At SIBM Hyderabad, peer-to-peer learning is given a lot of attention, says Nishka

Coming from a business family, opting for Commerce as my career choice came in naturally. Thus, after my Class 12, I graduated in commerce with a specialisation in accounting and finance from Calcutta University. I have always been keen towards the corporate and management aspect of business environment and started preparing for my entrance exams along with contributing towards my family business. This allowed me to gain the theoretical and practical prerequisites to enter into the management world.

After, weeks of mock exams and preparation, I cleared the cutoff for Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Hyderabad and got selected after successfully being through the three-level process. To be considered for admission to SIBM, Hyderabad, a candidate must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA in any discipline. Every such candidate is then required to compete with the best brains in the nation, via a nation-wide competitive exam, called the SNAP. SIBM Hyderabad together with other colleges in the Symbiosis fraternity accepts scores of the SNAP only. The students who clear the examination cut off are then evaluated on the basis of their performance in group exercise, personal interview and written ability test which is known as GEPIWAT at SIBM- H. To prepare the candidates for the corporate career ahead, and to select the best candidates, SIBM Hyderabad usually has at least one corporate leader or recruiter during the admission process. These panelists judge the appearing candidates on the basis of their communication, teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.  

To be considered for admission to SIBM, Hyderabad, a candidate must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA in any discipline. Every such candidate is then required to compete with the best brains in the nation, via a nation-wide competitive exam, called the SNAP.

My journey at SIBM- H started in July, 2020 with a heart full of excitement, nervousness and joy of being a part of such glorious institute.  A typical day at SIBM Hyderabad begins promptly at 9:30 am. The students are groomed in both theoretical and practical aspects of business, using case studies, projects, and assignments based on real-world problems. This course requires a lot of hard work and reading. But a candidate, for the most part of their MBA journey, would enjoy it. Students are divided into academic groups according to their background and work experience, so as to bring more diversity within the team.

At SIBM Hyderabad, peer-to-peer learning is given a lot of attention. Living the experience of witnessing actual problems, interacting with some really sharp minds and brainstorming to find its solutions is what makes learning in this college even more enriching. Also, the college allocates a faculty mentor to each student to assist them with their subjects and projects. Under this same mentor, every student is required to publish a mandatory research paper as part of the curriculum. SIBM Hyderabad ensures to make a candidate’s experience mutually enlightening and value-adding.

At SIBM Hyderabad, peer-to-peer learning is given a lot of attention. Living the experience of witnessing actual problems, interacting with some really sharp minds and brainstorming to find its solutions is what makes learning in this college even more enriching.

Just like the other B-schools, SIBM Hyderabad also mandatorily requires its PGDM candidates to live in the college campus, during the two-year programme. The college library is filled with books, journals, white papers that make the journey simpler and informative. Apart from this, students are given access to a large pool of online publications that helps the candidates to gain a deeper understanding of the curriculum. A high-speed internet is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which helps a candidate in being ahead of the competition, always. All-in-all, the amenities provided to every candidate at SIBM Hyderabad are of the finest quality.

SIBM Hyderabad, offers four specialisations namely – Marketing, Finance, Operations and Human Resource during its two-year MBA programme. Every student is mandated to opt one specialisation as per their interests and goals during the second semester. The curriculum at this esteemed institute is divided into four-rigorous and value-adding semesters each trying to inculcate a unique value proposition into the students.  The first semester is designed to bring in a taste of every specialisation offered, which allows the students to closely understand their interest and have a better understanding of subjects. The second to fourth semester revolve around the core specialisation subjects and provide the student with a 360-degree knowledge. The curriculum is structured to provide the students with theoretical as well practical aspect of the corporate. To do so, Harvard case study method is utilised that allows students to get an understanding of real-life scenarios. Evaluation for each of the subjects is constructed on the basis of multi-fold evaluation such as quizzes, case-study discussions, group assignments and presentations. During the curriculum, guest lectures by esteemed corporates hailing from various backgrounds are invited to provide insights into the respective subject.

The curriculum at this esteemed institute is divided into four-rigorous and value-adding semesters each trying to inculcate a unique value proposition into the students. 

One of the unique programs of SIBM- H, is the mentorship programme. This programme allows the student’s to learn and expand their knowledge base under the guidance of a corporate mentor. During the tenure of this program, the student and the corporate mentor have sessions to discuss, understand and develop a practical understanding of the corporate world and become ready as future managers.

SIBM – H is one of the only colleges in India that is completely student-driven, SIBM-Hyderabad has 19 interactive clubs and committees for their students. Every candidate gets to select the clubs and committees based on their interests and inclinations, post which they are made to go through a rigorous selection and interview procedure. Contrary to other B-schools, where each student gets to select only one club, at SIBM Hyderabad, a candidate can enroll themselves in a maximum of three clubs or committees, with academic clubs being present by default for everyone. This makes them much more prepared for the extra load of work that usually comes uninvited in a corporate career. Though a student gets a leadership position in any club or committee only in the second year, they involvement in these clubs are made to ensure an enhancement in their personality.

Contrary to other B-schools, where each student gets to select only one club, at SIBM Hyderabad, a candidate can enroll themselves in a maximum of three clubs or committees, with academic clubs being present by default for everyone. This makes them much more prepared for the extra load of work that usually comes uninvited in a corporate career.

The SIBM institute is dedicated to promoting Indian culture and values to the greatest extent possible. And thus, the college arranges for cultural and intellectual activities throughout the year. SIBM Hyderabad has its flagship fest, “Firande”, designed with the motive of combining cultural and management festivals at an intra-college level. In general, life at SIBM Hyderabad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students, since they get the opportunity to learn about and experience corporate world even before entering into one.

About the Author

Nishka Agarwal is pursuing her MBA in Marketing from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Hyderabad. She is a graduate of commerce. She is an avid reader and is keen on serving the underprivileged in her own little way. 

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha