IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN

A STRONG COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY IS WOVEN INTO THE ETHOS OF XLRI.

- BY ASHUTOSH KUMAR

IN JANUARY 1949, a junior officer at Jamshedpur-based Tata Steel had a request for the Jesuit priests: to open a labour school to address the needs of industrial workers. Months later, the Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) was founded in the steel city, becoming the oldest management school of India. Its initial focus was to offer courses to empower union leaders and managers with negotiation, conflict resolution, and welfare, thereby fostering better working conditions and industrial harmony. Or, for the greater good—the Jesuits' north star.

Seven decades later, XLRI-Xavier School of Management continues to shine as one of the most coveted B-schools in the country. Like any top institute, XLRI has aced the game of evolving with a purpose. “We are expanding access to global learning pathways, upgrading digital and physical infrastructure, and introducing more personalised career development support,” says Fr George Sebastian, director of XLRI Jamshedpur.