Is online business certification a threat to full-time B school program?
Even though Online Business Certifications have gained much momentum in recent times, full time traditional MBA is still perceived as the ‘Master program’ that prepares a student for the corporate world. NO TWO MBA PROGRAMS ARE ALIKE NO TWO MBA PROGRAMS ARE ALIKE NO TWO MBA PROGRAMS ARE ALIKE
The main advantage of an Online Certifications is its flexibility. Through such modules, students are offered management education without having to leave their personal or professional commitments. Online certifications are mainly opted by working professionals. Whereas, full time MBA programmes provide interaction opportunities with faculty and peers in classroom environment, provide exposure to the corporate world through internships, interactive sessions with corporate leaders and alumni,thus, helping a student build a robust professional network and finally placement opportunity on completion of the programme.
Hence, I believe that there isn’t any decrease in interest in full time MBA among aspiring business leaders.
How can a business school create value for students and employers?
The main objective of a management institute is to prepare its students for the corporate world. During the course, a student gets the opportunity to build strong professional networks through the exposure they get by meeting corporate leaders, getting first-hand experiences through internship programmes provided by the B-school and finally the chance to enter the corporate world through placements. A forward thinking B-school also provides a healthy ecosystem for innovation among the students; thus encouraging students to innovate and provide necessary support systems for aspiring Entrepreneurs. At XLRI we strive towards an integral formation whereby students are encouraged to nurture their intellectual, ethical, spiritual and social persona to evolve as well rounded human beings furthering greater common good.
Are Indian B-schools able to create closer connection between theory and practice?
Management Education is an ever-evolving and dynamic stream of higher education; being the study of the volatile world of business, there is no point for management education to become static and irrelevant. There has also been a vast change in the dynamics of the corporate world in recent times. The millennial generation is looking beyond the confines of traditional corporate jobs and venturing into newer avenues.
Keeping with the trends of the industry, all forward thinking management institutes in India need to start re-inventing the management education system with a clear intent in helping shape future business leaders who can contribute their mite in accelerating sustainable economic development. Keeping up with the times, it is imperative for an institute to provide students the right management-centric education in a wholesome manner. The regular curriculum should be evolved constantly in line with industry needs in particular and the economy at large whilst striving to shape management education by giving due importance in curricula to ethical and socially responsible aspects of management. At XLRI, we regularly scan the economic and social developments and try to proactively meet the challenges of management education. The curriculum at XLRI is constantly updated in line with industry needs in particular and the economy and society at large whilst striving to shape management education by giving due importance in curricula to ethical and socially responsible aspects of management.
What role can a technology play in a B-school classroom?
IT is unarguably the defining force of this millennium. Social media, dominance of mobility, cloud computing, and big data analytics are major themes that are forcing higher education sector to change the way they operate on a day-to day basis. The cloud has rapidly established a new benchmark in terms of how easy, quick and flexible solutions should be available to all its stakeholders and it puts in alignment higher education varsities and industries in different countries from a whole new perspective. The spread of smart mobile devices has led to rapid growth in augmented reality. Education sector should take advantage of these trends to drive growth and accelerate their innovation agenda – to provide superior learning experience.
It has become essential for B-schools to up-grade their IT infrastructure like marching towards a Wi-Fi campus, supplemented by the introduction of new courses, workshops, seminars, live projects, etc. that aims to facilitate industry-academia interface. Students as well as faculty should be equipped with access to various databases, electronic journals and software needed in the learning and teaching experience; to connect with people, processes, and content through the effective use of reliable information, computing, and telecommunications technologies; thus enabling the creation of whole new cohort of tech-savvy managers with the skills to integrate technology solutions to the workplace environment.
Always follow an ethical code of conduct, as one cannot achieve excellence and long-term success without integrity & ethics
What factors should a student consider while selecting a B-school?
Students should analyse multiple parameters while deciding to join an MBA institute such as the institute’s unique pedagogy, code of conduct, updated curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, alumni and placements. Before taking admission, one should try to visit the campus or talk to alumni to get an idea whether the institute fulfils all the parameters or not. Choosing the right MBA course is again a tough job. No two MBA programs are absolutely alike and even though they teach the same basics, they do not offer the same syllabus. So a student should be confident of what he actually wants to learn and specialize in.
Are Indian B-schools graduates able to appreciate different cultures and mindset of foreign organisations?
With the business world rapidly growing across-borders, it has become essential for corporate executives to develop a broader global mind-set. Many Indian B-schools are inviting professors from foreign universities who are sharing their outlook with Indian students; offering Global MBA programmes or Students Outreach Programmes which are providing students opportunities to be well versed in different cultures and broaden their world-view and gain first-hand experience of organizations in other countries through internships. Such opportunities are helping and enabling the students to get exposure of the international business domain and thus, helping them become global business leaders.
What piece of advice you would like to proffer for the youth that helps them in career building?
To get success in life and career, one has to strive continuously for the best, without getting easily satisfied and without becoming complacent with achievements and always follow an ethical code of conduct, as one cannot achieve excellence and long-term success without integrity & ethics.
