We Focus on Student-Centric Teaching-Learning Process, says Director and Professor of Marketing, Chandigarh University

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Prof. (Dr) Nilesh Arora, Director and Professor of Marketing, at Chandigarh University talks about research initiatives that are currently underway within the MBA program. Chandigarh University's MBA program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful business professionals.

Prof. (Dr) Nilesh Arora is currently working as a Director and Professor of Marketing at Chandigarh University. Dr Nilesh Arora is a PhD (Management), NET (Management) and SLET (Management) qualified professional with 21 Years of rich experience in corporate and academic sectors with 12 years in academic leadership roles. 

Q1. What motivated you to pursue a career in business education, and how did you end up in your current role as Director of the MBA program at Chandigarh University?

A: Business is at the heart of every professional entity, striving for customer acquisition, engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty, along with meeting bottom lines, regardless of the industry or sector. Business, as a domain, is dynamic, challenging, and interesting, as it deals not only with numbers in terms of capital, sales, or profits but also with human beings as individuals and as groups. Understanding human psychology to respond to business questions has always fascinated me as a learner, and I think this is an important domain to understand. Any country that has its human capital equipped with strong business acumen stands for a strong and sustainable social and economic future.

To understand business at the grassroots level, after completing my MBA, I started my career in corporate, worked for 6 years in the industry, and then moved to academia. I have been in business education and administration for the last 15 years.

Q2. How does the MBA program at Chandigarh University prepare students for success in the business world, and what sets the program apart from others in India?

• NBA & NIRF Ranked: The MBA program of the University School of Business Chandigarh University is accredited by the National Board of Accreditation and is ranked 40^th in the NIRF ranking 2022.
• Competency-Directed NEP Aligned Curriculum: The competency-directed curriculum puts the latest inputs from the industry and best leading B- Schools worldwide.
• Student-Centric Teaching-Learning Process: The attribute that makes learning business management exclusive at USB is its specialized teaching-learning approach coupled with research outcomes, industry focus and entrepreneurial zeal backed by world-class facilities.
• Dual Specializations: The MBA program offers dual specialization. The budding managers can opt for any two specializations out of the five (Marketing, HR, Finance, Entrepreneurship, and International Business).
• Experiential Learning: There are various highlights facilitating an experiential Teaching learning process. With main key highlights like; live projects, regular industrial visits, robust industry interface with frequent interactive sessions with Corporate Gurus and academic experts, Management Games and Role plays, Professional Grooming & Skill enhancement Activities, in addition to critical evaluation and monitoring of Teaching Quality through External Audits.
• Industry Connect: In addition, there is a blend of world-class scholars, corporate experts, and academicians well-acquainted with a corporate culture that connects with students on a regular basis.
• Placements: Placement at Chandigarh University has left no stone unturned with 100% placements with leading blue-chip companies like Delloitte, Asian Paints, Federal Bank, Vodafone, Godrej, Aditya Birla, Mahindra Finance, and many more.

Q3. Can you discuss any recent developments or changes within the MBA program at Chandigarh University that you are particularly excited about, and how these changes will benefit students?

University School of Business (USB), Best MBA College in Punjab, India, offers a two year full time Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program. This is a dual specialization program. University School of Business (USB) is amongst the leading B-Schools of India, which has earned recognition for its exceptional composition of teaching and experiential learning. Some of the notable Initiatives undertaken by the department

• Case-Based Teaching and Experiential Learning (Emerald Emerging Case Studies Subscription)
• Case-Based Teaching Pedagogy is adopted. With case-based teaching, students develop skills in analytical thinking and reflective judgment by reading and discussing complex, real-life scenarios.
• Social Initiatives-The University School of Business has always been at the forefront in adopting development initiatives intended at the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society. Samar Pit Souls - is the most notable initiative in this regard. In addition, MBA candidates participate in the National Service Scheme (NSS).
• Corporate Field/Industry Visits- Each quarter, students shall travel to a notable business site that provides exposure to prolific business opportunities. This allows students to learn about companies that have changed the course of India’s economy and how she does business at the places where these businesses got their start.
• Value added courses – The University School of Business leaves no stones unturned in empowering all its students to be employable. To attain this vision, RLIMS employs various strategies. One of them is offering Value-Added Courses especially in Python. It provides students an understanding of the expectations of industry and bridges the skill gaps and make students industry ready. In addition to acquiring subject knowledge, these Value-Added Courses enable students to keep themselves up to date about industry requirements. The training for this is given by industries.
• Certificate Course in collaboration with Bajaj FinServ- University School of Business, Chandigarh University is proud to be a part of the initiative CPBFI Certificate Program in Banking, Finance and Insurance (led by Bajaj FinServ).
• Phenomenal Learning through Co-curricular and Extra-curricular Activities: USB provide great experiential learning to the students through strong industry expert interaction framework, workshops, seminars, hackathon, TEDx talks, International Guest faculty, Management Conclaves, Alumni reconnect programs and wide range of outreach and extracurricular and social activities

Q4. How does Chandigarh University ensure that its MBA curriculum is up to date with the latest industry trends and business practices, and what role do industry partnerships play in this process?

