XAVIER SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
BEST PRIVATE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
dian academics who have gone abroad by offering them competitive salaries and other incentives. In this, they can learn from Chinese universities.
The good news is that Indian B-schools are gradually waking up to the changing global environment and are trying to reinvent themselves. For instance, the trend in India of getting an MBA first and then finding a job is changing. A big challenge for Indian management courses has been that they get students directly from colleges who have no knowledge of what is required in a job environment. Premier B-schools in India are now increasingly providing weightage during the admission process to those with some work experience after a bachelor’s degree.
Disruptive technology and a constantly changing world are also transforming how organisations work. It is pushing companies to look for people who are able to handle uncertainties, have a wider perspective and are leaders, not just managers. This is making top B-schools relook at their curriculum. Sustainability has emerged as a significant area in management education in India. In recent times, corporates have realised they cannot operate outside of society and environment; it hurts their
“WE HAVE RECENTLY UNVEILED A NEW VISION STATEMENT TO NURTURE RESPONSIBLE GLOBAL LEADERS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.” FR E. ABRAHAM S.J., DIRECTOR
operations, profits and performance. Therefore, the key is to turn adverse ecological and sociological impact into opportunities for value creation. That’s why corporates are looking for passionate sustainability managers in leadership positions, and to meet the increasing demand, universities and B-schools are launching dedicated sustainability management programmes. Xavier School of Management in Jamshedpur, for instance, now has a compulsory course on Introduction to Sustainable Development and Corporate Sustainability along with several electives in strategy. IIM-A too has courses on entrepreneurship, environment sustainability and design thinking.
The emphasis is increasingly on a multi-disciplinary approach with several B-schools combining management with humanities subjects. One such example is the Management with Liberal Arts Programme at the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research in Mumbai. “New MBA graduates struggle to write a proper e-mail. I have to sit every time with the copy and correct it. To become
successful, a multi-disciplinary skill set is important,” said Vani Kola, managing director, Kalaari Capital at ISB on September 23.
Another focus has been on infrastructure development on campuses. B-schools across India have been ramping up infrastructure, adding Bloomberg terminals, which cost nearly Rs 50 lakh, IBM Analytics labs and green features.
Such moves, coupled with dedicated focus on improving pedagogy to make it relevant, will certainly help Indian management institutes do better in global rankings and acquire prestigious accreditation. The world’s three most recognised accreditations are the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Foundation for Management Development Quality Improvement System (EQUIS EFMD). Only one Indian B-school—IIM-Calcutta—has all three. India needs many more to join IIM-C in the elite league.