New curriculum, better placements at IIMs

By Ruchi Shrimali

Taking lessons from the global economic meltdown in 2008 and the recent Euro crisis, premier B-schools like Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have understood that Indian companies have proven their mettle against international recruiters. The steady growth of the domestic markets has prompted IIMs to gradually phase out their overdependence on multinational companies. Thus, Indian companies are now able to get better slots and an opportunity to hire best candidates from the top business schools of India.

Most IIMs and other premier management institutes like XLRI Jamshedpur expanded the range of sectors they invited for campus recruitments this year to include new and emerging industries like technology and e-commerce. They are also planning to tailor their courses to the demands of the industry.

Investment banking, which used to extend most offers to IIM students until now, seems to have taken a beating in campus placements this year. As a result, finance that used to be the first choice for management students earlier seems to be slipping down the list of preference for students too. On the other hand, more and more students are opting for courses like Logistics, Operation Management, and Supply Chain Management.

IIM Indore is still struggling to place its oversized batch of Post Graduate Programme (PGP) this year. With nearly 70 students, its batch size is highest among all IIMs. Overall, IIM-I is trying to get 450 students placed. About 380 students have already been hired, with a few receiving international placements. The average salary package is expected to be around Rs 13 lakhs. Some students from IIM Indore have opted out of the placement process to become entrepreneurs. IIM Indore had also invited sunrise sectors like e-commerce and education for campus recruitments.

The Indian Institute of Management, Shillong (IIM-S) pioneered a new approach when it decided to launch Executive Post Graduate Programme (PGP-Ex) in International Business with special focus on China this year. 2012 is being celebrated as the India-China friendship and the programme prepares candidates for senior management positions at global level. The one-year programme also includes six month stay and internship in China. Read more about offbeat courses at IIMs

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