News & Events

Orientation XIC

01-July-2013

The Orientation for academic year 2013-14 was held on 1st& 2nd July 2013 in the St. Xavier’s College Hall. The theme for this years’ orientation was "Inclusive Development - Reality or Illusion?”.

The compere for the evening was our staff member Vaishali Deshpande. The first day began with a welcome address by the Director Fr. Lawrence Ferrao, S.J. This was followed by a prayer video, seeking blessings for the new batch of media students, their parents and XIC staff who will all be working closely together for this coming year. He introduced the students to the ‘Jesuits’ and the ‘edge’ that they offer in a Jesuit education.

Dr. J. B. Mistry, Acting Dean and Board Member XIC, detailed the academic challenges that the students will come across in this year at XIC. He spoke briefly about C4D and AICP, the two new courses at XIC.

C4D stands for ”Communications for Development,” in collaboration with UNICEF, wherein the curriculum will address sensitizing the masses to social, cultural, environmental issues. The ultimate goal being to join hands with civil society, NGO’s, Corporate to help bring about a change in attitudes & perceptions on social issues relevant in Indian society.

AICP stands for "Advanced Integrated Communications Programme.”It is a week-end course. It is an integrated programme of Marketing and Corporate Communications. This course caters only to working individuals with professional experience. Mr. Rajeev Chawla briefly spoke the main features of AICP.

Dr. Fr. Anthony Dias SJ, Director, Xavier Institute of Social Research and Board Member, XIC, addressed the students on the theme for the evening "Inclusive Development - Reality or Illusion?”

He then introduced the Key Note speaker, Mr. Arun Ferreira, Social & Political Activist, also an alumnus of St. Xavier’s College.

Mr. Ferreira spoke on the development issues in India. He brought out the vast contrast in urban and rural India. He ended his address on a positive note that the current year’s students could try and bring about an attitudinal change in the existing system, and that how we should never give up trying.

The second day started off with Fr. Terence Quadros, S.J., Student Counsellor, SXC who took an interesting session on Classroom Survival.

Fr. Gordon Daniells, S.J., Head Corporate Extension Services, XIC - had ‘Ice Breakers and Making Friends’, an interactive sessions with the students.

Fr. Trevor Miranda SJ, founder REAP (Reach Education Action Program) Foundation, was the key speaker for the second day. He explained his mode of operation, how he has no school building per say, but teaches wherever there are children. He emphasized that the real development can come about only through education, and that we must strive to educate all of India’s children through whichever means we find available.

The students then had course-wise orientation, where they had some of XIC’s alumni speak to them of their experiences during their time at XIC and the challenges they face in the media industry. The alumni who interacted with current students this year were, Samir R. Sheikh FT 2008, Purvi Baj - FT 2013, Saurabh Gupta - JR 2006, Rakshita Madan - JR 2008, Surabhi Rawat - JR 2012, Salil Jaykar - JR 2003, Bijoy Idicheria - JR 2006, Carlos Pereira - AM 2006, Joshua Chand - AM 2007, Ruchika Bedi - AM 2008, Minal Shah - AM 2009, Harshwardhan Tanwar - AM 2010, Anuradha Kelkar - PR 2007, Sonali Walia - AM 2010, Bryna Pinto - PR 2011, Chandy Thomas - PR 2012, Vaibhav Vaze - MCM 2001 and Vijay Shinde - MCM 2010. The session concluded with an interactive Q & A session.