Director, (SDMIMD)
Director, (SDMIMD)
Corporates are more and more demanding. They look for overall personality, overall grades and ability to think laterally. Dr. N.R. Parasuraman, Director, Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD), Mysore, shares his views with Elets News Network.
How good are Indian MBAs in global market?
In my opinion, the Indian MBAs are among the best in the world. Having said that, I am assuming that the MBA is from a good Institute where academic rigour takes the front seat.
How good are B-School Institutes from Tier II cities?
There is no reason to believe that MBAs from Tier II cities are in any way inferior. It all depends on the exposure they have from the academic program and industry interaction.. AS I said earlier, the Institute from where the MBA is got matters a lot.
Emerging trends in campus placements?
Corporates are more and more demanding. They look for overall personality, overall grades and ability to think laterally. By the same token, students are very intent on the correct profile and a high initial pay. With all sorts of information about the company and prospects readily available, there is pressure on either side.
Emerging verticals of Business Administration?
More and more, B-schools are developing courses on sustainability, innovation and corporate social responsibility. These need not be single courses but are sometimes embedded in several modules across courses. Further, some B-schools have started specialized courses on emerging files like hospitality management, logistics management and big data analytics.
Does MBA education provide the professional orientation that is required?
Yes, I think it does. No other course can give this sort of general coverage, with a pedagogy that is blended with practice.
MBA Education: Issue, Challenges and Opportunities?
The big macro question is as to how many B-schools are really needed in the country. Given the changes in the number of aspirants, the overall sector is fraught with uncertainty. That said, the good Institutes will be able to stand out from the rest by their superior pedagogy and facilitates offered for value-based education. With foreign collaborations, there are plenty of opportunities for excellence for the good Institute.
Is it good enough to be an MBA? Should the MBAs specialize?
Personally, I think it is good enough to be a good MBA. The specialization in MBA is more for setting the direction of a career and also for providing an overall focus.
How do corporates assess and evaluate MBAs for jobs?
Again, this depends on the jobs they are wanting the MBAs to fill. Ideally, they should be looking for smart generalists capable of rising in the corporate ladder.
Is MOOCs a threat to B-Schools? Why/Why not?
No, they constitute a different offering. But for B-schools this is an opportunity for diversifying into a related field.
Are Indian B-Schools ignoring practical learning?
None of the good B-schools will ignore practice. For instance at SDMIMD, the curriculum and pedagogy will be devised in a way to blend the two together.
Future of MBA Education in India.
The future looks good, but over a period of time we may have to weed out many Institutes who do not have the necessary infrastructure or expertise to offer quality programs.
