"While automation will eliminate very few occupations entirely in the next decade, it will affect portions of almost all jobs to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the type of work they entail."
Ambarish Datta,
MD & CEO, BSE Institute Ltd
How should a MBA graduate prepare himself for the job market?
Various leaders across industries are of the opinion that rapid changes that are happening around us with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robots will lead to many jobs being automated.
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk says technology will replace so many human jobs, people will eventually have to rely on a universal basic income.
Jack Ma, founder of Chinese e-commerce behemoth Alibaba, says automation will make the next few decades "painful" for many people. Research reports published by leading agencies support their concerns.
But all is not lost, there is light at the end of the tunnel. These same futurists say professionals, especially young ones who will be more affected by these changes, can stay on top of workforce changes and earn good money by acquiring certain new age skills.
What skill sets are required in your view to be placement ready for MBA graduates?
a) Data Analytics – The basic understanding of data analytics is incredibly important for this next generation of young people, That's the world you're going into. According to projections for the future job market, skills associated with data and its analysis will become extremely valuable. "The world is going to be data," Jack Ma says. "I think this is just the beginning of the data period.
b) Science, Engineering and Economics - Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder, says that people with backgrounds in three things will be the most in-demand going forward: science, engineering and economics.Workers proficient in those subjects will be "the agents of change for all institutions," says Gates. "I do think of basic knowledge of the sciences, math skills, economics — a lot of careers in the future will be very demanding on those things," Gates says. "It's not necessary that you'll be writing code," he notes, "but you need to understand what can engineers do and what can they not do."
c) Thinking Skills - Artificial intelligence will automate many jobs involving technical tasks, such as an accountant's. Jobs that rely more on personal judgement, critical thinking and creativity — skills more often associated with a liberal arts degree — are less at risk.
"Knowing how to critically think and assess [situations] from a global perspective I think is going to be more valuable," says Mark Cuban billionaire owner of the US National Basketball Association's (NBA) Dallas Mavericks basketball team, "than what we see as exciting careers today which might be programming or accounting or those types of things.
Skills required in corporate environment keep changing over years- do you agree? How can a MBA graduate be future ready in such ever-changing job environment?
While the impending change holds great promise, the patterns of consumption, production and employment created by it also pose major challenges, requiring proactive adaptation by corporations, governments and individuals. Concurrent to the technological revolution are a set of broader socio-economic, geopolitical and demographic drivers of change, each interacting in multiple directions and intensifying one another.
To be future ready, one needs to stay ever-inquisitive and willing to learn at all times. To do this, they need to stay on top of current trends and changes relevant to their chosen line of interest. Technology is advancing at a faster rate than our skills.
The subsequent technical skills gaps have created demand for highly skilled professionals and this trend will intensify in the years ahead. They need to keep on top of current trends and changes relevant to their profession by reading reports, journals and news articles, watching videos, listening to podcasts, attending networking functions and seminars, and participating in online discussions. In short, keep their eyes open for new trends that will lead to skill or knowledge gaps.
Can you throw some light on how the job scenario will be in two to three years from now and which skill-sets may be in demand for students pursuing business studies?
The technical potential for automation differs dramatically across sectors and activities. As automation technologies such as machine learning and robotics play an increasingly great role in everyday life, their potential effect on the workplace has, unsurprisingly, become a major focus of research and public concern. While automation will eliminate very few occupations entirely in the next decade, it will affect portions of almost all jobs to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the type of work they entail. Automation, now going beyond routine manufacturing activities, has the potential, at least with regard to its technical feasibility, to transform sectors such as healthcare and finance, which involve a substantial share of knowledge work. Currently demonstrated technologies could automate 45 per cent of the activities people are paid to perform and that about 60 per cent of all occupations could see 30 per cent or more of their constituent activities automated, again with technologies available today. In addition to what has been discussed, key skills that students pursuing business studies need to possess include:
a. Ability to deal with more cognitive complexity
b. Team-interaction and collaborative skills
c. Enhanced social skills
d. Technological competence
e. Ability to deal with time pressure
f. More mobile and less dependent on geographic boundaries
“To be future ready, one needs to stay ever-inquisitive and willing to learn at all times. To do this, they need to stay on top of current trends and changes relevant to their chosen line of interest. Technology is advancing at a faster rate than our skills. The subsequent technical skills gaps have created demand for highly skilled professionals and this trend will intensify in the years ahead.”
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Most of us would have heard the famous quote by Confucius on selecting the right career
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”
Dr. Ruzbeh J. Bodhanwala
Professor, FLAME University
There is no good thing than being able to follow one’s passion. In our role as faculty at a business school, we are faced with the challenging job of guiding the young minds and helping them in choosing their career objectives. Many students approach us with several queries on rewarding career options in the area of finance.
