As part of the Krea Engage series, Prof Amrita Narayanan in her session titled ‘What can you do with a degree in Psychology?’, discussed in detail about all the career possibilities that come with pursuing the subject in today’s world. Addressing students and counsellors, Prof Amrita shared insights drawn from her career experience and shed light on where a training in Psychology can take a student after graduation. The session also highlighted the specific skills necessary for clinical practice and how the degree serves as a great starting point for careers in science and the arts.
Category: General Topics
‘The role of networking in the workplace’ with Vijay Sivaram
| In today’s world, networking is viewed as an art form, especially with structures and communicative channels evolving day by day. While the mediums may have shifted, its importance, however, remains unchanged. Packed with insights, Vijay Sivaram – CEO of IT Staffing and Search & Recruitment, overseeing both India and Asia Pacific operations at Quess Corp – shared his knowledge on effective networking, where he went on to highlight the importance of improving one’s communication skills from a recruiter’s perspective. The session also touched upon areas relevant to young individuals joining the workforce. |
Prof Madhuri Saripalle co-authors chapter on mango value chains in India
| Dr Madhuri Saripalle – Associate Professor of Economics at IFMR GSB, Krea University – co-authored a chapter on Mango Value Chains in India as part of an edited volume titled ‘Transforming Agriculture in South Asia: Role of Value Chains and Contract Farming’. Published by Routledge, the study analyses numerous markets and value chains for mango namely HOPCOMS, SAFAL, APMC and pre and post-flowering contracts with wholesale agents that have different implications for farmer profitability. |
‘Gender Watch’ – an informative video series by IWWAGE
IWWAGE brings to you a video series called, “Gender Watch” which presents in a capsule format news stories, data highlights and the latest research and thinking on gender issues in India, particularly related to initiatives and interventions to empower women economically. The launch episode can be viewed here. For upcoming episodes, visit the Gender Watch section.
Examining the barriers to women’s employment
IWWAGE and IndiaSpend have come together for a year-long partnership to examine and analyse issues around women empowerment and strengthen the narrative that will encourage and allow for equal participation of women in economic activity. The partnership kicked off with a video interview featuring Soumya Kapoor Mehta, Head – IWWAGE, as part of the Women@Work 2.0 series, examining barriers and solutions to getting more women in paid work. Watch the interview here.
Enhancing livelihood opportunities with digital solutions for SHGs in Chhattisgarh
In Chhattisgarh, IWWAGE is partnering with the State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) and Haqdarshak Empowerment Solutions Private Limited (HESPL) to train SHG members on a digital application, which can enhance their livelihood opportunities. In addition to collaborating on the implementation of this livelihood model, LEAD and IWWAGE are also conducting an impact and process evaluation of the Haqdarshak programme, which will answer questions on its effectiveness and efficacy. Read more about the project and the milestones here.
Addressing the pandemic’s impact on creative economy
In an engaging session with the students of Krea University, Navaneeth LV – Chief Executive Officer of The Hindu Group – shared his insights on the many challenges and opportunities the creative economy continues to face in light of the ongoing pandemic. From sharing why reader revenue is far more important than advertising to laying an emphasis on working towards digital transformation — the session shed light on what legacy publications are going through and how they are tackling these challenges. Prof Anil Srinivasan – Associate Professor of Practice, Literature & the Arts – moderated the session. Watch the recording of the session here.
Prof Kalyan Chakrabarti co-authors paper on “Aromatic Interactions Drive the Coupled Folding and Binding of the Intrinsically Disordered Sesbania mosaic Virus VPg Protein”
Prof Kalyan Chakrabarti – Assistant Professor of Biological Science & Chemistry, Krea University – co-authors with scientists at IISc for a paper on “Aromatic Interactions Drive the Coupled Folding and Binding of the Intrinsically Disordered Sesbania mosaic Virus VPg Protein” published in the American Chemical Society journal ‘Biochemistry’.
About the paper:
The cells are the tiny units of life. Protein molecules are the engines that carry out all the necessary work within the cell. But, how are the engines assembled within the cell? A team of scientists, including Prof Kalyan Chakrabarti, have answered this question in an article published in the American Chemical Society journal ‘Biochemistry’. The work, partially funded by the Krea Intramural Fellowship awarded in 2019, discusses a specific problem of viral infection in plants which has the potential to provide a blueprint for preventing viral infections in animals too.
