A stint on a global stage has left a pair of Simon Fraser University students ready for more in the world of international business.
Jasmin Bhandal and Ranjot Dhanju spent three months in India as part of SFU’s B.C. India Mobility Initiative working for Surrey-based Oxus Nexus, a corporate services company.
Their roles as feasibility analysts involved uncovering market potentials in India for the company and its clients in the biotech/clean tech industry, largely in Bangalore, and culminated in Mumbai with their address to a conference room of international delegates on clean energy concepts.
Since their return, the company has been busy with a “deluge of leads” and partnership follow-ups. Melissa Andruk, external relations manager for Oxus Nexus, says, “the students’ deliverables, successes and work has been nothing less than spectacular.”
The pair, representing Mantra Energy Alternative's Electro Reduction of CO2 (ERC) technology, presented at India's International Engineering Sourcing Show (IESS).
The company was one of five representing Canada in the area of clean technology, with themes ranging from solar power and waste-to-energy to their own pitch for carbon capture and recycling technology.
“Each of the companies showcased their technologies and there was a lot of interest in what we had to say,” says Bhandal, who likened the show to the “Olympics” of engineering.
“Their responses to our discussion, and to both of us, being young students from SFU, was more than we had anticipated.”
Andruk says the two not only did an outstanding job presenting at the symposium’s final day but also received mention in the Canadian High Commissioner’s closing address.
“When the interns were first hired, we wanted to ensure that the two candidates would be able to cultivate an experience for themselves as well as deliver on their targets and goals,” says Andruk. “These interns have done just that. While they are achieving their targets they are also managing to take in the sights and sounds of India.”
Bhandal is a marketing and finance major in her final year and hopes to go into business development and new venture consulting. Dhanju, a Surrey resident, is a third-year finance and entrepreneurship major hoping to one day run his own business.
SFU’s B.C.-India Mobility Initiative is funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada and provides linkages with India in programs and projects that support such areas as clean energy, life sciences, new media and film sectors.
A total of 27 students have been involved in work terms in India since the initiative was created.