In this article, we will talk about the career opportunities for students specializing in finance and necessary skill-sets that would help them grow in their career. Today’s management education prepares a student for dealing with uncertainties more than ever, and hence, in the first year of the Masters programme, students are exposed to all the functional areas. Across all business schools, students in the first year undergo four to five courses in finance which helps them to learn the basics of finance. Studies in finance are typically classified into five verticals: Corporate Finance, Accounting and Disclosures, Risk Management and Financial Markets (study of institutions and markets), Banking and Insurance. Based on this classification, advanced courses are offered in the second year of the Masters programmelikePortfolio Management, Financial Statements and Disclosures, Risk Analysis, International Finance, Corporate Taxation, Business Valuation, Credit Risk Measurement, etc.
Students should carefully choose between these specialization options. The choice should be made on the basis of individual student’s preference for the kind of work that he/she wishes to do. Let us now look at few careers options and the kind of skill-setsrequired that would help the students to achieve success in the selected area.
Corporate Finance Roles/Financial Planning and Analysis: These involve traditional roles for a finance graduate like preparing financial statements and reports, analyzing and managing resources, determining the cost of production, budgeting, raising invoices for clients and settling billing issues, analyzing how a product or process is functioning, pricing decisions,negotiating lines of credit with bankers, coordinating with auditors, etc. The student needs to be thorough in courses like accounting and reporting, management accounting, financial management,corporate governance,taxation, etc. In this role, besides good financial acumen, skills of working on ERP packages, statistical packages, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel would be added advantage. Corporate finance area offers high employment opportunities.
Equity Research/Credit Research/Investment Banking– Investment banking is the most sought after and highly rewarding area in finance. However, this space offers limited opportunities and requires high level of analytical abilities. The necessary skill set would be good command over Microsoft Excel and deep understanding of financial modelling and business valuation, mergers and acquisition, etc. Either of these roles would involve preparing research reports and sharing the analysis with internal team or external clients.Generally, the roles in equity research/investment banking would involve determining the valuation of asset class (equity, commodities, bonds) like determining value of company or acquisition target or value for a spinoff or ascertaining a credit rating or bond pricing, etc. If the student is exposed to working on Thomson Reuters or Bloomberg terminal, it would be an added advantage, as in the initial phase of either of these roles, a candidate is expected to do bit of data mining and modelling of financial products.
Consulting: There are fewer roles for freshers in consulting area and the candidate eyeing them should have great capabilities of understanding the business and its trouble areas. In this role, the candidate has to manage both sides and ensure that the relationship between the company and client grows. The skill set required to excel in this area will include high level of soft skills, ability to work in teams, extremely high level of analytical abilities, ability to be a good listener, greater adaptability, flexible attitude, good general knowledge, reasonable understanding of business and it processes, ability to work with teams, etc. Student who wishes to make a career in this area should haveunderstanding and ability to handle strategic issues like growth and diversification, business transformation, succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, issues in taxation, transfer pricing, etc. Courses that would help students to prepare for this role are strategic management, risk analysis and management,corporate governance, crisis management, advanced taxation, legal aspects of business, management control systems, international finance, etc.
Commercial Banking and Insurance: Banks and insurance companies are among the highest recruiters and offer a range of service roles starting from bank teller, loan officer, relationship management for retail as well as corporate banking clients, operations, treasury management, compliance, insurance sales manager, actuary, business development manager, claim officer, risk and loss assessors, insurance lawyers, etc. In this role, the candidate would be directly dealing with clients and should have good soft skills, ability to understand issues quickly and resolve them. A good knowledge of banking and financial services industry, methods of lending (working capital financing as well as long-term credits), project financing, insurance (life as well as non-life), etc. would be very helpful to excel in this area.
Management education prepares a student to be agile and quick learner. More importantly, it develops an ability to adapt quickly and take on new challenges,especially when the goal post is continuously moving.During their summer internship, students should try and determine the type of career they wish to pursue, and on that basis, the specialization courses should be carefully selected. During the two years of Master of Business Administration programme, students should work on a live project or pursue research work in their area of interest. This will give them an opportunity to practice the academic learnings, gain in-depth knowledge in the concerned area and can also become a talking point during the interview process, giving the candidate an edge over the others.
“Management education prepares a student to be agile and quick learner. More importantly, it develops an ability to adapt quickly and take on new challenges,especially when the goal post is continuously moving.”
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Management education at the crossroads:
One-Year vis-a-vis Two-Year MBA
Dr Chetan Bajaj
Professor, IFIM B School
The management courses are going through a process of transformation, globally. Traditionally, MBA has been a two-year General Management Programme preparing students for middle and top management positions in business and industry. In India, most students take up management education just after completing their graduation. On the other hand, in the US, most students in top universities and business schools take up MBA after working for several years in the industry.
