A one-day national seminar on “Recovery to Resilience in the Service Sector: Innovations and Sustainable Pathways for Transformation” was successfully held on March 25, 2026, at St. Xavier’s College Mapusa, bringing together academicians, industry experts, and students for an insightful exchange of ideas. The seminar was organised by the Departments of Commerce, BBA, and BBA Travel & Tourism in collaboration with the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and witnessed participation from 99 attendees. The event was convened by Dr. Yasmin Z. Shaikh.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Rev. Fr. Antonio Salema, Administrator, who highlighted the institution’s meaningful collaboration with GCCI and its alignment with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat. Officiating Principal Ursula Barreto emphasized the importance of resilience, sustainability, and digital transformation as key drivers of growth in the service sector. Chief Guest Pratima Dhond, President of GCCI, underscored the need for innovation to strengthen and future-proof the sector. A symbolic watering of a plant during the session reinforced the seminar’s central theme of resilience and sustainability.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Justine James, Associate Professor at the School of Business and Management, St. Aloysius Deemed to be University, Mangalore. She spoke on business model innovation and sustainability, identifying them as critical drivers for building resilience in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) environment.
The seminar featured engaging technical sessions offering sector-specific perspectives. Marwin Carvalho, General Manager at Micro Lab Ltd., discussed human resource strategies in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting adaptability during the pandemic. Saurabh Khanna, General Manager at Park Hotels, focused on tourism recovery, presenting the 4R Model—Response, Recovery, Restructuring, and Resilience—and shedding light on emerging trends such as revenge tourism and the experience economy. Dr. Justine James further elaborated on design thinking, agility, and the circular economy as integrated approaches to innovation and sustainable growth.
The paper presentation session showcased research on diverse topics including the film exhibition industry, ESG-based financial analysis, and the impact of online reviews on revenue recovery. These studies emphasized the growing importance of digital transformation, adaptability, and sustainable practices across sectors.
The seminar concluded with a valedictory session that included reflections, certificate distribution, and an address by Chief Guest Santosh Patkar, Principal of Saraswat College, Mapusa. The event wrapped up with a vote of thanks proposed by Rommel Pinheiro, Assistant Professor and Co-Coordinator of the seminar. Dr. Yasmin Z. Shaikh served as the Convenor, while Vanessa Furtado from BBA acted as the Secretary.
The seminar successfully highlighted resilience, innovation, and sustainability as key pathways for transforming the service sector in a post-pandemic world.
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