• NEP 2020 Compliance: Chandigarh University is committed to providing its MBA students with an up-to-date curriculum that reflects the latest industry trends and business practices. To ensure this, the university regularly reviews its MBA curriculum and makes necessary changes to keep it in line with the current market dynamics. The curriculum of MBA program is competency directed and NEP 2020 compliant.
• Specialized Industry Expert Inputs for Curriculum Development: The University also works closely with industry experts to gain insights into the changing business environment and incorporate them into their curriculum. CU has a dedicated team which initiates and maintains regular interactions with the industry experts (Corporate Advisory Board). The inputs of Industry experts in Board of Studies meeting is solicited to enrich the MBA Curriculum through inclusion of latest industry relevant topics.
• Involvement of Stakeholders for Continuous Curriculum Enrichment: Although curriculum development is the ongoing process, in which discussion on the present curriculum often takes place with the members of the corporate advisory board, industry experts, faculty, alumni and academic experts in a progressive manner. The feedback received from them is analyzed and revision takes place accordingly.

Q5. Can you discuss any research initiatives that are currently underway within the MBA program at Chandigarh University, and how these initiatives benefit both students and the wider business community?

• WhizQuest (Student Research Club): USB has a research club to foster research culture named among It is a continuous Research Mentoring Program in which they are trained on the aspect of reading, understanding, and writing an effective research paper, case studies and book chapters. The initiative intends to attain following objectives:
• To facilitate research training and development-related activities for students in the University School of Business.
• To facilitate training to the research scholars of USB for effective research paper writing and publishing in quality journals.
• Focus on Data Analytics: The initiative will enable the students to understand the skill of business analytics in complex problem solving.  Furthermore, this will drive the competitive spirit among students in the outside world.
• Achievements: Two students of MBA second year won the Best Paper award for a research manuscript at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon.

Q6. How does the MBA program at Chandigarh University integrate practical experience, such as internships or consulting projects, into its curriculum, and what impact has this had on student learning outcomes?

• Industry Collaborated Value Added Programs: The University School of Business at Chandigarh University delivers professional programs in collaboration with leading corporations and professional associations (such as Bajaj Finserv, Wadhwani Foundation etc) . We stay in touch with industry through these alliances, ensuring that our courses are relevant, practical, and deliver the skills that are in demand, allowing our graduates to hit the ground running.
• Internships & Live Projects: Students are given the opportunity to pursue internships in the industry and capstone projects to gain real-world practical experience. The program places a strong emphasis on placing students in rewarding, real-world company assignments that extend the learning experience beyond what is available at the university. Our MBA program provides opportunities for practical, hands-on experience, internships, and community service projects.
• Capstone Projects:  MBA programs conclude with an MBA capstone project in the fourth semester. MBA students apply everything they've learned by analyzing a meaningful and strategic business question. MBA programs offer structured options for selecting a capstone topic from the project basket- Academic research writing, case writing project, industry immersion project, social outreach internship project, rural immersion project and entrepreneurship project. Completion of these projects has a logical outcome of publishing a research paper or a case study, fieldwork reports etc.

Q7. How does the MBA program at Chandigarh University support students' professional development, including opportunities for networking, mentorship, and post-graduation job placement?

Chandigarh University's MBA program is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become successful business professionals. The program offers a range of opportunities for students to develop their professional skills and network with industry professionals.

• Networking Opportunities: Chandigarh University provides students with numerous networking opportunities, including industry visits, guest lectures, and industry interactions. These events give students the chance to meet and network with industry professionals and gain insights into the latest industry trends and practices.
• Mentorship: The university also offers mentorship programs, where students are paired with experienced business professionals, alumni and faculty members who provide guidance and advice on career-related matters. These mentors can help students develop their skills, expand their knowledge, and provide valuable insights into the industry.
• Post-graduation job placement: Chandigarh University has a dedicated placement Corporate Resource Centre (CRC) that works with students to help them find suitable employment opportunities after graduation. The department provides students with career counseling, job search assistance, and interview preparation support.
• Career Planning and Development Assistance: Moreover, the Department of Career Planning and Development works extensively to make the students corporate ready. The placement team also maintains relationships with top companies in various industries to help connect students with potential employers.