In this article, we broadly examine the revolutionary changes taking place in the industrial landscape, and how business schools are responding and adapting to these changes. We specifically examine the relative advantages and disadvantages of a one-year MBA programme, vis-a-vis a two-year MBA programme. We also explore the relative merits and demerits of sector-specific MBA programmes. Finally, we conclude by taking a look at how business schools will evolve in future.
Background : The twenty-first century has witnessed accelerated changes in business and industrial landscape. The rapid developments in the field of IT have, on the one hand, made many old jobs redundant, and, on the other hand, simultaneously opened up new employment opportunities across many newly emerging sectors, creating new careers and jobs. In this context, managers will be increasingly required to take up
multiple jobs and even shift careers during their life-span. These jobs require different skills and mind-sets. The concept of life-time employment with a company is increasingly becoming archaic. Lifelong learning has become extremely important and necessary to keep up with the pace of change. To keep pace with the changes, executives are coming back to business schools after working long years in the Industry.
Business Schools Are Evolving : Business schools are responding by changing the structure and contents of their MBA programmes. One-year accelerated MBA programmes are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Thus, one-year accelerated MBA programme at Kellogs in the US and INSEAD in Europe are highly sought after. In India, one-year accelerated MBA/PGDM is offered by several top B-schools for students with specified minimum work experience. These include IIM-Bangalore and IIM-Indore, Great Lakes and ISB Hyderabad. However, the jury is still not out on the relative merits of two-year and one-year MBA programmes.
Another interesting debate centres around utility of specialised programmes in specific sectors such as hospital management, retail management, mass media and hotel management. Many experts opine that these sectors require very specific and specialised skills and expertise. Accordingly, these specialised programmes prepare students for careers in these fast emerging and specialised sectors.
Let’s examine these changes in some detail.
The One-Year MBA : The relative advantages and disadvantages of a one-year MBA programme can be understood by considering the purpose of management education. Business schools basically aim to make their gradating students industry-ready. They seek to develop the inherent potential of their students and align their dreams with the needs of the industry. The duration and contents of the MBA programmes thus depend on the quality and aspirations of incoming students and the needs of the industry.
In India, as mentioned above, generally the business schools admit students fresh from the universities and prepare them for the industry by imparting necessary knowledge and skills.
Most students graduating from our universities are poor conceptually and have extremely weak communication skills. Even after two years of MBA education, experts opine that most MBAs, except those passing out of top B-schools, are not industry-ready. In this situation, it is unlikely that the industry will accept fresh management graduates having done one-year MBA programme if they have no prior industry experience.
However, there is a huge demand for students who have completed one-year accelerated MBAs and have prior work experience of at-least 3 to 5 years. The industry considers them suitable for taking on the upcoming challenges.
The advantage of one-year MBA is in its duration. The experienced professional managers find it increasingly difficult and financially unviable to spend two years doing full-time MBA. Accordingly, one-year accelerated MBA is becoming increasingly popular among experienced managers. As mentioned, continuous upgradation of knowledge and skills is becoming increasingly important and professional executives are coming back to the business school for shorter duration courses.
Specialised Management Programmes : The specialised sectoral programmes in rural management, retail management, healthcare management, business analytics and journalism and mass communication, etc. are popular. The graduates of IRMA, which offers programme in rural management, and of MICA and LSR, which offer specialised programmes on journalism and mass communication, are much sought after.\
However, before choosing a sectoral programme, the student should be very clear about the choice of sector in which she plans to make a career. These programmes limit the mobility across others sectors. The sectoral programmes are also suitable for professionals who have significant experience in specific sectors such as healthcare and retail and who are looking to move up the management ladder by acquiring deeper knowledge of management functions and relevant managerial skills.
The Way Forward : The need of the hour for all business schools is to change contents for all their programmes regularly in line with the industry requirements. Business school should also strengthen their mentoring processes to help students identify their unique strengths, understand the enfolding industry scenario and explore paths and careers which fulfil their potential and dreams.
Business schools should also adapt more dynamic pedagogy involving action and experiential learning, where the student is deeply engaged in the learning process. The student should be involved more in running of the business school, including organising events and getting involved in their own placements. The case study and other simulated learning methods have to be increasingly adopted.
We are in an era of disruption and dynamic innovation. Business schools should encourage start-ups and incubation on the campus. The action learning involved in the process of incubating start-ups will provide a great platform for the grooming of future business leaders and entrepreneurs.
To keep up with the times, dynamic business schools like IFIM have established strong mentoring processes. IFIM has also established an incubation centre where the students germinate, innovative and often come up with disruptive ideas which can, over the years, evolve into successful businesses. IFIM has also introduced a PGDM programme with specialisation in business analytics for the working professionals.
