FLAME University

FLAME Alumna Gayatri Kovvuri, along with Prof. Garima Rajan, Faculty of Psychology at FLAME University, presented their research paper, “Rediscovering the Underrated and Untapped: Yoga and Meditation for Student Resilience,” at the 13th International Conference and 4th International Conference on Positive Psychology, organized by the National Positive Psychology Association (NPPA). The paper explores the role of yoga and meditation in strengthening student resilience and contributing to psychological well-being. Presented at an international academic platform, the research engaged with contemporary conversations in positive psychology, student mental health, and evidence-based approaches to well-being.

FLAME University and WageIndicator are jointly hosting the 2nd International Conference: Work, Wages and Workforce 2026, a global platform where scholarly research, policy, and practice come together to advance evidence-based dialogue on the evolving world of work. Submit the abstracts and contribute to important conversations on the future of work. Location: FLAME University Conference Dates: November 30 – December 1, 2026 Abstract Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026 To submit your papers and to know more, please visit: flame.edu.in/research/confe… @WageIndicator @rupakorde

Vedangi Kokane, Postgraduate Student at FLAME University, has been selected as one of the finalists for the EY NextGen Women 2026 Strategy and Transactions Case Competition. This achievement recognises her strategic thinking, analytical abilities, and commitment to engaging with real-world business challenges. As a finalist, Vedangi will have the opportunity to collaborate with industry experts, solve complex case studies, and gain valuable exposure to strategic and transactions consulting.

Prof. Amith Vikram, Faculty of Finance at FLAME University, published a research paper in the Q1-ranked Journal of Technology Transfer. This paper explores the impact of R&D investment on firm growth and profitability in the Indian pharmaceutical industry, considering capability thresholds, firm-level differences, and peer spillover effects. It finds that while higher R&D investment may limit short-term growth, it leads to stronger long-term expansion through delayed innovation benefits. Additionally, firms with higher growth can better absorb R&D costs, and peer R&D investment offers modest spillover advantages. The research provides insights into the long-term strategic value of R&D in emerging markets beyond OECD countries. Read the full article here: link.springer.com/article/10.100…

FLAME Alumnae Aarya Dedhia and Muskan Shah, along with Prof. Moitrayee Das, Faculty of Psychology at FLAME University, have published the book chapter "Coping with Burnout Across Cultures" in Auto-Psychology, Psychological Marketing, Well-Being, and the Workplace: Implications for Theory and Practice. The chapter examines how cultural contexts influence the ways employees experience and cope with workplace burnout. While burnout is often understood through individual or organizational factors, the chapter highlights the importance of cultural norms in shaping coping behaviors. Drawing on existing literature, the chapter compares how employees in individualistic and collectivist cultures respond to workplace stress, exploring the role of factors such as job satisfaction, peer relationships, job security, and working conditions. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the study underscores the need for organizations, particularly those operating across culturally diverse workplaces, to adopt more culturally responsive approaches to employee well-being and sustainable workforce practices. To know more, please click here: link.springer.com/chapter/10.100…

The language of mental health has become an increasingly visible part of everyday conversation, reshaping how people understand relationships, emotions, and personal experiences. Clinical terms that once belonged primarily to therapeutic settings now frequently appear in social media discourse, workplaces, parenting practices, and interpersonal interactions. While this growing vocabulary has helped normalize conversations around psychological well-being, its widespread and imprecise use has also blurred the distinction between everyday emotional experiences and clinically diagnosed conditions. As therapeutic language becomes embedded in daily life, it raises important questions about how people interpret distress, connection, and healing. In this article, FLAME Alumna Vidhi Mantry and Prof. Moitrayee Das, Faculty of Psychology at FLAME University, explore the psycholinguistic shift brought about by the rise of “therapy-speak” in contemporary culture. They highlight how digital platforms have accelerated the circulation of psychological jargon, often reducing nuanced clinical concepts to broad labels that can obscure lived experiences and dilute the meaning of genuine mental health conditions. The piece also examines how therapy language increasingly shapes workplaces, parenting approaches, and personal relationships, its tone often serving as a shield against emotional vulnerability or as a tool of organizational culture through “psychowashing.” While acknowledging the value of making mental health conversations more accessible, the authors emphasize that meaningful human connection ultimately depends not on diagnostic language but on empathy, emotional openness, and the willingness to engage with one another beyond labels. Read the article here: nenow.in/opinion/the-ps…