Q8. Can you discuss any notable collaborations or partnerships that the MBA program at Chandigarh University has established with other universities or organizations, and how these collaborations benefit students and faculty members?

The MBA Program at Chandigarh University has established collaborations/ partnerships with various reputed international Universities such as (to name a few):

• Lakehead University of Ontario, Canada;
• Daffodil International University of Bangladesh;
• Sapienza University of Italy,
• Synergy University of Russia,
• Abu Dhabi University of UAE,
• National Central University of Taiwan,
• Zayed University of UAE,
• Paranuchal University of Nepal,
• University of North Alabama.

The prominent activities that are undertaken between these Universities are International Faculty Exchange Programs (IFEP) and International Faculty Development Programs (IFDP), where faculties get an opportunity to join partner Universities for webinars, expert talks, workshops, Joint Research Collaborations, conducting international Conferences etc.

• International Connect & Partnerships: Students of MBA program also benefited through several opportunities such as International Transfer Programs (ITP), 1+1MBA Programs, Semester Exchange Programs, and Internship Programs. Students also get an opportunity to attend experts sessions through faculties of partner Universities to get great exposure through their learning methods.

Q9. What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the business world today, and how does the MBA program at Chandigarh University work to address these issues within its curriculum?

Some of the most pressing issues facing the business world and its linkage with MBA   Curriculum is described below:

• Value-Based Leadership: MBA curriculum has courses like Management Lessons from Ancient India, Entrepreneurship, Values and Ethics that categorically deals with learning to exhibit Value-Based Leadership.
• Fragile Supply Chains: An agile supply chain does not only require students to know about Supply Chains but understand the world order and geopolitics. Our Supply Chain and Logistics course, in addition to the supply chain and logistics aspects, train students on why, how and to what extent nations are connected to make students learn the underlying causes that may disrupt supply chains.
• Risk Management- Managing risk requires a multifaceted approach and know-how of multiple domains. Our MBA program with distinct courses like Project Management, Financial Management, Project Finance and Financial Modeling equip students on looking at risks from multiple angles to manage risk and mitigate the causes of business risk.
• Management of Change- The world is changing drastically, so as the business. What has disrupted existing businesses more than anything else is technology. Few organizations could leverage technological change for good but there are companies that could not and suffered. Management of change in is one of the most sought-after skills. We have a course named Organizational Change and Development that makes students learn as to how to not let change disrupt the organization in any way and rather adapting to change on time.
• Lack of 21^st Century Skills in Fresh Graduates- One skill that every management graduate must have is to analyze data to draw meaningful inferences and take informed decisions. Our MBA curriculum with courses like Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, HR Analytics, Business Research Methods equip students with multi domain data analytics to stay ahead of the crowd.

Q10. What qualities do you believe are most important for success in the business world, and how does the MBA program at Chandigarh University work to cultivate these qualities in its students?

At USB-MBA following major focus areas are considered line with requirements of business     worlds:

• Tenacity- Subjects like Management Practices and Organizational Behaviour; Value and Ethics; Strategy, Business and Globalization; Management Lessons from Ancient India are taught to students to make them self determined, facing conflicts, adapt to change and making strategic business decisions. Along with the theoretical knowledge students are being given complex business problems to solve.
• Customer-centric approach- Subjects like Marketing Management, Marketing Analytics; Advertising and Brand Management; Digital Marketing etc. are being taught to students along with hands-on practical experience in the form of live projects, assignments, and role plays.
• Strong vision- Theoretical concepts of subjects like Principles of Management; Management Practices and Organizational Behavior; Management Lessons from Ancient India help the students understand the importance of vision and mission of a business to reach the long term goals.
• Leadership Skills- Leadership skills are being taught to students to learn how to lead themselves and others in the achievement of organizational goals thus contributing effectively to team environment. This is achieved through a focus on experiential learning approach through Case Discussions, Projects, and Practical Assignments.
• Effective communication skills- Apart from the technical courses, the program offers a range of courses that provides the students a broad range of knowledge and skill set like life skills and mentoring, soft skills, Aptitude, and Communication skills through the Department of Career Planning and Development.

• Analytical Skills- Students learn business research methodology, receive faculty mentoring, and gain practitioner input to develop projects that result in publishable research papers or case studies leading to the development of Analytical and Critical Thinking skills.