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How To Work Towards Getting Admission In Premier B-Schools
Gautam Puri
Vice Chairman and Managing Director
CL Educate
Getting the final admission to a premier Indian B-school is a rigmarole of a process. In fact, it can perfectly be compared to a professional hurdle race. Mental agility as well as solid technique is required to glide over the ‘obstacles’ on to the finish line. The first hurdle is the mighty CAT exam, which is written by over two lakh ambitious candidates. Though this seems like the most strenuous stage to many, it is actually not. This exam is like a huge sift to separate those aspirants who currently possess the basic aptitude from those who need to work harder. It is no more than a ‘qualification round’, the actual ‘tournament’ begins thereafter. Nevertheless, it is very important to pull out all stops when it comes to the CAT exam, as a higher percentile significantly improves your chances of making it to the crème de la crème of the B-schools. In fact, some of the schools use only the CAT score to shortlist candidates. For most of the IIMs as well, CAT score constitutes a large part of the initial shortlisting criterion. First and foremost, one should know where one stands and how much effort is required to ‘bell the CAT’. If you are privy to the basic concepts of the syllabus and only need additional practice, then going for only a mock series might do it for you. On the other hand, if you require classroom-type teaching, then enrol in an online/offline programme for the same. It may sometimes get overwhelming, especially for candidates who are working. Look for a programme which fits into your schedule and, at the same time, provides you with
Gautam Puri, is Vice-Chairman and Managing Director at CL Educate Ltd. Gautam Puri or GP is popular amongst students as an aptitude guru who simplifies fundamentals, problem-solving and test-taking strategy.
what you need. Light the way forward by practising enough and taking ample number of mock exams.
The shortlists of various institutes start rolling out soon after the CAT results are out. At this hurdle, the pressure is much intense as about 4-5 students compete for one seat. Moreover, all the students who have reached here after a good performance in CAT are serious aspirants. The WAT (Writing Ability Test), GD (Group Discussion) and PI (Personal Interview), or some combination of the three, are conducted by the B-schools to further narrow down the candidate pool and arrive at the final admission list. This phase tests different skills from those tested at the entrance exam stage. Your ability to think analytically, speak coherently and effectively and write articulately are all tested here. In addition, general awareness and knowledge about your undergraduate subject, as well as the organisation and the industry you work in, should be on your fingertips. Personal interviews, which occupy the most weightage in the second stage, are sometimes like a gamble as one cannot bet on a number. But this does not mean that preparation is not needed. In fact, some sure-shot questions like those on academics and work experience should be prepared meticulously. One question, which proves to be a game-changer for many students, is ‘Why MBA?’. At such a stage, if you cannot express your goal and views clearly and effectively, then it can be troublesome. Another question, which is likely to be posed to students as soon as they enter, is ‘Tell us something about yourself’. You are supposed to know yourself the best, but it will be a surprise to know as to how many students are at a loss for words when confronted with this question. And, as they say, ‘first impression is the last impression’.
There is another hurdle that a lot of the students face, but this one does not have a fixed stage at which it appears. Past sins literally come to haunt those students who did not perform very well at any of the crucial academic stages, i.e. X, XII and graduation. Premier B-schools always have points to accommodate student’s past academic performance as part of their admission process. Sometimes, it so happens that a student with a stellar CAT percentile might not be shortlisted by a B-school, but another student with better academic record and a lesser percentile will be shortlisted. Past academic performance is likely considered a sign of consistency and hence it is given adequate weightage in the entire process. The same goes for work experience. There are extra points for those who apply after relevant and adequate work experience. In such a case, it is important that you keep in mind your overall profile and set your targets accordingly. Go through the criteria of all B-schools and chalk out a path for yourself. Set a target percentile that a person with an overall profile like yours will need for your target B-school. You will reach your destination when your planning will meet your ambition.
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Make A Conscious Effort To Create, Manage And Nurture Your Social Media Profile!
Rajesh Srivastava
Educationist and Business Consultant
Web scraping – That is what companies are leaning upon to get a professional insight into you. They do this by deploying intelligent tools which will ‘scrape’ your FB, Twitter, LinkedIn accounts as well as your surfing habits to draw up a fairly accurate picture of what you like, what you share, whom you follow, your comments, how you respond to issues, which issues you are passionate about and what things you search on the web! The profile thus created will either augment your chances of getting your dream job or kill it!
Bottom line – Make a conscious effort to create, manage and nurture your social media profile!
To achieve this, you have two options at your command:
Own media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
Earned media: The ‘likes, shares, comments’ you get on ‘Own’ media!
From the three ‘own’ media, LinkedIn is a business focused social networking site where millions of professionals connect. Be sure to be present on it. It will provide you a great opportunity to market yourself as well as to expand your professional network.
Here is a brief tutorial on ‘Dos & Don’ts” for LinkedIn:
• Look upon LinkedIn profile as an online resume that your stakeholders can view
• Remember to add as much information about yourself as possible because it will enhance your chances of netting your dream job by as much as 30%. This enhancement Supplement with Dalal Street Investment Journal Published : Alternate Monday (Feb 12, 2018) Feb 19 - Mar 4, 2018 23
happens because HR professionals look up your profile on LinkedIn & if it they do not find it interesting or updated they will drop you!
