Several innovations in teaching pedagogy include steps taken beyond the traditional chalk and talk method, says Dr Kakar

In conversation with Shiksha.com, Management Professor Dr Deepti Kakar at JIMS Rohini, Jagan Institute of Management Studies talks at length about the institute's teaching methodology that focuses on the holistic development of the students. The institute follows a multi-disciplinary approach to learning with innovative teaching pedagogy, exposure to the industry through visits, guest sessions, corporate meets along with experiential learning through social projects, internships and engagements such as seminars, conferences, symposiums, workshops, conclaves, etc. Despite the nationwide lockdown due to the Covid pandemic, the institute did not let the curriculum suffer rather figured out innovative ways to make the learning easier and fun online.

Read the complete interview below:

Q: What is the difference between the teaching methodology in JIMS and others?

A: The programme carefully blends fundamental theoretical framework with contemporary management practices with a focus on holistic development. PGDM programme adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to learning with innovative teaching pedagogy, exposure to the industry through visits, guest sessions, corporate meets along with experiential learning through social projects, internships and engagements such as seminars, conferences, symposiums, workshops, conclaves, etc. The students find themselves groomed as skilled professionals in domains such as finance, marketing and HR. The programme incorporates experiential learning-based credits which allows the students to earn credits through classroom learning and self-directive learning including MOOCS, Social Sensitivity Project, Live Projects, Entrepreneurship projects, etc.

Several innovations in teaching pedagogy across the courses comprising the management programme include steps taken beyond the traditional chalk and talk method of imparting knowledge. These intend to and also achieve greater student engagement as well as improved learning outcomes.

• Students are engaged with various NGOs for working around social developmental issues. Student groups are formed and assigned tasks ranging from volunteering to develop business proposals for beneficiaries of NGO services.
• In order to enhance the research orientation of students and provide an applicative vent to business ideas in the young minds, students work in groups on assigned industry projects.
• Students are encouraged to undertake relevant courses available online via NPTEL, UDEMY, COURSERA, etc.
• Conceptual learning is imparted to the students in applicative ways such as case studies, simulations, exercises etc. The students work on online assignments wherein the assigned tasks take the form of article writing, blog posting and critical reviews. Uploading their work on LinkedIn, peer access and feedback entails a multi-directional impact.
• To better the learning outcomes for learning software such as SPSS and spreadsheet programmes such as MS-Excel are built into the course delivery.
• Students are exposed to the actual operations in manufacturing enterprises through Industry Visits.

Q: How are you preparing your students to be industry-ready?

A: The industry readiness of the students is assessed and facilitated at two levels. First, selection of students desiring to join the PGDM programme involves assessing their intention and basic readiness to accept the corporate environment. Second, during their program journey, they are exposed to the aspects, proceedings and challenges facing real businesses in various functional dimensions. Among other things, this includes live projects, industrial visits, industrial projects, social projects, corporate internships, research assignments, case studies, special lectures, webinars and workshops by industry practitioners and regular mentoring.

Q: What quality do your students have which other college students lack?

A: We aim to find students who will thrive in JIMS’s rigorous academic environment. JIMS, Rohini ensures an all-around development of every student through the healthy collocation of various facets of learning inter-mixed with cutting-edge technology, facilitating students in their quest towards excellence. Our students become adaptable, innovative and learned after pursuing their masters/bachelors from JIMS

Q: Do you think the curriculum of the courses taught in your institute fits the requirement of the industry?

A: In line with the focus on making students industry-ready, the PGDM programme curriculum is revised at a notable frequency. The revision exercise is an elaborate activity that involves detailed discussions between the industry experts in various functional domains of management, alumni and the faculty members. Lasting over several days, these discussions result in pruning out the no-longer-required components from the curriculum and incorporating those elements that match the contemporaneous industry’s skill demand. This ensures that the curriculum of PGDM fits well with the industry requirements.

Q: Is your college receptive to innovation, technology, science and entrepreneurship?

A: The rapid improvements and innovations in science and technology are brought in without delay, both in terms of lesson delivery/teaching pedagogy and contents of management learning in the PGDM programme. Entrepreneurship, in addition to being one of the courses within the PGDM programme curriculum, is encouraged via industry alliances and social projects.