almost) always alert, ready and prepared. 4. The Beer Game - is Darden's patented simulated case-study that made for a wonderful finish to the program as it was highly involving and had our dullest student at his participative best. 5. The Chaperons - The two program co-coordinators at Darden were with us from the moment we got off the bus the first day to the last time we got on the bus on the last day. From currency exchange, first-aid, internet, food, town to everything else we relied on them blindly and they dint let us down even once. 6. Feedback - There of course was a feedback form that all students filled for Darden on the last day of the program but all professors, administrators and the program coordinators were constantly looking for feedback from us to ensure they can make things that much more comfortable for us and for the groups to follow.