Kozhikode (Keralam), Sep 5 (PTI) “Literally, we became students,” Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan said on Teachers’ Day on Saturday, recalling his experience of attending classes with his 20-member Cabinet during a two-day leadership retreat at IIM Kozhikode.
In a Facebook video message, Satheesan said he and his Cabinet colleagues had attended classes as students at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode for two days from September 4 as part of the programme, organised under the theme ‘Reimagining Keralam’.
“Today is Teachers’ Day. After many years, members of the Cabinet and I are sitting in class as students at IIM-K, yesterday and today,” he said.
He said experts from different parts of the world had conducted sessions on various
subjects and shared their knowledge, experience and global perspectives.
“Literally, we became students,” Satheesan said, adding that the sessions offered the Cabinet valuable insights into informed decision-making and effective policy implementation.
According to the CM, the programme covered various aspects of governance, including strengthening the state’s health sector, reforming higher education and developing an effective disaster management model in the era of climate change.
“The programme covered everything needed to deliver quality governance that holds people close to heart,” he said.
Satheesan said the sessions were led by professors from one of India’s renowned management institutes, along with guest faculty from different parts of the world.
“Honestly, we are gaining great enthusiasm and energy from here,” he said.
He said learning new things offered an opportunity for self-discovery and to renew oneself through every lesson.
“I believe this will help us apply these insights effectively for the benefit of Keralam,” Satheesan said.
Expressing gratitude to the teachers who had taught the Cabinet members, he extended Teachers’ Day greetings to teachers across the world.
“On this occasion, I remember all the teachers who taught us and conducted classes for us in schools and colleges,” he said.
Later in the day, Satheesan shared his experience of attending the two-day retreat after it concluded on Saturday afternoon.
In a Facebook post, he said the discussions focused on opening new avenues in areas, including economic growth, fiscal sustainability, health and welfare, climate resilience, entrepreneurship, skill development, higher education, and Kerala’s position globally, while retaining its human-centred development model.
The programme also provided a platform for exchanging ideas on strengthening the governance system to make it more effective, people-centric and future-oriented, he said.
The programme was conceptualised by IIM-K Director Prof Debashis Chatterjee and faculty members.
The retreat brought together Keralam’s political leadership, IIM-K faculty and distinguished international scholars for a forward-looking dialogue on the forces shaping the state’s future, the institute said in a statement.
The sessions focused on transformational leadership, behavioural science, climate resilience, healthcare and ageing, the economy, employment, entrepreneurship, higher education and Keralam’s global positioning, IIM-K said. PTI TBA TBA KH
