We Align Our Curriculum With Industry Standards and Trends, says Dr. Rajesh C, Professor ABBS Bangalore

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Dr. Rajesh C., Professor, ABBS Bangalore talks about ABBS's teaching methodology, the emphasis on preparing students for the ever-evolving industry landscape, the qualities sought in student applicants, and their commitment to staying updated with industry requirements.

Dr. Rajesh C. is currently working as a Professor at ABBS Bangalore. He holds 8 years of teaching experience. His expertise lies in preparing Business Plans, Market Research, Demand and Supply Forecasts, Brand Promotion, and Sales Training.

Q1. What are the salient features of the teaching methodology adopted by your college? How does this differ from others?

Our college focuses on Active Learning where students are encouraged to participate actively in class through discussions, group projects, and hands-on activities. Along with this approach our college stresses in Technology Integration in terms of LMS, Analytics software, and Online Resources for effective learning. Experiential Learning and research-based practices are the real mantras here, our college encourages and offers opportunities for students to gain real-world experience through internships and industry-institute Interaction programs, and these are delivered through proper mentoring through our student-centered approach.  Our College invests in faculty development programs to keep professors updated on best practices in teaching and learning.

Q2. How are you preparing your students to be Industry-ready?

We align our curriculum with industry standards and trends. This ensures that students are learning the most relevant skills and knowledge needed in their chosen field. Along with this we support students with Internships, Guest Lectures from Industry Experts and Real-time Projects that help them to put theoretical knowledge to practical application.

Our college also provides with Career Services, Networking Opportunities, and Professional Development workshops on soft skills, communication, and leadership which help students become well-rounded professionals. Our Industry Partnerships are leading to opportunities for students to work on industry-sponsored projects, research, or internships. Our college incorporates industry-specific certifications into the curriculum, making students more marketable to employers.

Regular feedback on student performance and assessments is helping both the students and our college to identify areas where students may need additional development to meet industry standards.

Q3. What are the qualities you are looking for in student applicants? What qualities do they need to do well in your course?

 Qualities we look in student applicants:

• Academic Preparedness
• Motivation and Enthusiasm
• Diverse Perspectives
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Effective Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Time Management
• Adaptability

Qualities Students need to do well in our course:

• Attendance and class Participation
• Pre class Preparation
• Engagement with Course materials
• Critical Thinking
• Time Management
• Effective Study Habits
• Communication Skills
• Resourcefulness mostly with knowing how to find and use additional resources
• Resilience
• Feedback Incorporation

Q4. How do you ensure that your course curriculum is up to date and meets industry requirements?

Our college reviews the Curriculum regularly to incorporate the latest developments. Our college does this through Industry Partnerships, involving Industry experts as consultants and also through benchmarking with leading B school curriculum. Our college Ensures that the curriculum meets the accreditation standards and requirements set by relevant accrediting bodies such as NBA, NAAC and IACBE (USA), which often include industry relevance as a criterion. Our college has established advisory boards comprising of industry professionals who provide ongoing guidance on curriculum development and updates. Also, our College Departments Conduct market research and surveys to gather feedback from alumni, current students, and employers to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the curriculum. Through Choice Based Credit system our college offers elective courses that allow students to tailor their education to specific industry niches or emerging fields. In addition to above points, Continuous Assessments, Professional Development Courses, Agility in Curriculum Development, preparing students in line with Global Perspective, inducing Ethical and Social Responsibility and establishing Feedback Loop with key stakeholders, our college is able prepare students as per the industry requirements in the specified time period  

Q5. Is your college receptive to innovation, technology, science & entrepreneurship? How? Could you cite some examples of these?

Surely, our college has well well-established Entrepreneurship Cell called EDC, and also we are run IIC programs. For students coming from STEM background we have well established Research Centre and Incubation facility. Our EDC cell works towards Venture capital support, networking and design thinking for students who wish to take up Entrepreneurship.  Collaborative partnerships with industry leader and regular Hackathons and Competitions help students to foster an entrepreneurship mindset.