• To ensure that you are not ‘dropped’ by HR professionals, when they search you on LinkedIn follow these tips:
- Use a picture in which you are professionally dressed!
- Remember to put your educational qualifications, internships, work experience, major professional achievements, honours bestowed upon you, your competencies. Remember to highlight your recent experiences!
- Remember to keep your profile updated by adding the new skills acquired by you
- Please be authentic and remember not to make exaggerated claims! This means that every claim you make can be proved. Now, organisations employ independent third party whose job is to check out your references and claims made by you! If claims are found to be exaggerated then letters of appointments are withdrawn! It would be safe to be yourself!
• You can increase your connections by reaching out to alumni from your educational institutes, companies where you did your internship. In addition, connect to friends, colleagues and supervisors – past and present. When making new connections, do send a personal message about how you know them and why you would like to connect with them. In the end, it is not numbers that will enhance your profile but the quality!
• When you get a request, respond either way within 24 hours!
• Join LinkedIn groups that are in your area of interest like, alumni, trade associations, groups of like-minded professionals, etc.
• Follow companies you are interested in – so that you are updated on what they are doing
• Do remember to participate in online discussions–but be careful with what/how you comment – be extra careful not to sound gender insensitive, not post opinions which you cannot support, nor make pompous comments!
• When you go for job interviews remember to do research on the company --- this will make you better prepared
• When it comes to writing recommendations – remember to write only for those whom you know closely and then write a balanced recommendation.
These simple do’s and don’ts will significantly enhance your career prospects!
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“Choose the right institution that provides training and academics to become industry-ready”
Vasudeva Rao Yellapu
Associate Director-Centre for Continuous Employability, IFIM Institutions
Which are the top five skill-sets that corporates look for in candidates (freshers) while hiring?
If you are a fresher graduating from campus, you have it tougher than your seniors in getting a job. As automation cuts jobs across industries and as start-ups find it difficult to get funding, the top recruiters will prefer to stay away from campuses. Big packages, mass hiring and offers will go down. What is lacking in our system majorly across the institutions is proper training and development methodologies, which could be implemented right from the first year when a student enters college. The principle applies to all (management, engineering, IT etc.). The ability to apply the concepts learnt to constantly develop innovative things and find solutions to complex problems are main factors working behind the employability of a fresher. The most demanding jobs nowadays are business analytics, data analytics, IOT, machine learning, network admin, business analyst, financial analyst & consulting, core sales & marketing. The graduates need to choose the right institution that provides training along with academics to become industry-ready.
The five skill-sets required and normally corporates look for in candidates are:
[1]Grooming, Etiquette & Communication
During the initial screening itself, the kind of attire, turnout and appearance matters a lot as first impression is the best impression. Etiquettes observed while entering the interview room for freshers is mostly watched. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively in many media by email, verbally, with lists and phone messages, on the phone and with body language. Communication also includes listening skills and the ability to follow directions and provide feedback. GEC is the most important factor in selecting the freshers.
[2] Honesty, Work Ethics & Punctuality
Employers want accurate and timely information regarding their business and employees. Made a mistake? Don’t cover it up, admit it, and learn not to do it again. Be at work on time, do what you were hired to do, meet targets and deadlines and work to the best of your ability. Punctuality is the most important thing looked upon from the freshers.
[3]Knowledge, Skills & Attributes
Subject knowledge is most important thing in judging the candidature. As businesses change, there is often a need to find out new information, expand knowledge and explore new ways of doing things. People with an interest in learning and a willingness to pass it on to others become invaluable. Most positions require certain skills that are advertised on the job posting. If you are hired to perform certain tasks, then you should have the skills. Improving your skills along the way is also expected. Freshers should be flexible enough for any kind of environment and place. Employers and their employees need to react quickly to changing business conditions. Employers need employees who can change gears and adapt as required. They should have latest knowledge on current trends and current affairs.
[4] Problem-Solving Skills
Companies are looking for people who are motivated to take on challenges with minimal direction. Employees should see when something needs to be done and react accordingly. Managers will give employees challenging goals, but generally, they are achievable. The key is to be able to work hard and keep moving forward when you encounter obstacles. Employers and managers like to have people working with them and for them who can get along with their colleagues and who can work with others effectively in different circumstances.
[5]Loyalty
Most of the employers judge the loyalty of employees. Employers want and need to be able to trust their employees to work professionally to meet the employer’s best interests. Employers do not want to hire people who require close scrutiny or who cannot be trusted to represent the company in public.