Prof. Vinod Kumar, Faculty of Digital Marketing and Communications at FLAME University, has published his research in the Q1-ranked Journal of Strategic Marketing. His paper examines the links between artificial intelligence capabilities, marketing capabilities, and marketing effectiveness, drawing on the resource-based view and dynamic capability theories. The study finds significant relationships across all three constructs, with AI capabilities strengthening marketing capabilities, which in turn contribute to greater marketing effectiveness. The research affirms that firms can unlock meaningful gains in marketing performance through strategic AI investment, even in technologically volatile conditions. The paper adds to the strategic marketing literature and offers practical guidance for organizations looking to integrate AI into their marketing strategy. Read the full article here: doi.org/10.1080/096525…

Prof. Khyati Jagani, Faculty of Marketing at FLAME University, and FLAME Alumna Sanjuktha Vikram published a book chapter, "Posts, Privacy, and Plight: Investigating Ethical Boundaries of Consumer Data Usage for AI Training," in Marketing in the Digital Age. The chapter explores the ethical dilemmas of using consumer-generated social media content for AI training, focusing on young Indian users who manage public accounts. Through in-depth interviews, it highlights their concerns about consent, transparency, and trust in platforms while also examining how they balance privacy risks against the potential benefits of AI innovation. The study contributes to broader debates on responsible AI practices by revealing how this demographic negotiates the tension between technological progress and personal data security. Know More: link.springer.com/chapter/10.100…

FLAME University and WageIndicator are jointly hosting the 2nd International Conference: Work, Wages and Workforce 2026, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to advance evidence-based discourse on the forces reshaping labor markets across the globe. The future of work is being reshaped by technological disruption, artificial intelligence, climate transitions, and changing demographic realities. As these forces transform labour markets worldwide, they present new questions around employment, wages, inclusion, and workforce development. The conference also celebrates academic excellence by recognizing outstanding contributions. Certificates of excellence and cash prizes will be awarded to meritorious participants in accordance with the categories listed in the post. Location: FLAME University Conference Dates: November 30 – December 1, 2026 Abstract Submission Deadline: July 31, 2026 To submit your papers and to know more, click the link in bio. To submit your papers and to know more, please visit: flame.edu.in/research/confe… @WageIndicator @rupakorde

Join us for the second session of the FLAME Upskill Series 2026, “The Ministry of Magic and the Problem of International Law: Who Counts, Who Decides, and Who Is Responsible? – International Law and Harry Potter,” with Prof. Tushar Rajput, Academic Specialist – International Studies at FLAME University. This interactive masterclass explores concepts such as statehood, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and legal authority through the lens of the magical world. By connecting legal principles with a familiar fictional universe, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how international law shapes power, responsibility, and governance. Participants will explore how fictional narratives can be used to examine real-world legal frameworks, encouraging critical thinking about international institutions, accountability, and global governance. Date: July 25, 2026 Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM IST Register Now: flame.edu.in/happenings/fla…

FLAME Alumna Nishanshi Shukla, Responsible AI Researcher, AI Ethics & Safety at Western Governors University was recently featured in Authority Magazine's Guardians of AI series. In the interview, she shared her perspectives on building artificial intelligence that is safe, ethical, responsible, and aligned with human values, discussing the importance of AI governance, transparency, bias mitigation, and ensuring that technological innovation remains grounded in accountability and trust. Through the conversation, Nishanshi underscored the role of responsible leadership in shaping the future of AI and highlighted the need for collaboration across industries to develop technologies that create meaningful and sustainable impact. Read the article here: medium.com/authority-maga…

FLAME University and Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID) Pop-Up School 2026 concluded with the Lightning Talks, bringing together participants, faculty, industry professionals, and the wider design community for a celebration of ideas, innovation, and design. The Lightning Talks offered a glimpse into the diverse worlds of design, technology, innovation, and human-centered practice. Through personal stories, experiences, and insights, speakers demonstrated how design can create meaningful impact across disciplines and contexts. More than a series of presentations, the Lightning Talks became a space for inspiration, reflection, and dialogue. The ideas exchanged reflected the spirit of the Pop-Up School, embracing curiosity, experimentation, collaboration, and the courage to challenge conventional ways of thinking. As conversations continued, participants carried forward not only the knowledge gained over the week but also new perspectives, meaningful connections, and a deeper appreciation for the transformative power of design. The Lightning Talks marked a fitting conclusion to a week defined by learning by making, thinking by doing, and designing with purpose for the future.