Abstract:
The plant Sesbania mosaic virus [a (+)-ssRNA sobemovirus] VPg protein is intrinsically disordered in solution. For the virus life cycle, the VPg protein is essential for replication and for polyprotein processing that is carried out by a virus-encoded protease. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-derived tertiary structure of the protease-bound VPg shows it to have a novel tertiary structure with an α-β-β-β topology. The quaternary structure of the high-affinity protease–VPg complex (≈27 kDa) has been determined using HADDOCK protocols with NMR (residual dipolar coupling, dihedral angle, and nuclear Overhauser enhancement) restraints and mutagenesis data as inputs. The geometry of the complex is in excellent agreement with long-range orientational restraints such as residual dipolar couplings and ring-current shifts. A “vein” of aromatic residues on the protease surface is pivotal for the folding of VPg via intermolecular edge-to-face π···π stacking between Trp271 and Trp368 of the protease and VPg, respectively, and for the CH···π interactions between Leu361 of VPg and Trp271 of the protease. The structure of the protease–VPg complex provides a molecular framework for predicting sites of important posttranslational modifications such as RNA linkage and phosphorylation and a better understanding of the coupled folding upon binding of intrinsically disordered proteins. The structural data presented here augment the limited structural data available on viral proteins, given their propensity for structural disorder.
Reference: Karuna Dixit, N. Megha Karanth, Smita Nair, Khushboo Kumari, Kalyan S. Chakrabarti, Handanahal S. Savithri, and Siddhartha P. Sarma | Biochemistry 2020 59 (49), 4663-4680 | DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00721
Read the complete paper, here.
India-Oxford Initiative at University of Oxford and Krea University host Covid Impact Insights Roundtable
The India-Oxford Initiative (IndOx) at University of Oxford under its collaboration with Krea University and in partnership with LEAD at Krea hosted ‘India Research Insights : The Covid Impact’, an insights roundtable which profiled powerful research outcomes from various Indian research agencies who have been tracking the Covid Impact on Mental Health, Migration, Gender, and Digital Media Consumption. This was an inaugural public event under the collaboration, the first of its kind for IndOx in India.
Dr Bishnu Mohapatra from the Undergraduate School at Krea University welcomed the audience to the inaugural collaborative event, “The study of any conjecture not merely 2020 conjecture-the COVID conjecture, cannot be a singular affair, it has to be a collaborative affair. We are delighted that at this point, Krea and IndOx are coming together to reflect on this conjecture. “
Dr Faisal Devji, Co-Chair of IndOx added, “The India-Oxford Initiative was meant to allow all of us who work on ‘India’ to come together, whether it is people in the natural sciences, social sciences, medical sciences or humanities. And for the first time in Oxford’s history, we are able to communicate in an institutionalised regular way, act together and present a single face. One of the things we are interested in is engaging with India, Indian institutions, Indian students, Indian academics and Indian society. Our agreement with Krea is meant to do precisely that.”
The impact session included 15-minute capsules of four knowledge paper presentations presented by senior research heads from leading agencies, followed by a response session exploring these diverse narratives.
The leading presentation by Comscore represented the research study- Impact of Covid 19 on Digital Media Consumption in India. Presented by Neha Singh, Director, Client Insights at Comscore India, the study explored how 2020 has been a year like no other as India saw a complete lockdown for more than 2 months and then revived its daily activities amid the threat of the pandemic. Through some numbers and the insights behind them, the knowledge paper examined how the change in our lives and priorities reflected in the digital media consumption and what this change means for consumers and businesses.
Packed with insights from the forefront, India Migration Now (IMN) followed with the knowledge paper-Migrants During COVID-19: IMN Initiatives. Presented by Priyansha Singh, Policy & Communications Lead at IMN, the study showcased insights from IMN responding to the migrant crisis, through multiple avenues, including coordinating relief activities, collating SOS lists, pursuing media advocacy strategies, engaging with stakeholders, and conducting surveys and qualitative research into the conditions of migrants everywhere.
Dr Sona Nair, Principal Economist at IWWAGE presented the research study – Impact of COVID on Women Labour in Informal Sector. The presentation focussed on the challenges faced by women migrant workers in construction, factories and petty service segments as well as those faced by women’s small and informal enterprises. It highlighted women’s resilience and role in community leadership to prevent the pandemic through the SHGs.
