FINCON 2026 Concludes at St. Thomas College Thrissur; V. P. Nandakumar Honoured

Thrissur once again proved its academic strength as FINCON 2026, an international commerce conference, concluded at St. Thomas College (Autonomous), Thrissur.
The two-day event brought global experts, researchers, and students together under one roof.

Organised by the Research Department of Commerce, the conference celebrated academic excellence and Kerala’s growing presence in global finance.

FINCON 2026: A Tribute to a Distinguished Academic Career

FINCON 2026 was organised in honour of Prof. Dr. Biju John M, Dean of Arts & Humanities and Head of the Commerce Department.

The event marked his 31 years of dedicated service to higher education as he approaches retirement.
Faculty members and scholars praised his lasting contribution to commerce education in Kerala.

V. P. Nandakumar Receives FINCON Lifetime Achievement Award

A major highlight of FINCON 2026 was the FINCON Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony.

The award was presented to Sri V. P. Nandakumar,
Chairman and Managing Director of Manappuram Finance, and Chairman of IIM Kozhikode.

Award Ceremony Highlights

• The ceremony was held at Kaviprathibha Hall, St. Thomas College
• The award was presented by Principal Rev. Dr. Martin K. A.
• Executive Manager Rev. Fr. Biju Panengaden joined the presentation
• Prof. Dr. Biju John M presented a memento to the awardee

Speakers highlighted how Sri V. P. Nandakumar built a globally recognised financial institution from Thrissur.
The Principal noted that his achievements brought pride to Kerala’s business community.
“നമ്മുടെ നാടിന്റെ അഭിമാനം” was a sentiment echoed throughout the hall.

Inaugural Session and International Keynote Address

The inaugural session was held on January 19 at Kaviprathibha Hall.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Glenn Muschert,
Professor at Khalifa University, UAE.

Keynote Topic

“Financial Inclusion and Global Development: Pathways, Tensions, and Future Directions”

The session was presided over by Principal Rev. Dr. Martin K. A.
Speakers included:

• Rev. Fr. Biju Panengaden, Executive Manager
• Dr. Daisland Thattil, Head of the Commerce Department

The discussion highlighted finance as a tool for inclusive growth.

Technical Sessions and Research Paper Presentations

FINCON 2026 featured multiple technical sessions led by national and international experts.

Notable Sessions

• Dr. Timothy Palmer, Western Michigan University, USA, led the second session
• Dr. Shveta Kalra, Delhi University, spoke on
  “Customer Engagement: A Road to a Sustainable Future”

Over 50 research papers were presented by academicians and research scholars.
Sessions were held across venues, including Kaviprathibha Hall and the IQAC Office.

The programme was smoothly coordinated by Dr. Divya George.

Kerala Campus Pride and Global Academic Reach

FINCON 2026 reflected Kerala’s strong academic culture and global outlook.
Events like these strengthen Thrissur’s reputation as a hub for higher education and research.

The conference also inspired students to engage more deeply with research and innovation.

കൂടുതൽ ക്യാമ്പസ്‌ വിശേഷങ്ങൾ അറിയുവാനും പങ്കുവെക്കാനും ഞങ്ങളുടെ വാട്സ്ആപ്പ് ഗ്രൂപ്പിൽ അങ്കമാകു…

Join our WhatsApp group for the latest campus updates

📢 Share your School/College News Here?
We love featuring student stories, event updates, and campus highlights from across the country! ✍️ Click here to publish your campus updates on CampusRound.com