Latest news with #VIBA
The Hindu
10-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Victorian botany alumni display petals of pride
The Government Victoria College's Botany department is celebrating a milestone - 75 years of nurturing green thumbs and scientific minds. The platinum jubilee bash was the perfect excuse for a reunion of the alumni who studied botany at Victoria over the past seven and a half decades. On Saturday, the Victorian Botany Alumni Association (VIBA) brought together a vibrant community of former students. As a testament to their dedication, VIBA has become an integral part of Victoria College's legacy, fostering a spirit of giving back and staying connected to the campus that shaped their academic journeys. 'Beyond just reconnecting and reliving old times, our true joy lies in giving back to the community, especially since we benefited from a government education funded by the people,' said K.K. Seethalakshmi, VIBA secretary. Dr. Seethalakshmi, a bamboo expert and an ex-Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) scientist, has propelled VIBA to new heights. She currently works at the Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC), Mundur. VIBA's vibrancy is evident in its numerous initiatives, including six annual endowment lectures, industrial visits and skill training programmes being offered to botany students. According to educationist Mohandas B. Menon, a VIBA patron, 'the skill training programmes are a rare advantage; our students are fortunate to have such a supportive alumni network, setting them apart from students on other campuses.' Besides, VIBA has set up a reception counter and seminar hall at the college with facility to stay for guest speakers. It has also installed QR-coded signages at Vatika, a botanical garden in Palakkad town maintained by the District Tourism Promotion Council. 'We have been regularly felicitating toppers and rank winners of our department,' said Jayakrishnan G. Menon, VIBA executive committee member. A souvenir featuring scholarly papers in tribute to former professor and plant taxonomist R. Vasudevan Nair has elevated VIBA's stature. 'There's no dearth of expert guests for the Botany department,' said Mr. Menon. The reunion drew several veteran alumni who studied and taught botany at Victoria College in the 1960s and 1970s. Susheela Haridas, a pioneering member of the 1970 first MSc batch, was among them. Film director Lal Jose was a guest in the afternoon. Ottapalam Subcollector Anjeet Singh inaugurated the reunion. Ravi Kumar K., Principal in charge, presided. Botany department head Rasmi A.R., and Government College, Tholanur, Principal Maya C. Menon were among those who spoke.
Associated Press
21-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Brett Beveridge of T-ROC Global Warns of Long-Lasting Business Impacts if CEOs and Retail Leaders Don't Embrace AI Education for Employees
NEWMEDIAWIRE) - Brett Beveridge, founder and CEO of The Revenue Optimization Companies (T-ROC Global), the leading provider of people and technology solutions for the global retail market, is signaling the importance of educating employees at every level about the transformative power of AI by warning CEOs to take action this new year, especially in the retail industry. AI is becoming more prevalent than ever and businesses that do not utilize it will fall behind and potentially be unable to recover. The strategic use of AI aids in gathering and analyzing customer data, predicts buying behaviors, automates routine tasks, forecasts trends, and improves the overall customer experience. Beveridge has witnessed firsthand that for AI to be truly effective, it requires more than just the availability of the technology. It requires a workforce that understands its potential, its limitations, and how to leverage it to improve processes and drive innovation. He cautions that without proper training, businesses could face long-term disruptions, as employees may struggle to adapt to new technologies or miss opportunities to optimize workflows. 'The time to act is now. CEOs and retail leaders must prioritize AI education and adoption, or risk being left behind as competitors gain a technological edge,' says Beveridge. 'AI is not a trend. It is a fundamental shift in how businesses operate, communicate with customers, and make data-driven decisions. Companies that fail to adopt AI solutions may find themselves at a severe competitive disadvantage before end of 2025.' As a leader in the future of retail, T-ROC embraced AI over four years ago during the pandemic with the introduction of VIBA, the world's first Virtual Interactive Brand Ambassador. It's first-of-its-kind in-store customer engagement solution that offers a Facetime-like experience for customers while they are at a store. T-ROC employees joined AI training sessions earlier this year which were followed by a 30-day workshop to explore how Generative AI (GenAI) can transform their business operations, uncover new opportunities, and better serve their customers. Retail CEOs who embrace AI education for their employees are investing in the future success of their organizations. By fostering an AI-literate workforce, they ensure their company remains competitive, efficient, and innovative, while empowering employees to navigate the complex digital landscape with confidence. To learn more about The Revenue Optimization Companies (T-ROC Global), visit Follow T-ROC Global on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. About The Revenue Optimization Companies (T-ROC Global) T-ROC Global is a retail branding and consulting partner that supports companies in navigating through today's retail shopping experience, redefining the power of people and technology. T-ROC Global offers a unique combination of people-based services, applications, technology management, mystery shopping programs, actionable market research and competitive insights that support the complex needs of assisted selling. T-ROC Global's expertise and next-generation technology is delivered by a team that's all in to drive sales, optimize performance and deliver measurable ROI for businesses every single day. JWI PR Tyler Sminkey 786-390-8510
