The Staff Retreat 2023 was conducted on 30th April 2023 and is an important part of the institution’s strategy to promote staff bonding and generate new ideas for the year. This is pivotal to the staff’s harmony and productivity. Rev. Fr. C. Joe Arun, SJ – Director, inaugurated the retreat with a prayer for dispositions and emphasized the need for the staff to adopt an agile approach in their work. He shed light on the concepts of innovation and expansion, illustrating how these objectives could be accomplished through the implementation of agile methodologies, self-management, and cross-functional teamwork. Prof. P.C. Lakshmi Narayanan, Dean-Academics, focused on the dispositions required for achieving optimal performance. He emphasized the significance of conducting a SWOT analysis of the staff, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Rev. Fr. Y. Poondy Rajan, SJ, Finance Controller, shared insights on the previous year’s accomplishments and the envisioned goals for the upcoming year. He emphasized the importance of aligning with the institution’s vision and outlined methods for assessing progress towards those objectives. The session proceeded with representatives from each unit delivering presentations, providing an opportunity for them to showcase their unit’s achievements, challenges, and proposed plans. Subsequently, a Spiritual Conversation was conducted unit-wise, addressing the staff members’ spiritual well-being, and providing guidance for the upcoming academic year. The Staff Retreat was a refreshing blend of educating the mind and rejuvenating the spirit and was appreciated by all the participants.
An introductory session on Being Well and Wellbeing was conducted on 10.02.2023 for LIBA Staff as part of the Staff Development Program (SDP). The session was organized by the Centre for Wellbeing (CoW) and was conducted by Prof. Chitraa Venkataachalam – Chair – Centre for Wellbeing, who focused on the importance of how being well promotes our everyday health and has positive effects in the family and workplace. The session reiterated the importance of being happy and healthy as important aspects of wellbeing and wellness tips and calming techniques were also discussed in the session. The different – Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Emotional, Social and Environmental aspects of wellness were shared after which staff were asked to meditate and participate in a fun activity on transference of energy from one person to another which symbolized how one person’s energy can be carried on to another person – whether the energy is positive or negative. The session was then concluded with a message on Gratitude and Forgiveness which is essential at a workplace to ensure a smooth working environment.
LIBA family came together on September 22, 2021, at the Inigo Courtyard to wish and pray for all the members who celebrate their birthdays in September. Six members including one faculty and five staff had their birthdays celebrated. Rev. Fr. C. Joe Arun, SJ, led the prayer and wished all of them, following which the birthday cake was cut and distributed to the gathering.
Dr. C. Joe Arun, envisions creating spirited teams and cultures at work. Regularly coming together through these occasions, breathes life into the Institute by keeping everyone aligned to the mission and values. Doing so, our value of Cura Personalis, care of the individual will be realized in this process.