Keralam ministers attend two-day strategic leadership retreat at IIM Kozhikode

Kozhikode (Keralam), Sep 4 (PTI) Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan and his 20-member council of ministers on Friday began a two-day residential leadership retreat at IIM Kozhikode to chart a new vision for the state.

The programme, titled 'Reimagining Keralam', brings together the state's political leadership, IIM Kozhikode faculty and international experts to discuss issues that will shape the state's future.

CM Satheesan shared videos and photographs of ministers attending the programme on his 'X' handle and wrote: "Returning to classrooms again after years." "A special training programme, 'Reimagining Keralam', aimed at bringing greater professionalism and efficiency to governance began at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode on Friday. The programme focuses on contemporary issues relevant to governance, including leadership in the age of artificial intelligence, climate resilience and financial innovation," he said.

Speaking to reporters, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said this was his second such programme, recalling that a similar initiative was organised during the Oommen Chandy government in 2011.

He said the programme would help improve coordination among ministers and provide an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences.

"Our agenda here today is that of sharing knowledge and sharing experience. Everyone here has a decent amount of experience themselves. It is meant for mutual sharing. That is how the agenda has been set as well," he said.

Kunhalikutty said the ministers would also learn management skills and explore the use of artificial intelligence and advanced technology in governance.

"How can technology be used to bring a change in people's lives? That is the subject. They will give us more theoretical knowledge, and we will share practical insights with them. By sharing mutually, that will be used to bring forth a new vision and new beginnings," he said.

He said that although a majority of the ministers in the UDF government were first-time ministers, they had experience in public service. "This will be a new experience for all of them," he said.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Health Minister K Muraleedharan, Higher Education Minister Roji M John, Labour Minister Bindhu Krishna, Excise Minister M Liju, Tourism Minister PC Visnunadh and Transport Minister CP John also shared photos and videos of attending the session in the classroom.

IIM Kozhikode, in a statement on Friday, said that the retreat formally kicked off with a session by Prof Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode, on ‘Transformational Leadership in the Age of AI: Engaging People with Purpose and Impact', coordinated by Prof Anandakuttan Unnithan, Dean Programmes at IIM Kozhikode.

The statement said that the first day featured a diverse set of sessions examining issues ranging from artificial intelligence and governance to healthcare, climate resilience, ageing and Keralam’s future economic opportunities.

A special session on ‘Positioning Keralam as a Healthcare and Wellness Destination’ was led by Dr Aravind Srinivasan, Chief Medical Officer at Aravind Eye Hospital, Chennai, focusing on Keralam's potential to build on its strengths in healthcare and wellness, the statement said.

International perspectives on climate adaptation and disaster preparedness were brought into the retreat through the session led by Rajib Shaw, Professor, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Japan, along with Prof Anupam Das, IIM Kozhikode.

The session ‘From Policy to Behaviour: The Science of Making Governance Work’ examined how governance can translate policy intent into sustainable change at the community level, drawing on evidence and global best practices.

The session was led by Dr Sanchayan Banerjee of King's College London and Prof Siddhart Padhi from IIM Kozhikode.

The day also featured ‘Adding Life to Years: Keralam’s Silver Economy Mission’, led by Prof Deepa Sethi and Prof Priya Nair Rajeev, which explored the opportunities and challenges emerging from demographic ageing and the growth of the silver economy.

"Across more than five hours of sessions, the ministers engaged closely with faculty members and international experts, participating in discussions, posing questions and reflecting on the implications of the themes for Keralam’s long-term development. The retreat has been structured as a dialogue among practitioners and scholars, with an emphasis on strategic reflection, exchange of perspectives and translating ideas into meaningful outcomes," the statement said.

The second day on Saturday will focus on the economy, skills, higher education, and global positioning, it said.

The retreat will conclude with a valedictory ceremony, during which the participating ministers will be presented with IIM Kozhikode certificates marking their completion of the two-day strategic leadership retreat.

"Through Reimagining Keralam, IIM Kozhikode seeks to provide a platform for the state's leadership to step beyond immediate administrative priorities and engage collectively with the larger forces that will shape Keralam’s future, while drawing on contemporary management thought, academic research and international experience," the statement said. PTI