Each of our course is designed to make the student employable and industry-ready, says HOD JIMS Vasant Kunj

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, HOD of Management Department at JIMS - Jagannath Institute of Management Sciences, Vasant Kunj talk in detail about their pedagogy to prepare students well for the corporate world. This includes preparing them for interviews, groud discussions, aptitude tests and enhancing their soft skills. This is where faculty and experts are most focused on.

Read the excerpts of the interview below:

Q: What are the three things that your institute is doing that will enable it to differentiate itself from competition?

A: The institute offers a learning environment conducive to shaping learners into future leaders in their chosen domains. Added to this is the culture of collaborative, communicative approach that cuts across disciplines and courses. The faculty members make sure that students move out after three years equipped with tools and skills that allow them to handle unforeseen challenges with ease. In every course, there is a marked emphasis on the practical aspect of the subject.  A regular interface with the industry through live projects, guest lectures and industrial visits, internships, consequently, is an integral part of the course curriculum.

Q: What are the top three initiatives undertaken by you that are helping your students become more industry ready?

A: The course curriculum is, first of all, completely aligned with the industry requirements. Students passing out are exposed to the latest trends not only through guest lectures and seminars but also by way of short term industry oriented courses offered during the summer break. These courses go a long way in enhancing the already acquired skills during the semester. Another area that is greatly emphasised upon is soft skills. These classes are mandatory for the students as they allow them to develop professional etiquettes, networking abilities and interpersonal skills.

Q: What are the key attributes that a student should have in order to qualify for your institution and get top grades in your institution?

A: Admission is subject to clearing the entrance exam of the institute which is an objective-type assessment of the verbal and quantitative ability along with a test of general awareness followed by an interview.

On the other hand, to get top grades in the institute, a student should be regular in all his classes. It is mandatory for every student to have a minimum of 75 per cent attendance in every subject taught during the semester. This ensures not only a good grasp of the subject but also allows him to participate in discussions and interactions that are an integral part of classroom learning.

Q: Which programme/s would you say is/are your best? What is it that helps your institution differentiate itself for this programme?

A: JIMS offers a diverse mix of courses with each one of them having its own strength and uniqueness. Each course is designed to make the student employable and industry-ready. So, there is absolutely no question of one being better than the other. The basic idea behind every course is to groom the students strictly in accordance with the industry requirements.

Q: What are you doing to improve/drive better campus placements for your current students and alumni? What kind of jobs routinely come to campus? What would you say are the key recruitment trends for your college (observed over the past five years)?

A: The institute has a dedicated placement cell that looks into the placement of final year students. The faculty members together with the placement cell executives screen the candidates and match the profiles with the job offers from various companies. The method of screening includes not only mock interviews but also student presentations, extempore and group discussions on current topics. Classes on soft skills during the semester stressing their importance in the corporate world are conducted in all the courses. It is only after a student is fully prepared to face the interview panel that he is given an opportunity to sit for the interview of a company. Every year, the institute invites top-notch companies to conduct placement drives on the campus at the beginning of the final semester. The students are selected for different types of roles depending upon their skills and abilities. The institute’s placement record in the last five years have been excellent. It is comparable to the best in the industry with all the students doing extremely well in their chosen roles and many of them even getting recognised by the companies for their good performance.

Apart from holding mock interview sessions, group discussions, and presentations, we also organise seminars and workshops on CV writing skills, introduction to the latest technology for IT and Technology students and developing online portfolios for Journalism and Interior Design students so their skills are demonstratable.

We witness active participation of almost all giants in the industry who can give a great start to students in their career. The recruiters include Amazon, American Express, AON Hewitt, Concentrix, Policy Bazaar, RBS, Mapro Foods, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Accenture, HCL, TCS, Wipro, ABP News, BBDO, Genesis, MY FM, NDTV, Leo Burnett, Hindustan Times, India News, Indian Express, Crowne Plaza and Hyatt among other.