REPORT OF THE SEMINAR

Department of Economics, Modern College, Shivaji Nagar, Pune – 5, organised a State level Seminar on “Impact of Globalization on Service Sector in India”, on 26th & 27th September 2008. The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Ashok Kolaskar, Ex-Vice Chancellor, Pune University. In his key note address, Dr. Kolaskar advocated the need to improve the quality of education to face the challenges of globalisation. He also recommended partnerships or collaborations between Indian institutions and well-known universities abroad. Joint efforts in this direction are necessary to raise the standard of education in India.

Dr. Gajanan Ekbote, Chairman, P.E.Society, Pune, in his discourse on globalisation, elucidated the recent developments in the service sector, particularly in the field of higher education and the challenges therein. He said that the challenges should be considered seriously. While commenting on the problems of the present education system, Dr. Ekbote referred to the complications of affiliation, infrastructural inadequacies and the confusion created by the regulatory mechanisms.

Dr. RS Zunjarrao, Principal, Modern College, Pune-5, delivered the welcome address.

Dr. Madhu Satam, HOD, Economics Dept, Modern College, Pune-5, coordinator, spoke about the seminar and presented the detailed programme.

The first technical session of the seminar was conducted under the Chairmanship of Dr. YR Waghmare, Vice Principal, Modern College, Pune-5. Prof. Pradip Apte, the renowned economist from Fergusson College, Pune, was the main speaker for the session. He expressed his views on “GATT and Globalization” and commented on the import and export policy of India at the outset of globalisation.

The second technical session of the seminar was chaired by Dr. RM Chitnis, Principal, Modern College of Business Studies, Pune. The main speakers of the session were:–

i) Shri. Prashant Pansare, CEO & MD, Intelliment Technologies. He focused his views on the impact of globalisation on IT sector.

ii) Dr. Kalyan Swarup, Dean, NIBM, Pune. He expressed his views on the changes and challenges on the financial sector and banking services.

On the second day of the Seminar, the technical session was conducted under the chairmanship of Dr. Bharati Dole, Director, HNIMR, Pune. The main speakers of the session were:-

i) Mrs. Kavita Amarnani, Vice President, Estique chain of Hotels. She commented on the impact of globalisation on the hotel industry.

ii) Mr. Nikhil Patil, Organizer, Unique Tours for Corporate. He presented his views on the impact of globalisation on tourism.

iii) Mr. Neeraj Jain, Social Activist & IIT Engineer. He presented a critical evaluation of the impact of globalisation on trade, employment, population, insurance and the private sector.

The next session on the day was chaired by Prof. AG Gosavi, Visitor, Modern College, Pune-5 and Dr. TG Gite, Chairman, BOS, Business Economics, Pune University. Faculties from various colleges presented their papers in this session.

The concluding session was chaired by Dr. Gajanan Ekbote. The invitees for the session included:-

i) Dr. Pandit Vidyasagar, Director, BCUD, Pune University. He took an overall review of the education system in India. He said “while quality education at a reasonable cost is the strength, the student teacher ratio is a challenge for Indian education system. He emphasised on the need for changes in the attitudes of the teachers and the students towards education. Speaking on the impact of globalisation on education, he said that the competition from foreign institutions is increasing day by day and hence, there is a need to preserve the traditional strength of education in India along with the necessary developments.

ii) Dr. Ashok Joshi, Director, INDSEARCH, Pune, advocated the need to redefine the education as the most important infrastructure for nation building. He also discussed the parameters of globalisation influencing the education system. He further said that higher education should be quality oriented and a partnership between private and public institutions can help education to become an engine of growth. He also recommended the need for accountability and transparency to meet the challenges.

iii) Dr. Gajanan Ekbote, Chairman, PE Society, Pune, identified the constraints and problems of higher education institutions like affiliation system, wastage of time, problems of implementation, lack of infrastructure and the multiplicity of regulatory mechanisms.

Dr. Mrs. MM Satam, HOD, Economics Department, Pune-5, summarised the seminar in brief and Prof Sandhya Vartak delivered the vote of thanks.

List of Invitees / Chief guests / Main Speakers / Chairpersons of the Sessions(Felicitation):-

1. Dr. Gajanan Ekbote, Chairman, P.E.Society, Pune-5

2. Prof. Jyotsana Ekbote, Chairperson, LMC, Modern College, Pune-5

3. Prof. AG Gosavi, Visitor, Modern College, Pune-5

4. Dr. Ashok Kolaskar, Ex-Vice Chancellor, Pune University.

5. Dr. Pandit Vidhyasagar, Director, BCUD, Pune University

6. Dr. Ashok Joshi, Director, INDSEARCH, Pune

7. Dr. Kalyan Swarup, Dean, NIBM, Pune

8. Prof. Pradip Apte, Fergusson College, Pune

9. Dr. TG Gite, Chairman, BOS, Business Economics, Pune University

10. Mr. Prashant Pansare, CEO & MD, Inteliment Technologies

11. Mrs. Kavita Amarnani, Vice President, Estique chain of Hotels

12. Mr. Nikhil Patil, Organizer, Unique Tours for Corporates

13. Mr. Neeraj Jain, Social Activist & IIT Engineer

14. Dr. RY Waghmare, Vice Principal, Modern College, Pune-5

15. Dr. RM Chitnis, Principal, Modern College of Business Studies, Pune

16. Dr. Bharati Dole, Director, HNIMR, Pune