Observing the ninth Foundation Day on October 14, the Gaeddu College of Business Studies (GCBS) in Gedu, Chukha once again illustrated promotion of cultural values with students competing zhungdra, boedra, and traditional mask dance.

Rigsar dances were also not allowed in the Foundation Day competition keeping the practice of the past eight years alive. Atsaras added humour and with students dressed colourfully, GCBS campus was full of life.

Nine hostel teams staged about 19 shows. The winning teams were awarded attractive cash prizes while the team that scored the least points, was awarded a large pumpkin.

A lecturer with the college, Indra Prashad Tirwa said the pumpkin was a reminder, more than a discouragement.

“Allowing just zhungdra and boedra is to promote culture among the students,” he said. “And the team that receives a pumpkin should understand why it received a pumpkin.”

Student president, Kinley Wangdi, a final year B.Com (finance) student said the Foundation Day is the time when students involve, gather, and celebrate with the college management once a year.

“Our former director had decided to do the cultural shows,” the school student said, adding that it was continued then. “It is to preserve our culture and tradition.”

Member and coordinator with the college’s Global Skill Enhancement Coordination Centre, Chencho Dorji said, the Foundation Day was the most enjoyable event in the college.

“We come together and spend time practicing,” he said, explaining that students would practice long hours to instill the best skills in zhungdra, bodega, and the mask dances.

Chuni Wangmo Tamang, another final year B.Com (accounts) student said her team practiced from 7pm until midnight most days. Hostel teams start practicing two weeks ago, she said.

A GCBS alumnus, Tshering Penjor, who is a finance officer in Bumthang dzongkhag administration, also attended the event.

“Giving pumpkin is new,” he said, adding that his batch also observed the important day with cultural competition. “Students work really hard in this event.”

The GCBS alumni further said that the college made all necessary arrangements for the alumnus.

However, an opportunity to interact with the students would have been special, he added.

According to Tshering Penjor, interactions would provide platform for alumnus to share their stories about life after graduation.

The country’s only business college started with an undergraduate programme in B.Com with 74 students and eight faculty members on October 14, 2008. Until today, GCBS has produced 2,258 graduates with bachelors’ degree and 60 graduates with masters.

GCBS president Dr Sonam Choiden said the graduates are productively engaged in contributing towards country’s development in varying capacities.

“We get feedback from business and financial sector that our graduates are doing well in the job market,” the president said.

Dr Sonam Choiden said the increasing number of GCBS graduates selected in the civil service examination also indicated the quality of GCBS graduates. One-third of the entries in the civil service jobs were from GCBS, the officials said.

Today, there are 1,481 students at GCBS, 69 faculty members, and 67 supporting staff.

Starting April 2018, GCBS would introduce three more masters programme for MBA in HR, MBA in marketing, and MBA general course.

Every year, about 500 new students are admitted and about 250 graduate from the college.

Vice Chancellor with the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB), Nidup Dorji joined the college to celebrate the Foundation Day.

Rajesh Rai | Gedu

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