Students are Trained for Globally Integrated Business Environment, says IILM University Professor

In conversation with Shiksha.com, Dr Garima Gupta talks about the placement processes at IILM University. The Corporate Resource Cell (CRC) of IILM University helps students meet industry requirements. Dr Garima Gupta is currently working as an Associate Professor, in the Department of Biotechnology at IILM University. She had completed her M.Tech. from Anna University, Chennai with distinction. Her PhD thesis was focused on designing low-cost nutraceuticals.

Dr Garima Gupta has many National and International publications in her area.  She has worked on various projects in the domains of characterization of monoclonal antibodies, the effect of active extracts on Differentiation therapy in HL-60 and A549 cell line invitro, cytotoxic and genotoxic analysis of pesticide and synergistic effects of antioxidants on the shelf life of edible oil. She is an active member of the Association of Food Scientists & Technologies (India) in the Delhi Chapter. She is on the editorial board of various reputed and peer-reviewed Journals.

1. How can you improve/drive better campus placements for your current students and alumni? 

The campus placement processes at IILM University are facilitated by the Corporate Resource Cell (CRC) consisting of the Head –CRC, Managers –Placement, Faculty coordinators for each branch and student coordinators from respective departments. The team works for getting better placements for the Management and Engineering students. IILM Grads are trained in various aspects to meet the Industry requirement. Various placement-related pieces of training are provided to the students from the very beginning of the first year based on their profiles. Students are coached in areas of soft skills like etiquette, interpersonal relationships, networking and communication. They are groomed to enter a globally integrated business environment through a mandatory global study program to acquaint them with cultures and practices outside India. Periodic assessment along with feedback and individual counselling to the students are provided. Sessions on aptitude tests, GD, soft skills, Psychometric tests, and mock interviews are provided to the students on regular basis.

The training of IILM graduates falls into the following categories.

1. In-house Training: In-house training allows graduates to develop job-related skills as well as it focuses on communication. There are few organisations that guide individuals to invest in enhancing their employability skills and IILM graduates are fortunate enough to get these opportunities by market leaders.
2. College to Corporate Program: The objective of this course is to provide the students with a framework for re-structuring their existing skill sets and imbibing Personality Development, Communication skills, and Team Building, to improve the practical understanding of self and the environment.
3. Training by Industry Experts: IILM has tie-ups with renowned training partners for providing best-in-class expert sessions to train the students for a better future. Some of the training partners include Edunet Foundation for the IBM Skills Build Program, Global Talent Track (GTT) for implementation of Barclay’s Soft Skill as well as technical training program etc.
4. Guest Lectures and Webinars by industry stalwarts: The students can gain a lot from guest lectures, and they can also be an excellent resource for learning about the challenges faced in the real corporate world.
5. Alumni Sessions: The objective of the alumni session to make the interaction between senior students and current batch students to make them aware of the latest market trends and technology. During the sessions, alumni guide them how to overcome challenges and stepping stones which help them to build their career.
6. Industrial Training: Trainings/ Summer Internship programs are provided to prepare the students for the real corporate world.

2. What kind of jobs routinely come to campus?

The major recruiters of IILM University are from various sectors including IT, Manufacturing, FMCG, Retail, Media etc. Students pursuing MBA with specializations such as Marketing, Finance, HR, Operation, and Analytics are being placed with various job profiles. In Marketing, we get profiles of Management trainees, Sales Managers, Media Planners, Analysts, Sales Executives, and Market Researchers etc. In the Finance area, the profiles include Investment Banking Analyst, Accounting, Trade Settlement, and Portfolio Management. In the Operation area, we get positions like Executive, Supply Chain Manager, Logistics Manager. In HR and research area, the company comes with recruitment, research associate, law, training, talent management, and generalist profile.

The job profiles of the engineering domain include Networking Engineer, Software Developer, Business Development Manager, Production Executive, Assistant Manager- Operation, Associate Engineer etc.

3. What are the key recruitment trends for your college (observed over the past five years)?

The employment situation has remained an issue of major concern for IILM during the last few years owing to the occurrence of Covid-19. Despite this pandemic, when everywhere there is a job crisis and final placements even at prestigious institutes are a very tame affair, the students of the graduated batch of Management and Engineering have got entry into the best of the companies like Deloitte, KPMG, Cian Analytics, Nielson IQ, Federal Bank, Loreal India, Asian Paints, Naukri.com, HCL Technologies Ltd., TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Accenture, Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), Biocon, Tech Mahindra, Capgemini, Cognizant, Volkswagen Group etc and have been offered good pay packages etc. It is also interesting to note that many of the companies have started the recruitment process virtually. The major trends in the job profiles are an increase in AI, analytics and machine learning job profiles. The last few years have seen a huge growth in awareness around flexible work culture, adding more benefits to the pay packages, social justice issues, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Post-pandemic, with the rise in technology-based job profiles; the demand for Management and Engineering graduates with the right skill set is high. There is also increased hiring in the IT sector for the last 2-3 years. Over the last few years, the kinds of job profiles for both Management and Engineering have been increasing as per the new trends of the market scenario.  The students have been offered attractive salary packages.

4. What are the key attributes that a student should have in order to get admission to your Institution?

According to the spokesperson (Dr Sonika Sharma, Associate Professor, IILM University), Student attributes refer to the range of skills, values, talents and competencies in addition to academic knowledge. At the time of admission, the prospective students are assessed on the basis of different parameters to check the key attributes. In general, a respectful student follows the rules, is eager to learn, and is adaptable and flexible are the initial attributes being checked. In order to succeed in life, students must not only be a topper with a high IQ level. On the contrary, a student who is endowed with abundant positive personality traits and has essential skills like good communication, creativity, analytical skills and a positive attitude excels in their life. IILM University aims not just to educate the students but to the holistic development of students. At IILM University we foster a good bond between teachers and students. The students are moulded under the guidance of their mentors.

Some of the key attributes that a student should have in order to qualify for IILM University:

• Self-Discipline - Discipline is a must in a student’s life. This quality helps them in handling their work, maintaining regularity in work and managing their time well.
• Diligent - A student should be determined towards studies or any work allotted to him. He should be ready to work hard in order to achieve his laid objectives. This is one quality that keeps the student consistent and eliminates procrastination.
• Punctual - Time is money so every student must value time. Being in class on time and doing work on time helps the students to save their time and invest it into something productive.
• Respectful - Showing respect to teachers, staff and fellow students, in fact, such students turn out as humble and courteous individuals
• Team Player - A good student is one who can work in a group, motivate others and yield productive output. Being positive, helpful, cooperative and friendly are important.
• Confident - This quality is something that portrays that a student is capable of doing things and that he believes in his abilities.
• Responsible - Being responsible is the key attribute a student must possess. This shows that the student can be bestowed upon with any work and he will do it without any failure.