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Dr. Tapan Kumar Nayak
(PhD, IIT Roorkee)
Director,
Institute of Management Studies Ghaziabad
“IMS believes in developing capabilities of students for a sustainable global economy”
How far has IMS Ghaziabad succeeded in achieving its mission of providing market-oriented professional education to the student community?
IMS Ghaziabad, in its long proven legacy of 28 years, has earned a reputation for academic excellence in providing practical and quality academic programmes in the field of management and information technology. We are being acknowledged as one of the leading management institutions across the globe.
At IMS Ghaziabad, we have been highly successful and are committed in consistently reinventing management education with the objective of creating global leaders who can navigate the ever-changing business landscape. IMS believes in developing the capabilities of its students for a sustainable global economy.
We undertake the responsibility of quality deliverance for incredible future. Our winning mantra is our pro-active approach, which involves thinking and acting ahead of anticipated events. This has enabled us to make our distinguished mark in field of management education pan-India. “For us, our students are the ambassadors” who have been continuously making their mark in all the spheres of professional life across the globe and spreading our philosophy.
How has been the growth through these 28 years?
“Success in management requires learning as fast as the world is changing” – Warren Bennis
IMS Ghaziabad is one of the oldest B-school in North India which is accredited ‘A’ Grade Institute by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).
As an institution, we strive to disseminate vibrant, innovative, global, qualitative business management education and foster international relations, along with collaborative partnerships with leading management institutes/universities across the globe.
IMS Ghaziabad has been ranked as the Top B-School by various reputed academic bodies,
• ranked as 8th in North India for 3rd consecutive year (2017, 2016 and 2015)
• ranked AAA in Uttar Pradesh by Career 360, November 2017 in India’s best B-schools survey 2018.
• Conferred with Best management institute for Industry-Academia Interface in November 2017, during 8th National Education leadership awards 2017, jointly by Business World and the Education Post
• 26th in All India by Times B-School Survey published in Times of India, February 2017,
• A++ Institute in Delhi NCR by Chronicle B-School Survey 2017,
• 11th among Top B-Schools of Super Excellence in India 2017
• 2nd among Top Private B-Schools in U.P by CSR-GHRDC B-School Survey, 2017,
• Best management college for Industry Interface 2016 by CEGR
• Best Private Institute in Asia by ASSOCHAM jointly with the Education Post, December 2016.
• 10th Best Private B-School in North Zone by The Week, October 2016
Which are the popular courses of IMS?
IMS Ghaziabad offers 2-year full time PGDM Programme (equivalent to MBA) by Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The National Board of Accreditation (NBA) has also granted accreditation to the PGDM programme of our institute.
IMS Ghaziabad also offers M.C.A (Master in Computer Application) affiliated by Dr. A.P.J.A.K.T.U, Lucknow. IMS Ghaziabad has been consistently adjudged one of Delhi NCR’s Top 10 B-schools in the category of placements, industry interaction, faculty and international exposure.
What are the distinguishing features of the certificate programmes of the institute?
We value continual pursuit of new and innovative knowledge and are committed to strengthening relationships that stimulate intellectual curiosity and constructive psychology. We are a benchmark of opulence in academics and research, for big picture to our students for growth and exploration. With that aim, we regularly organize:
• International Conferences
• Special Seminar Sessions on relevant themes
• Panel Discussions by eminent industry stalwarts
• International Study Tour
• Alumni Talk Series
• Workshops
• Industrial Visits
• Participation under Corporate Interface series to various events
• Skill Enhancement Cell for individual focus
• Foreign Delegate Visit to Institute
• Strong Mentor-Mentee Relationship
• The Entrepreneurial Student's Society (TESS)
Also, cutting edge add-on courses/ certificate programmes are provided to all students, which are integral part of PGDM course curriculum:
• International Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification
• CMIE’s Economic Outlook & Prowess Training
• Placement Readiness Enhancement Programme (PREP)
• Certification in Digital Marketing by MSME
• Live Projects for all students
• Student Development Programme by GHRDC
• SPSS (Statistical Package for social sciences)
What about hostel accommodation for outstation students. Any plans to introduce more hostels in future?
At IMS Ghaizabad, one of the key contributors to an intensive learning experience is living on campus. A well-furnished and aesthetically designed hostel with separate wings for boys and girls has been constructed with a view to provide best possible facilities to the students, at Adhyatmic Nagar, Delhi Hapur Road, NH-24, Dasna, Ghaziabad. Lush green lawns with an eco-friendly environment surrounds the hostel. For leisure and recreation, both indoor and outdoor sports facilities, yoga & meditation facilities are made available in the hostel. A well-equipped gymnasium helps the students to keep fit on an activity-packed day at the institute. Access to library and internet facilities are also made available to the students. The hostel also provides CCTV surveillance security, medical insurance for all students, hygienic meals, laundry and ironing facilities, round-the-clock transport facility, ATM, PCO with STD and ISD facility, which gives students a homely as well as a professional atmosphere.
