1. What according to you are the major economic trends that would impact the scope
of MBA in the next 5 years?
The next 5 years hold monumental challenges-and opportunities-for managers. The
key areas are:
a) Accelerated Growth of the Digital Economy: Digital business is no longer an option;
it will become the default in the medium term future.
b) Predictive Analytics as a decisive Staff Function: How to design, deploy and
interpret analytics capabilities for business impact – across all functional silos.
c) Supply Chain Management and Operations: Just-in-Time is already being replaced
by something like Real-Time-Manufacturing, but this calls for integration of the
entire supply chain like never before
d) (Reinvented) Banking, Finance and Insurance: With the PM committed to ensuring
that “every person should have a bank account”, microfinance will need a
comprehensive reinvention
e) (Refocused) Manufacturing: It is vital that India’s strength in the service industry be
balanced with an equally focussed redevelopment of the ‘real economy’ – the PM’s
call to action on “Make in India” has already laid the canvas
2. Do you think Indian institutions are lagging behind in transnational education tie-
ups and partnerships?
IMT’s follows a philosophy of Global Breadth, Local Depth – it is the pioneer and leader
in transnational tie ups and collaborations. It is a well-known fact that IMT has the
largest number of exchange tie ups in the country: not just for students, but also for
faculty. We at IMT Ghaziabad, work closely with some of the best universities across the
globe to give our students and our faculty genuine international exposure and
experience. About 50% of our students study abroad; about 20% of our scholarly faculty
teach at various universities around the world every year; 10-15 scholars from foreign
universities visit our campus every year and teach in all our programs. This brings in a
unique blend of “breadth and depth” in the academic experience of the students in a
curriculum that gives them flexibility to specialise in careers of their choice.
The roadblocks that IMT and others face in even greater collaborative engagements
occur due to the country’s archaic norms and regulatory prohibitions.
3. What are your top 5 suggestions for current crop of MBA candidates who would be
joining the work?
A) Shape your Destiny: Aspire to being Job Creators, not just Job Seekers
B) Choose your first job in the light of where you want to be in the next 15 years, do
not have a myopic career horizon
C) Choose your B-school for maximizing your intellectual/professional returns: be
overweight on schools where the intellectual capital of the faculty is high. The
rest (read ‘placements’) will follow as segue.
D) Stay abreast of the new trends in the market and the profound impact
digitalization is having in the business environment. E) Go for your dreams with passion, have fun and embrace risk with confidence – as
your generation is blessed with resources that did not exist in the past.
4. How are the new IIMs challenging student choices of non-IIM Tier 1 institutions?
We do not perceive any challenge from the new IIMs. Many in academic circle already
agree that for them it may be a case of “over-extended brand dilution” from 4 to 16.
Half of the IIMs do not have the basic physical infrastructure for meaningful academic
discourse. Many do not have qualified faculty (and hence they depend upon other
institute’s faculty). For us another 6 or 10 new IIMs will not make any significant
difference. We at IMT have a robust admissions process to pick the best, and our USPs
of locational advantage (NCR region), hands-on curriculum, international partnerships,
fantastic infrastructure, world-class faculty & alumni, and the legacy of 35 years will
continue to attract the very best.
5. What would you like to say to anyone who is applying to IMT this year?
IMT is one of the best proven launch-pads for a successful career, make it yours
as well.
With our 35-year legacy and futuristic vision, you can count on emerging as an
elite and in-demand managerial resource
Despite the recent economic ups and downs, recruiters have remained
steadfastly loyal to IMT and continued to absorb our talent
Our constantly-upgrading curriculum is because of our top-notch faculty and a
highly-internationalized academic culture
The recent up-gradation of our physical infrastructure puts IMT at par with the
best institutions anywhere in the world
Thousands of our high profile alumni give us a differentiated advantage that new
IIMs cannot replicate.
Do not wait for destiny to take you places, come to IMT and rule your destiny