In a significant step toward enhancing industry-academia engagement, Girijananda Chowdhury University (GCU), Assam, organized a comprehensive industrial visit on May 14, 2025 for 28 BBA 2nd semester students to Varun Beverages Limited (VBL), located at Rani Patgaon. The visit was coordinated under the guidance of faculty members Md. Faruk Ahmed and Mr. Abhishek Kakati, with the objective of providing students with practical exposure to corporate operations and management practices.
The visit commenced with a warm welcome from Mr. Diganta Khanikar, HR Manager at Varun Beverages, who delivered an insightful and informative presentation. Mr. Khanikar offered a detailed overview of the company’s historical background, its rapid growth as one of India’s largest bottling partners of PepsiCo, and its core focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability. He elaborated on the company’s mission, product range, and market presence, giving students a solid understanding of its operational framework and strategic goals.
Following the presentation, students embarked on a guided tour of the production facility, accompanied by Mr. Mridul Basumatary, Deputy Manager – Quality Management, and Mr. Hrishikesh Rajbangshi, Assistant Manager – HR. Mr. Basumatary provided a detailed walk-through of the manufacturing processes involved in producing leading beverage brands such as Pepsi, 7Up, Mountain Dew, Slice, Tropicana etc. He explained the entire production cycle in detail, covering the procurement and processing of raw materials, their purification, mixing, carbonation, bottling, and final packaging. Key focus areas included the advanced technology employed in automated production lines, which enhances efficiency and precision; the stringent quality control measures implemented to ensure product consistency and safety; adherence to rigorous safety and hygiene protocols within the facility to maintain high standards; and the innovative packaging techniques aimed at improving operational efficiency while promoting sustainability. Students were highly engaged throughout the tour, posing thoughtful questions related to production efficiency, quality assurance techniques, and the use of cutting-edge technology in large-scale manufacturing. Mr. Basumatary responded with clarity, offering practical insights into the technical aspects of quality management.
Alongside the physical visit to the plant, Mr. Hrishikesh Rajbangshi delivered a comprehensive overview of the HR practices at Varun Beverages, covering key functional areas such as recruitment and selection procedures, employee training and development programs, salary structures along with promotion and increment policies, leave management systems and shift schedules, and various employee welfare and engagement initiatives. His insights provided students with a clear understanding of how the organization manages its human resources to foster a productive and positive work environment. Through this session, students gained a firsthand understanding of how human resource strategies are designed and implemented in a corporate setting to ensure employee productivity, satisfaction, and organizational growth.
The industrial visit proved to be a valuable learning experience, allowing students to observe real-time business operations and understand the synergy between production efficiency and effective human resource management. It provided a practical context to the theoretical knowledge imparted in classrooms, thereby reinforcing core business concepts. Students also benefited from interacting with professionals who shared real-world experiences, offering career guidance and highlighting the skills required to thrive in today’s dynamic corporate environment.
During the event, Mr. Faruk Ahmed felicitated the HR Manager, Mr. Diganta Khanikar, with a Gamocha as a token of appreciation. The session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Abhishek Kakati, who expressed deep gratitude to the entire team at Varun Beverages Limited for their hospitality, cooperation, and willingness to invest time in student development. He emphasized the importance of such industry visits in shaping students’ professional outlook and enhancing their readiness for future challenges. The visit was a resounding success, fostering experiential learning, industrial exposure, and stronger industry-academia collaboration. It inspired students to pursue excellence in their academic and professional journeys while deepening their understanding of the corporate ecosystem.
'