ISME: Pioneering Education and Empowering Futures through Innovation, Says Pallavi Jain

 

The International School of Management Excellence (ISME) distinguishes itself through a trifecta of innovative strategies, propelling it beyond competition and fostering a unique educational experience. By integrating education with community immersion through its village immersion program, ISME provides invaluable insights into rural life and markets, fostering a deeper understanding of societal dynamics and augmenting students' global perspectives. These distinctive features encapsulate ISME's unwavering commitment to excellence, setting it apart as a beacon of progressive education in a competitive landscape, says Dr Pallavi Jain in a conversation with Shiksha.com. 

Pallavi has worked for TATA Rallis India Limited, Mumbai & New Delhi. While in the US, she was involved with NVT Quality operations. She is the Director of Admissions and International Relations at ISME. Pallavi had been active outside her education and academic career. She is a trained Kathak dancer and actively participates in community activities. She is fond of travelling, gardening, swimming and badminton.

Q1. What are the three things that your institute/college/university is doing that will enable it to differentiate itself from competition?

• The following distinctive qualities set the International School of Management Excellence (ISME) apart from competition
  Interactive Learning Methods: Case studies, role-playing, and idea and technique workshops are all part of ISME's interactive learning methodology. This method improves the practical application of academic knowledge and promotes a deeper comprehension of the subject.
• Industry-Focused Curriculum: ISME's curriculum is created with the demands and developments of the industry in mind. Senior corporate management and industry experts contribute to its frequent updates. This guarantees that the students are acquiring the most up-to-date and applicable skills required by the sector.
• International Collaborations: ISME has collaborated with University of Alabama, USA, faculty members on the "Business Strategy Game." Additionally, ISME students have the chance to participate in the London School of Economics and Political Science Summer School. Students benefit from exposure to worldwide standards and practices as well as a wider perspective thanks to these global collaborations.
  These characteristics make ISME stand out from other academic institutions and give its students a special and worthwhile educational experience.

Q2. What are the top three initiatives undertaken by you that are helping your students become more industry-ready?

Managerial Professional Skills: Based on a workshop concept, managerial skills development training is provided to all ISME students. By covering general personality, intellectual, emotional, and human value aspects of becoming an effective manager, this helps the students achieve their professional goals. Students receive assistance in developing their resumes, identifying their areas of strength and weakness, and correct body language, communication skills, and linguistic, mathematical, and logical abilities. They also receive training in résumé development, decision-making, practice interviews, and art of negotiating. Three main components of the knowledge given during MPS are leadership, networking skills, and corporate ethics and integrity.

• Corporate Mentoring Programs: Some professionals from reputed companies have collaborated with ISME to establish mentoring programs for its budding managers. This provides students with guidance and insights from experienced professionals in their chosen field.
• Industry Seminars and Guest Lectures: ISME regularly organizes industry experts’ seminars and guest lectures to expose students to real-world business scenarios. Recently ISME has concluded four Conclaves one in HR, Finance, Analytics and Marketing. Senior Professionals from industry share their experiences, discuss industry trends, and provide valuable perspectives to its students at large.

Q3. What are the key attributes that a student should have to qualify for your institution?

• Academic Excellence: This is frequently assessed using grades, results from standardized tests, and the difficulty of the high school courses studied.
• Extracurricular Activities: A student's interests and leadership abilities can be shown by involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, volunteer work, part-time jobs, or even previous work experience.
• Personal Qualities: People strongly respect qualities like resiliency, curiosity, creativity, and interpersonal skills.
  Ambition and Motivation: Students with a strong desire to learn and maximize their college experience are frequently sought after.

 Q4. What are the key attributes that a student should have to get top grades in your institution?

• Robust Work Ethics: High achievers are frequently those that are prepared to invest the time and energy necessary to fully comprehend the subject matter. Effective Time Management: It takes preparation and organization to strike a balance between study time and other obligations. Active Participation: Asking questions and participating in class discussions helps improve understanding.
• Critical Thinking: In many academic contexts, the capacity to assess and analyze data is essential.
  Perseverance: Being able to persevere through difficulties and being prepared to ask for assistance when necessary can have a significant impact. Curiosity and Love of Learning: Academically driven students typically perform better. Keep in mind that education consists of more than just grades. It's crucial to follow your passions and acquire a wide range of abilities.

Q5. Which programme/s would you say is/are your best? What is it that helps your institution differentiate itself for this programme?

The Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) program at the International School of Management Excellence (ISME) is our flagship program. It has several unique features that differentiate it from other programs

Interactive Learning Process: Industry-Focused Curriculum ,Global Partnerships such as the “Business Strategy Game” with faculty from the University of Alabama, USA make our program unique and give us the  competitive edge. Our value added courses include Advance Excel/Psychological Wellbeing/Product Pitch/Art of Networking, Campus to Corporate Soft Skills Program; Leadership Training Program; Negotiation Skills; Technical Industry Training- Cloud Computing/ Power BI/ HR Analytics/ Tech for MarkCom/ Python; MOOC Course Certification

The Career Opportunity Cell (COC) manages alumni, corporate partnerships and assists students with placements, career advice, and internships. As part of the international immersion program it’s mandatory for all ISME PGDM students to participate in a Singapore Business Program and get a first-hand exposure to the global work environment. These features help ensure that ISME students are well-prepared for the demands of the industry and are equipped to become future leaders in their respective fields.

Q6. 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)?

Collaborations with industries often involve setting up internship and placements programs. This allows students to work within a real corporate environment, gaining hands-on experience and applying their academic knowledge to practical situations. Over the last two years, the Industry Trajectory Program (ITP) at ISME has proved to be an effective mutually beneficial model for academic and placement collaboration. Some of the companies that have selected our students last year through this model have been: EY, Grant Thornton, Quess Corp, Cognizant, OnMobile, Hansa Research, Mu-Sigma, Page Industries, Godrej & Boyce, Tata Croma, Hector Beverages, Homecenter, Lifestyle, Tata Trent, Purvankara, Anarock and many others. The unique industry trajectory program allows students to spend 4 months in the company before they proceed to full time employment. During this period, ISME can also customize the coursework to teach them specific topics needed for the role. This enables students to become culturally aligned and productive by the time they are on boarded full time.

ISME developed a unique course known as VAT (Value Added Training), which is delivered during the program's fourth term. Students who study VAT acquire useful skills that help them in the workforce.

On-campus we have variety of employers who visit us to hire students for full-time positions. Few sector of companies who visit our campus for recruiting include BFSI, Consulting, EdTech, HR Services, IT/ITES, Market Research, E-Commerce, FMCG, Healthcare to hire our students as Management Trainees, Analysts, Business Development Managers, HR Managers, Key Account Managers, Financial Controller, Associates, Tax Consultants etc.,

In the past 5 years the key recruitment trends we at ISME have been noticing are:

1. Increased emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Companies are hiring talent based on equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of their background or identity which has increased in the recent years.
2. With the increasing reliance on virtual tools and technologies in various industries, companies are placing greater value on candidates who have adapted their skills to this digital landscape. Students who are proficient in using virtual tools for communication, collaboration, project management, and other tasks have a competitive edge in the job market.
3. In the recent past, companies are looking at incorporating training of the students before they even join a company and are collaborating with the institutes. Companies are potentially saving training costs associated with traditional onboarding methods for new hires as they become fully productive from day one of joining.
4. Many companies recognize the importance of sustainability as part of their CSR efforts. Hiring students who are knowledgeable about environmental issues and passionate about sustainability have increased in the recent past, as companies meet their CSR goals to enhance their reputation as socially responsible organizations.