St. Xavier’s College & GCCI host National Seminar on “Recovery To Resilience In the Service Sector: Innovations And Sustainable Pathways For Transformation”
The One Day National Seminar on “Recovery to Resilience in the Service Sector: Innovations and Sustainable Pathways for Transformation” was held on 25th March 2026 at St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa, Goa, organized by the Departments of Commerce, BBA, and BBA Travel & Tourism in collaboration with the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The seminar, attended by 99 participants, was convened by Dr. Yasmin Z. Shaikh.
The Inaugural session commenced with a welcome by Rev. Fr. Antonio Salema, Administrator, who highlighted the institution’s collaboration with GCCI and its alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat. Officiating Principal Ms. Ursula Barreto emphasized resilience, sustainability, and digital transformation as key to growth. Chief Guest Ms. Pratima Dhond. President of GCCI, stressed the importance of innovation in strengthening the service sector. A symbolic watering of the plant reinforced the seminar’s theme of resilience and sustainability. The Keynote Speaker, Dr. Justine James, Asso. Prof. Department of MBA, School of Business and Management, St. Aloysius Deemed to be University Mangalore. delivered an address on business model innovation and sustainability, identifying them as essential drivers of resilience in a VUCA environment.
The Technical Sessions provided sector-specific insights. Mr. Marwin Carvalho, General Manager, Micro Lab Ltd. discussed HR strategies in the pharmaceutical industry, emphasizing adaptability during the pandemic. Mr. Saurabh Khanna, General Manager, Park Hotels, focused on tourism recovery, introducing the 4R Model – Response, Recovery, Restructuring, and Resilience and highlighting emerging trends like “revenge tourism” and the experience economy. Dr. Justine James further explored design thinking, agility, and the circular economy as integrated approaches to innovation.
The paper presentation session featured research on the film exhibition industry, ESG-based financial analysis, and the impact of online reviews on revenue recovery. These studies highlighted the importance of digital transformation, adaptability, and sustainable practices across sectors.
The Valedictory session included reflections, certificate distribution, and an address by Chief Guest Prof. Santosh Patkar, Principal, Saraswat College, Mapusa.. The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks, successfully emphasizing resilience, innovation, and sustainability as critical pathways for the service sector’s post-pandemic transformation. Mr. Rommel Pinheiro, Asst. Prof. Co- Coordinator of the Seminar, proposed the vote of thanks. Dr. Yasmin Z. Shaikh College Coordinator of the MoU with GCCI was the Convenor of the Seminar and Vanessa Furtado from BBA was the Secretary.