Prof. Amith Vikram, Faculty of Finance at FLAME University, has published his research in the Q1-ranked journal Finance Research Letters. The paper introduces a "Reverse Altman" framework that repurposes bankruptcy-model predictors to identify early signals of firm growth. The study uses logistic regressions with industry fixed effects to determine which financial indicators precede high-growth outcomes. The findings show that retained earnings, profitability, and cash‑generation capacity significantly increase the likelihood of firms achieving high‑growth status, with the model reaching 74% accuracy. In contrast, larger and more mature firms are systematically less likely to grow rapidly. Overall, accounting‑based indicators measured before the growth period emerge as reliable predictors of high‑growth firms in emerging markets. Read the full article here: sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

Building on the momentum of the previous days, Day 5 of the FLAME University and the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID) Pop-Up School 2026 brought together the research, experimentation, and iterations that had shaped the projects of the participants into cohesive concepts and prototypes. Across classrooms, presentations reflected not only the solutions that had emerged but also the thinking, collaboration, and continuous refinement that had informed each step of the journey. Facilitators encouraged teams to reflect on their process, highlighting the questions, challenges, and insights that had guided the evolution of every idea. Conversations extended beyond the final outcomes to the learning that had taken place throughout the week, as participants engaged with one another's approaches, perspectives, and experiences. The diversity of projects demonstrated the strength of a collaborative environment where different disciplines, ideas, and viewpoints came together to generate meaningful possibilities. As the Pop-Up School drew to a close, the day offered an opportunity to look back on a week shaped by curiosity, experimentation, and shared learning. It marked not only the completion of the projects but also the beginning of new ways of thinking about design, collaboration, and innovation.

Saumitra Dhere, Doctoral Scholar at FLAME University, has been awarded a prestigious award/grant by the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) for presenting his research paper, "Variation in Time Activity Budgets of the Kashmir Rock Agama (L. tuberculata) Across an Altitudinal Gradient in the Western Himalayas." The recognition highlights the significance of his research and reflects FLAME University's commitment to advancing impactful research with global relevance. We congratulate him on this well-deserved achievement and wish him continued success in his research journey.

FLAME University's Global Immersion Program in France is providing undergraduate students the opportunity to learn beyond the classroom through academic engagement, global perspectives, and cultural exploration. At The American University of Paris (AUP), students were introduced to the university's liberal arts philosophy by Dr. Andrea Christmas, Director of AUP's Summer School. They then attended "Climate Change & Policy," led by Dr. Claudio Piani, which explored the science of climate change, evidence-based policymaking, and global cooperation. This was followed by "Beyond Blatant Prejudice: A Classical & Critical Social Psychological Approach" by Dr. Friederike Windel, encouraging students to examine subtle forms of prejudice through the lens of social psychology. Students also explored the AUP campus, experiencing student life in the heart of Paris. The learning continued at emlyon business school, where Prof. Florencio Traviesco conducted the masterclass "The Rulebook of AI: Ethics, Compliance, and the EU Regulatory Frameworks," prompting students to reflect on the ethical, regulatory, and societal implications of AI-driven decision-making. Beyond the classroom, students experienced France's rich history through a visit to the Château de Versailles, reflecting on its architectural grandeur and the historical significance of the Hall of Mirrors. Navigating Paris's tram and metro network also offered valuable insights into the rhythm of everyday life in the city. Through academic exchange, interdisciplinary learning, and cultural immersion, the Global Immersion Program continues to broaden perspectives and prepare students to engage thoughtfully with an interconnected world.

Prof. Khyati Jagani, Faculty of Marketing at FLAME University, presented the research paper, "Odd Couples: Why Are Consumers Adopting Unlikely Brand Collaborations?" at the Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference 2026, held in Savannah, Georgia, USA. The study, co-authored by Sanjana Mookim, FLAME Alumna, explores how consumers perceive and adopt unexpected brand collaborations using a qualitative research approach. It also examines how such collaborations influence consumer engagement, brand attitudes, purchase intentions, and loyalty. The research offers valuable insights into the growing trend of unconventional brand partnerships, providing a deeper understanding of the factors that drive consumer acceptance and their implications for contemporary marketing strategies.

Day 4 of the FLAME University and the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design (CIID) Pop-Up School 2026 marked a shift from discovery to consolidation, as teams worked to bring focus and clarity to the ideas they had been shaping throughout the week. Building on the momentum of the previous days, participants distilled a wide range of possibilities and questions into sharper concepts, prototypes, and experiences. Across the studios, teams were seen fine-tuning details, testing their assumptions, and tackling the last hurdles standing between concept and execution. Early sketches took physical form, frameworks grew sturdier, and narratives were carefully shaped to convey the thinking behind each project. Facilitators kept pushing teams to question and refine their propositions, helping sharpen every idea further. The energy in the room was focused and driven. Discussion turned not just to what had been uncovered, but to how those findings could become meaningful, real-world interventions. Teams pulled together the final threads of their work, weaving insights, trials, and iterations from earlier in the week into more unified outcomes.