A Vision That Began in 2010
The year was 2010 when the Global Institute of Management Studies (GIMS – Global Institute of Management Studies) began its journey with courage, determination, and a powerful vision for the future. It was not merely the launch of an educational institution, but the realization of a belief that students from humble and underprivileged backgrounds, if given the right opportunities, could build lives of dignity, confidence, and success. That belief belonged to Maminul Akanda, whose vision laid the foundation of the institution.
Building an Institution Through Struggle and Determination
The early years of GIMS were marked by hardship, criticism, financial limitations, and uncertainty. With limited infrastructure and only a handful of teachers and students, the institution began its journey driven entirely by commitment and purpose. Yet the mission remained clear – to provide affordable hotel management education to underprivileged students, create opportunities for earning while learning, and ensure strong placement support for a secure future. These principles gradually became the pillars that shaped the identity of GIMS.
Transforming Lives Through Hospitality Education
The first batches of students soon began changing perceptions. Many came from ordinary families where pursuing hotel management education once seemed impossible. Some were children of farmers, laborers, rickshaw pullers, and porters, while others came from economically challenged regions like the Sundarbans. Through professional training, discipline, and skill development, these students transformed their lives and secured opportunities in reputed five-star hotels across India and abroad. Their achievements not only changed individual futures but also uplifted entire families and communities, creating one success story after another.
Growing Into a Trusted Name
Over the years, GIMS evolved from a small institution into a trusted destination for aspiring hospitality professionals. Today, students graduating from GIMS have established successful careers across major Indian cities including Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi and many more cities, while many others have built careers internationally in destinations such as Singapore, Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Malaysia, France, and London. The institute’s strong focus on industry-oriented education and placements has helped thousands of students enter the hospitality sector with confidence and stability.
A major contributor to this success has been GIMS’s strong industry network. The institute has signed more than 400 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with leading star-category hotel brands across India, providing students with access to quality industrial training, internships, and placement opportunities. These partnerships have played a significant role in bridging the gap between education and employment within the hospitality industry.
The Inspiring Journey of Maminul Akanda
Behind this remarkable success story stands the inspiring journey of Maminul Akanda himself. Born into a modest farming family in a small border village in South Dinajpur, his life was shaped by poverty and continuous struggle. There were times when he had to pause his education to earn a livelihood, yet he never lost faith in the power of education. Determined to continue his studies, he even sold family land to support his academic journey and pursued technical courses to strengthen his skills. Although he later received opportunities to work both in India and abroad, he chose a different mission. One question constantly stayed in his mind: “What about students like me who do not have land or resources to sell for education?” That thought eventually became the inspiration behind the creation of GIMS.
Learning While Earning: A Life-Changing Initiative
One of the most impactful concepts introduced by Maminul Akanda was “Learning While Earning,” an approach that allowed students to support themselves financially while continuing their education. He was the first person who introduced the scheme. For many struggling families, this initiative became a blessing, helping students become self-reliant from the beginning of their professional journey. Expanding his vision further, he also founded SHARK International Edutech Pvt. Ltd. and launched sharkedutech.com, a hospitality job portal designed for students, trainees, and hospitality professionals across the country. The platform connects candidates with opportunities related to jobs, industrial training, promotions, transfers, and placements in India and abroad, gradually earning recognition as a trusted hospitality career network.
A Legacy of Hope and Opportunity
Throughout its journey, GIMS has received multiple Best Placement Awards, reinforcing its reputation as an institution that fulfills its promises through action and results. Today, being a student of GIMS represents far more than an educational qualification – it symbolizes confidence, pride, and the beginning of a new life. Even today, Maminul Akanda continues to believe that success is not determined by where a person comes from, but by the courage and determination with which they pursue their dreams.
The organization is also continuously expanding its hospitality footprint, with new hotel properties and operational units planned for the near future. These developments are expected to create even greater opportunities for training, career development, industry exposure, and placements for students, further strengthening the institute’s mission of transforming lives through education and employment.
His journey continues to inspire countless young people to believe that with perseverance, vision, and relentless effort, dreams can truly become reality.
