Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) in collaboration with Lancaster University and Birmingham University (UK), and NIT Rourkela, successfully concluded a five-day Winter School on “Globalization, Development, Gender, and Leadership.” the event was held at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Roorkee, under the aegis of SPARC (Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration) and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Ministry of Education, Government of India. The convenor (project director) and co-convenors are Prof. Pratap Mohanty (IIT Roorkee), Prof. Pavel Chakraborty (Lancaster University, UK) and Prof. Narayan Sethi (NIT Rourkela).
The Winter School brought together renowned academicians, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss critical issues surrounding gender dynamics in enterprise growth and globalization. The program commenced with a one-day policy workshop, inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, and Guest of Honour Shri Mrutyunjay Behera, Economic Advisor (Joint Secretary), Ministry of Education, Government of India.
In his address, Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant emphasized the importance of inclusive leadership in driving economic growth. He stated, “At IIT Roorkee, we are committed to fostering research and discussions that address global challenges. This Winter School is a significant step toward understanding and bridging the gender gap in leadership and enterprise, contributing to sustainable and inclusive development.”
The event also featured insightful deliberations from prominent experts representing institutions such as Ashoka University, Indian Institutes of Management, Azim Premji University, and Shiv Nadar University, as well as organizations like the World Bank, Good Business Labs, and IWWAGE.
Mrutyunjay Behera remarked, “Gender parity is not just a moral imperative but an economic necessity. The deliberations at this Winter School highlight actionable insights that can influence policy and empower women to take leadership roles, enhancing organizational and national performance. The government has been taking a host of proactive steps in the direction”
Key topics discussed included the gender wage gap, labour force participation, and the transformative role of female leadership in boosting productivity, innovation, and financial performance in organizations. With India facing significant gender disparities in labour force participation—only 25% of women are active in the workforce, according to the latest PLFS data—the discussions highlighted pathways to achieve gender parity and its potential to add up to $770 billion to India’s GDP by 2025 (McKinsey, 2018).
The Winter School concluded with a renewed commitment to fostering collaborative research and policy innovation aimed at addressing gender disparities and promoting inclusive leadership. IIT Roorkee continues to lead such impactful initiatives, contributing to India’s progress toward a more equitable and prosperous future.
