We offer 4.5-month long Industry Internship programme under the guidance of faculty and industry mentors, says Director

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Director ABBS, Dr Madhumita Chatterji talks at length about the various factors that help the institute differentiate from other management schools across the country. These factors include value-added certifications, centres of excellence, latest and industry-relevant learning tools, mandatory internship programme and campus to industry connect programme among others that help stdents become industry ready.

Dr Chatterji has over 25 years of academic experience serving as the Director of ABBS School of Management. She has played a significant role in evolving strategies for academic advancement

Read the complete interview below.

Q: What are the three things that your institute is doing that will enable it to differentiate itself from competition?

A: We offer value-added certifications in Six Sigma Green Belt, Scrum and Agile, BlockChain, and in courses from the Bombay Stock Exchange. Academic Institutions cannot offer Green Belt. However, we can because of our association with CRIMM and IIMM. Our Centres of Excellence are: Supply Chain Research, BlockChain and the Mahatma Gandhi International research Centre for Conflict Prevention and Management

Our curriculum is an avant-garde of the latest and industry-relevant learning tools. All our specialisations- Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing, HR and Operations offer the latest electives like AI, Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, BlockChain, Python, Sentiment Analytics, Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Financial Analytics, HR Analytics, Supply Chain Analytics, Scrum and Agile, Six Sigma Green belt, etc.

Our unique courses include- 4.5 month long Industry Internship Programme, Campus to Community Project, Capstone project and ‘Theatre in Management’ Programme. We offer International Immersion of an entire term with credit transfer opportunities and facilitate Dual degree opening with International partner Institutions which are well-recognised Institutions like with Rennes Business School in France which is Triple Crowned Business School, accredited by AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA and also is in the QS global ranking.

Q: What are the top three initiatives undertaken by you that are helping your students become more industry ready?

A: We offer 4.5-month long Industry Internship Programme under the guidance of faculty and industry mentors.

• We offer more than 60 industry relevant electives designed by Industry experts who are members of our Board of Studies for students to choose from
• Students receive Personality Enhancement guidance and Placement training from both national and international experts. These include Communication Skills, Aptitude Test training, CV writing workshop, Mock interviews, Grooming sessions and more.

Q: What are the key attributes that a student should have in order to qualify for your institution and perform well?

A: We not only measure the IQ of a student but also observe the following:

• She/he should have a Positive attitude and personality traits like diligence, humility, kindness and courtesy
• Should be a Willing Learner who is happy to walk the extra mile with the faculty to enhance his/her knowledge
• Most indispensable attribute we look for is her/his value orientation like honesty. Integrity and Responsibility towards their relationships and work.
• Besides the above, the student should meet the regular requirements of marks in Graduation, National Level test scores, Aptitude test, GD/PI.

It is not difficult to get good grades if the student is Inspired, diligent, punctual, responsible, Participative and self-reliant

Q: Which programme/s would you say is/are your best? What is it that helps your institution differentiate itself for this programme?

A: We run the PGDM Programme which is autonomously approved by AICTE and the Ministry of Education. The autonomous status provides us with the flexibility to enhance/upgrade our curriculum every year under the guidance of renowned industry experts and academicians. Therefore all our Specializations offer the latest, industry-relevant and market-driven courses.

1. Our Business Analytics and Operations besides the Marketing, Finance and HRM have highly sought after
2. We have introduced value-added certificates like: Six Sigma Green Belt, Block Chain, Scrum and Agile, Data Sciences and AI, Bombay Stock Exchange certifications.
3. We have engaged talented Faculty who hold patents and are certified internationally. They also engage with premier institutions like IITs and IIMs.
4. The mandatory research course help all the students to hone the skills of being more creative and develop an analytical mindset.
5. Our unique Capstone Project, Campus to Community Project, 4.5 month Long Industry Internship Programme and International Immersion with credit transfer differentiate us from other Institutions.
6. We offer value for money and the ROI is very high compared to many of our peer Institutions.

Q:  What are you doing to improve/drive better campus placements for your current students and alumni? What kind of jobs routinely come to campus? What would you say are the key recruitment trends for your college (observed over the past five years)?

A: Our 4.5 month long Industry internship has helped to groom students and provide a hands-on experience that help them become more employable. Since our students go for their internship in the last term of their two years they do not have to come back for any academic work and are able to join the company immediately post completion of the internship. Our internships are all paid internships therefore the company mentors ensure that students participate fully and deliver. The students put in their sincere effort as Industry Internship carries 9 credits of the total credits in PGDM.

• The students are monitored by both the faculty mentor and the industry mentor which helps us to monitor the internship and ensure that the students are provided the best learning.
• This programme has been highly praised by the industry.
• We engage with the students from day one of their becoming part of the ABBS-SM family through various programmes and workshops designed to enhance their soft and hard skills that are required in their personal and professional life.
• We are associated with international and national trainers who work with our students throughout their first and second years to make them corporate ready or embark upon their entrepreneurial ventures.
• Students participate in various NHRD programmes where they meet various HR practitioners from different companies and thus build good relationships.
• Till date we have achieved 100% placement. We have companies from various sectors like Banking & Insurance, Consultancy especially PWC, Manufacturing, Ed tech companies and IT/ITES sector.
• Generally we have large number of students who receive finance and marketing jobs. Now many students are receiving offers in the Analytics domain. Our HR students usually are offered by banks, companies and HR consultancy firms.
• The innovative course, “Theatre in Management” has helped our students to become more confident, better communicator and a great leader and team player.
• We have now started placing students internationally as well with packages ranging between 29 lakhs to 23 lakh.