What efforts are being made to provide higher education to the students belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society?
IMS Ghaziabad pro-actively addresses the concerns of social, economic and regional equity in higher education by offering admission opportunities to students across the country from all states and strives to strike a balance between the ratio of female to male students also. We provide generous amount of scholarships from portion of academic fees to deserving students under various heads, that too payable in easy installments.
Special scholarships are also provided to candidates belonging from defence families, those with work experience, students from top universities and also on academic merit gained during the course.
Also, to improve the academic quality and inculcate the urge for excellence, IMS Ghaziabad provides fee exemptions to deserving candidates on case basis.
IMS Ghaziabad helps its students for getting scholarships from numerous government bodies too.
What about the placements provided to the students?
The real proof of the quality and effectiveness of any business school lies in the acceptance of its graduates in the industry. The industry has sought and utilized the intellectual capital of IMS. IMS Ghaziabad has a record of providing over 100% placement to students since its inception, with many students with multiple offers in their hands.
CRC broadly conducts the placement activities, wherein it covers pre-placement talks, live project work, summer internship, invite corporate speaker and final placement. In fact, the institute continues to maintain a consistent placement record since its inception, along with categorical focus on all sectors of the industry.
The budding managers are absorbed by the MNCs, Indian giants and public sector firms from the IMS campus. Major recruiters for 2016-18 batch includes market leaders like: Amazon, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, Cadbury, Nestle, Hyundai, Federal Bank, Amul, Tata Motors, Bajaj Finance, HDFC Bank, Jaguar Steel, IndusInd Bank, Decathlon, Luminous Power, Vodafone, American Express, Aditya Birla Retail (Madura), Kotak Life, ICICI Securities, and many more.
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SIES College of Management Studies- A Business School of Relevance
India is on its way to emerge as the third largest economy in the world and its GDP growth rate has already overtaken China's growth. According to Professor C K Prahlad on India @ 75, t he #1 big idea that will define sustainable growth of India in the 21st century is relevant education and skill building.
In order to be successful, a student must be hard-working, must have intelligence and must value integrity. And if he doesn't have the third quality, the first two traits will kill him. And hence, mere cosmetic courses in ethics won't make someone ethical. Using the same analogy, mere exposure to functional concepts of marketing, finance and other areas is least likely to prepare students to face the real world and be relevant. According to Dr Srikant Datar of Harvard Business School, teachers of business school can't be just a 'Sage on the stage'; instead, they have to be 'Guide by the side'. Case discussions and lectures, therefore, have to compete with podcasts, simulations and immersion experiences for relevant learning. Constant redefinition of curriculum and inclusion of non-traditional knowledge areas such as public policy, law & politics, bottom of the pyramid, Blue Ocean strategy, ProSci, etc. have become quintessential. The management programmes need to rethink the pedagogy that focuses on the 'knowing' and 'doing' framework of education only. The 'being' component which includes values, attitudes and beliefs have become central theme for any educational system. In this VUCA world, a business school has to be different or else Schumpeterian form of creative destruction will 'crowd them out' from the ecosystem.
The central purpose of SIESCOMS is, therefore, to enrich the young minds by stimulating and sustaining a spirit of inquiry, directed at understanding the scientific, technological and cognitive aspects of working of the society.
SIESCOMS undertake activities designed to accelerate, discipline and enlarge the intellectual and creative capacities of its students. Here, we create, record, preserve and disseminate knowledge and impart skills to contribute to the economic and social development of the country. We foster a spirit of discovery, search for truth and creative endeavour to serve this purpose and strive to achieve eminence as a centre of higher learning and promote value-based ethical conduct of its members.
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Meet the Director of SIESCOMS
Dr Bigyan Verma has an MBA, MBE, M. Com (Gold Medalist) and holds PhD in Finance.
He was a faculty at XLRI Jamshedpur and has taught at IIM Kozikhode and Carelton University, Canada, as its Adjunct Professor. He has worked for JM Morgan Stanley as a Senior Investment Banker. He has written a book on international finance and published more than 50 research papers in journals of national and international repute.
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"Quality-enthused learning, industrial visits and affordable fees differentiate our institute"
K. Thomas, IIBM
How do you ensure that your curriculum is updated and relevant in today's world?
