Being an academic, how would you describe the changes in Management education over the last two decades?

Management education in India has come a long way since 1953, when IISWBM – the first official management institute was established.  A few years later IIM Calcutta and IIM Ahmedabad were established with the aim of providing American business education to Indian management students. The next three decades saw the emergence of some good quality business schools.

Since the economy opened up, the last two decades have seen rapid expansion of business schools in India, mainly driven by private sector initiatives. This growth has also brought in concerns regarding their standard. Management education started witnessing rapid re-hauling since the prevailing methods used to ‘mass produce’ management graduates, with little ‘real’ learning being rejected by the industry – the ultimate user class. Progressive business schools started addressing this gap through experiential mode of learning thereby exposing students to the real-world business settings with emphasis given on value based management education. Apart from providing ‘real’ value based management education, business schools have been focusing on research and publication, the bedrock on which all top global institutes have been based on.  The last two decades have also witnessed a tectonic shift in the way curriculum gets designed and courses get delivered in the classrooms. This is especially true in the wake of technology playing an extremely important role in the learning process. By making the students collaborate with the school in their own learning process through concepts like flipped classrooms, good business schools have been able to successfully shift the paradigm.

The last two decades have also seen a rapid growth in the number of business schools in the country, which also includes the opening of new IIMs. The demand for more qualified managers has witnessed not only an increase in the number of schools, but also in the batch size increasing many folds during this period. This has also led to an intense competition among the business schools, with each school looking at enrolling the best students. Competition has resulted in many schools that were found wanting in providing quality services closing down which brings me back to the way students in good schools have been getting exposed to a differentiated model of learning. Good business schools have been trying to continuously enhance their product offerings and service levels, and are also focusing on their pricing models. In order to provide high value services most of the good business schools are reinventing the way academics is delivered to the students. The designing of the program to suit contemporary requirement thus has become crucial. Business schools have started developing strategies incorporating the needs of the students, also taking into consideration their behaviour and motivation, and have been continuously focusing on improved service along with providing excellent learning facilities.

How do research cells contribute to overall development in B-schools?

B-schools are consciously practitioner oriented and respect entrepreneurship in all its potential and actuality. Research cells and Centres of Excellence forge links between academics and industry. There are forums that cater specifically to entrepreneurs and to small and medium enterprises. Large corporate houses are often the knowledge partner to leading B-schools for some of their programs, and the research cell takes the lead in bringing these two together. Research cells assimilate the bulk of the school’s research activities for use across the academic world and the industry. It also helps its stakeholders contribute meaningfully to the creation of a contemporary and practically relevant body of knowledge. Research cell is also usually the nodal body for publishing e-content, research papers, case studies, management books, periodicals, books of readings etc. Research cells also work in the direction of attracting grants from government agencies, and undertake consulting work for the industry.

Today students are clamoring for international assignments over local placements. What is your take on this trend?

There is a demand-supply mismatch for skilled professionals across the globe and good business schools and students look at leveraging this. Given the supply and demand principle, I would encourage international placements as the benefits are bilateral. The client gets good quality work, and the students get international exposure and an improved standard of living. There are some side-effects and dangers though that must be considered, since society is very complex and not homogeneous. Indians may be seen as a threat to the livelihood of the native citizens leading to attacks on Indian professionals that we sometimes hear about. However, the since the benefits far outweigh the concerns, on the whole, I would give international assignments the green flag, keeping in mind some caution.

What are some of the salient features of Rajalakshmi School of Business that will help it stand out in the midst of B-schools?

Rajalakshmi School of Business (RSB) Chennai is the first business school in South India specializing in Marketing functional area. The aim of RSB Chennai is to deliver very high quality, value based academics through outstanding faculty and students working in an environment that inspires new ideas to address the vital needs of the industry and the society.

The program, PGDM-Marketing with its cutting edge curriculum comprising of courses that are taught by very few business schools in India, puts us in a different sphere. The AICTE approved full time two-years fully residential program is designed to provide the students an in depth knowledge of marketing. The program is spread across six trimesters, with three trimesters in each academic year and has been designed to optimize the learning outcomes and the ability to apply knowledge into practice through Integrated Management Courses and Labs, General Management Courses and Labs, Core Courses and the most contemporary Electives.

Marketing professionals witness career growth faster than others with their entrepreneurial contribution and strategic decision making to the success of an organization, as compared to professionals from other domains. The program is aimed at offering to the industry highly qualified and skilled marketing professionals who are trained in a scientific manner, capable of contributing from the first day itself, giving our students a distinct edge over others.

What are the qualities you look for in an applicant when shortlisting for your final selections?

The Admissions Committee puts great effort into understanding each applicant’s academic ability, career goals, leadership potential, extracurricular interests, and interpersonal skills. In order to create a diverse and intellectually stimulating learning environment, RSB seeks to admit students from all disciplines and walks of life across the globe. The following are prerequisites and preferences for PGDM admissions:

Bachelor’s Degree

We require a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with 60% and above, from a recognized institution.

Entrance Exam

Applicants should have valid GMAT/CAT/XAT/MAT/CMAT scores. Entrance exam scores are considered as the indicators of academic ability and achievement

Written Essay

The statement of purpose essay forms an important basis for selection to our program. Your essay should showcase evidence of leadership, professional promise, your career goals, your personality, and reasons for pursuing higher education. 

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