Apeejay School of Management student wins the prestigious Best Paper Award

Apeejay School of Management student as well as a promising researcher Ojhal Dawar has made her institute proud. Her paper titled Evaluating HR Recruitment: Overcoming Challenges through Best-Worst Framework stood out at the IMMRC 2025 International Conference among the numerous submissions. Dawar’s pioneering work was honoured with the prestigious Best Paper Award, marking a significant achievement in her academic journey. The researcher was mentored by Dr. Vernika Agarwal, an Associate Professor at Apeejay School of Management. 

The IMMRC 2025 International Conference, which brought together experts, academics, and practitioners from across the globe, focused on the theme of “Emerging Trends and Technological Advancements towards Innovation Sustainability for Societal Business Progress”

Presentation Highlights

Ojhal Dawar’s presentation delved into the challenges faced by organisations during the human resource recruitment process. The paper identified issues such as biases, inefficiencies, and lack of data-driven decision-making, which often lead to suboptimal recruitment outcomes. To address these challenges, Dawar introduced the Best-Worst Framework, a model that helps organisations make better recruitment decisions by evaluating various criteria based on both the best and worst-case scenarios. 

The Best-Worst Framework offers a systematic, objective approach to recruitment decisions by taking into account the trade-offs between different factors, such as candidate experience, cultural fit, and skills. It aims to reduce biases that often hinder the selection process and ensures that HR professionals can make more informed, transparent, and inclusive decisions.

Through her research, Dawar demonstrated how the application of advanced technological tools and decision-making frameworks can revolutionise traditional HR practices, aligning recruitment strategies with the broader goals of innovation and sustainability. Dawar’s research has significant implications for both businesses and society. On a business level, it can help organisations reduce turnover, improve employee satisfaction, and enhance overall productivity by ensuring a better fit between candidates and organisational goals. On a societal level, it promotes diversity and inclusion in the workforce by providing a more equitable, data-driven recruitment  process. Furthermore, the paper’s contribution to the intersection of technology and HR practices aligns perfectly with the conference’s theme, highlighting how technological advancements can not only streamline recruitment processes but also create a more sustainable and progressive work environment. 

The Best-Worst Framework offers  businesses a practical, scalable solution to improve the way they assess talent, ensuring they build a workforce that can drive long-term success and innovation.

Best Paper Award Recognition

Ojhal Dawar’s work was recognised with the Best Paper Award at the conference for its originality, depth of analysis, and its practical applicability to modern HR challenges. The award highlighted the growing importance of integrating technological solutions into HR practices, especially as businesses strive to remain competitive in an ever-evolving global marketplace.

Dawar’s research demonstrated a deep understanding of both the theoretical underpinnings of HR recruitment and the practical implications of adopting innovative frameworks for decision-making. Her work was not only academically rigorous but also highly relevant to contemporary issues facing organisations today.

Sharing her thoughts,  Ojhal Dawar highlighted, “As students, we have the opportunity to challenge the status quo and reimagine how businesses function. The Best-Worst Framework is my contribution to reshaping recruitment processes, so that they are not just fairer but smarter, paving the way for sustainable future.”

Further, Dr. Vernika Agarwal, an Associate Professor at Apeejay School of Management said, “Guiding students like Ojhal to think beyond conventional paradigms is not only a privilege but also a responsibility. Her work on HR recruitment is a testament to the power of combining theory with innovation, and I am proud to see her push the boundaries of research for societal and business progress.”

The Evaluating HR Recruitment

Overcoming Challenges through Best-Worst Framework paper presented by Ojhal Dawar was a highlight of the IMMRC 2025 International Conference. Not only did it receive the Best Paper Award, but it also ignited important discussions around the role of technological advancements in transforming HR practices for business and societal progress. Dawar’s innovative approach, under the guidance of Dr. Vernika Agarwal, demonstrates how research can provide actionable solutions to real-world problems, fostering sustainable growth and inclusivity in the workplace.

The success of this paper at the conference emphasises the importance of combining cutting-edge research with practical applications to address the evolving challenges faced by modern organisations in the realm of human resources.