We are affiliated to University of Mumbai and approved by AICTE/DTE. The syllabus is framed by the University of Mumbai after much deliberations with experts at University of Mumbai. Taking into consideration the resources and background of the student entrants, the syllabus is designed and circulars are sent to the institutes and colleges. At the same time, it is also displayed on the website of the University of Mumbai. The syllabus caters to the needs for creation of professionals in finance, marketing, human resources, systems and operations. The syllabus gives the institutes freedom to run the programme considering the industry requirements within the set norms and regulations. This differentiates the MMS/MBA programmes of University of Mumbai from curriculum of other reputed universities. We are happy to say a few words about our university. The University of Mumbai (UoM) is one of the oldest and premier universities in India, established in 1857. The UoM has campuses at Fort and Vidyanagari, Santacruz (East) and a sub-campus at Thane, sub-centres at Ratnagari and Kalyan. The UOM has at present 54 university departments/institutions/ centres of excellence, five autonomous departments, one constituent college, two model colleges and four community colleges. The UoM has six jurisdictional districts, viz Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg and around 770 colleges are affiliated to the University, out of which nine are autonomous.with more than seven lakh students
What is the most sought after skill that corporates are looking for while hiring your students?
The hiring pattern depends on the requirements of the specific recruiters. In general, recruiters prefer students with marketing skills. It is a known fact that any business starts with marketing of the product or service. In that scenario, students with marketing specialisation would opt for opportunities where marketing skills are demanded. There is scope for 'out of the box' thinking, and at our institute, we do encourage students to be more innovative so that they would make a difference in their career.
What are the extra efforts taken by your institute to make the students placement ready?
We have got a unique programme of "Campus to Corporate". We impart regular practice sessions. Students are taught on resume writing, interview technique and group discussion. Reputed trainers are invited to address the students and deliver various training modules. Apart from these, we hold mock interview sessions so that students would understand where they are after going through the feedback. We also encourage debates to boost the confidence amongst the students. The students are advised on the choice of careers through the study of their psychometric analysis conducted individually. We hope that our intensively conducted "Campus to Corporate" module would help the students to move towards the path of much cherished "Corporate Manager".
How do you ensure your students get adequate corporate exposure?
We allow regular interaction with industry resource persons and get them involved in various projects. The curriculum demands that every student is expected to undergo summer internship programme after they complete their first year in the college and before they move to the second year. Students are sent to various business entities as interns to get acquainted with various projects and gain knowledge and exposure to business practices. Later, they would be submitting "bound" report to the college on their projects. After due scrutiny and viva, the students are graded and reportings are made to the University
In your view, what is it that makes your institute unique for the MBA aspirants?
Quality enthused learning and international exposure through industrial visits with most affordable fees do differentiate our institute from our peers in this sector. For our students, study tours are not simple pleasure trips. It is a combination of study combined with good learning during their journey to various plants and workshops. They get tutored on various business skills discussed in the classes. Needless to say, students enjoy the study tour because they get greater exposure to sharpen their skills and knowledge so that the future career would take off well!!
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IFIM Business School: Grooming Leaders For The Corporate World
IFIM Business School, a leading management institution, has the distinct advantage of being a pioneering premier management institute housed in the hub of the IT industry – in Electronics City, Bengaluru. IFIM’s association with the industry is, therefore, strong, varied and deep-rooted. IFIM offers three core programmes which are AICTE and NBA approved, namely, PGDM, PGDM-Finance and PGDM-International Business. IFIM Business School is accredited by South Asian Quality Assurance System (SAQS) and is ISO 9001:2008 certified. The flagship programmes are for two years and are fully residential. No stone is left unturned to make the programmes rigorous, industry-oriented and knowledge-driven. The curriculum is constantly updated with the help of renowned academicians and top-notch industry experts. As an institution that is more than 23 years old,IFIM has a strong connect with its alumni and most of our graduated students are in prominent positions in the corporate world.
Furthermore, activities like Social Immersion Project, Industry Internship Program, Industry Labs, Corporate Mentoring, Personality Enhancement Program (PEP), Communication and Team Management Skills ensure that the students develop a holistic aptitude with the knowledge and understanding of the industry. With the industry connect bringing together classroom learning and practical experience, our management graduates receive excellent placement offers from top companies with excellent work profiles.
Some differentiators that distinguish IFIM from its peers are:
Faculty with a perfect
• Faculty with a perfect blend of industry and academic experience
• International collaborations with top B-Schools for faculty and student exchange programs
• Students are regularly exposed to structured corporate mentoring, industry visitsand guest lectures
• Participation in industry-academia events like NHRD, CII AIMA, Confluence, NIPM, ATS in association with Times of India, etc.
Recognitions:
• Exemplary Student Driven Innovation Ecosystem – Management by CL Educate Innovation Awards 2017
• Ranked 24th in India amongst private Business Schools by Business World magazine 2017
• Ranked 26th in India amongst Best Business Schools by Business India magazine 2016
• Adjudged as Gold Award winner at the 7th Indian Management Conclave, 2016 at IIM Ahmedabad
• Best Higher Education Institute of the Year-South by ASSOCHAM Awards 2016
• Certified as ‘Global League Institution’ by Great Place to Study Research Institute, UK
• Outstanding Business School (South) National Education Awards - World Education Congress 2015 by ABP News
• Best in Promoting Industry Academia Interface - National Education Excellence Awards 2015.