The concluding knowledge paper presentation was on the impact on Mental Health by LEAD at Krea University. Titled ‘The Covid-19 pandemic and impact on mental health services: The provider perspective ‘, the study was done in collaboration with Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) India for the India-Oxford Initiative (IndOx), and was presented by Sapna Nair, Research Fellow and co-presented by Preethi K, Kaustav Mehta and Ananya Raju, the latter two being sophomores at Krea University. The research study explored how mental health issues in the aftermath of the Covid-19 have been an area of increasing concern for public health, second only to the containment of the pandemic itself.
The study establishes a need to explore the impact on the consequences of the pandemic across the spectrum of care services. Particularly, from a service provider perspective on challenges faced through the pandemic by the response systems the resilience of the response systems in responding to the care of the severely mentally ill.
The final piece of the evening was an overview of student well being initiatives at Krea University, bothon campus and offline, including conception, design and pilot launch of Peer-to-Peer counselling programme. Samuel Prithiv, representing the Office of Student Life co-presented with Satvika Char another sophomore at Krea, shedding light on the University’s resolute commitment to student well-being.
Dr Premila Webster, Senior Research Fellow from Oxford India Sustainable Centre, concluded the event with parting thoughts, “We didn’t want to have research as is done a lot of the time for the sake of research, sitting in ivory towers. We wanted research that was embedded and useful to people we were helping and working with. We are working with a great group of people and this should be the foundation of work we do. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a wonderful and long collaboration.”
The public workshop was open for all and was followed by a Q&A session.
Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, Former Chairman and MD of Cognizant (India), to join Krea University as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Professional Learning
Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, former Chairman and Managing Director of Cognizant (India), will join the leadership team of Krea University in January 2021 as its first Pro Vice-Chancellor, responsible for Professional Learning.
As part of its 2025 vision, the University has created a blueprint to take its interwoven learning experience to the industry and larger society to address the agile and continuous learning needs of professionals. In this role as Pro Vice-Chancellor of Professional Learning, Ramkumar will help drive the mission and long-term strategy of all professional programs—spanning Masters in Business Administration, executive education, as well as modularized and laddered advanced programs and micro-credentials that will add significant value to individuals, businesses, nations and society.
In addition to this role, as a part of the core leadership team, Ramkumar will help strengthen Krea’s vision to be a teaching and research university that defines global benchmarks through interwoven-ness and experiential learning, while staying true to its core values of excellence, ethics, inclusivity and accountability.
“Ramkumar brings to Krea a rare combination of three decades of industry, professional and academic experience,” said Dr Sunder Ramaswamy, Vice Chancellor of Krea University. “His deep appreciation of structural shifts across industries and newer models of learning and skilling will be a great asset to Krea and particularly to the Graduate School of Business, in our journey to enable high potential individuals to learn and create a positive, catalytic impact, ethically.”
“I am truly excited to be part of the Krea team that strongly believes in the larger purpose of helping humanity prepare for an unpredictable world,” said Ramkumar. “In a fast-paced world that is increasingly shaped by the interplay of humans, machines and the environment, learning throughout one’s professional or entrepreneurial career is key to staying relevant while driving excellence and innovation. I am confident that the rich heritage of the Graduate School of Business, Krea’s pioneering interwoven learning model and strong legacy of core values will enable the alumni of the university to confidently embrace the future.”
Profile of Ramkumar Ramamoorthy
Ramkumar has about 30 years of experience in the information technology industry as well as academia. He was most recently the Chairman and Managing Director of Cognizant in India—a Fortune 200 company—and was responsible for the company’s India operations with over 200,000 employees.
During his 22 years with Cognizant, he nurtured and grew more than half a dozen portfolios and held various leadership positions including Executive Director, India and Chief Knowledge Officer. Prior to Cognizant, Ramkumar was with Tata Consultancy Services.
Ramkumar spent the first five years of his professional career as an academician and continued to stay in touch with academia throughout his long career in the industry. In the past three decades, he has been on the Academic Council and/or Senate of liberal arts, engineering, management and medical universities in India. He is currently on the Governing Council of the IT/BPM Skill Sector Council of National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) and the Board for undergraduate studies in engineering and technology at All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). He is also associated with the Chennai Mathematical Institute, one of the premier institutions of excellence for teaching and research in math, computer science and data science.
Ramkumar has played leadership roles in several professional and trade bodies in India. Notably, he is the immediate Past President of the 185-year-old Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and a past Vice Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in India.