Director Ramachandran shares insights on KJSIM Placement Training, Mock Interviews & more

Dr. Raman Ramachandran, the Dean and Director of K J Somaiya Institute of Management talks about the evolving admission process, placements, other important details supporting management aspirants. 

Dr. Raman Ramachandran, Director, K J Somaiya Institute of Management

In this exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, Dr. Ramachandran discusses the evolving admission process, placement assistance, leadership training, and KJSIM’s commitment to preparing students for the challenges of the future.

Dr. Raman Ramachandran, the Dean and Director of K J Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM), brings a wealth of experience to his role, having worked in the corporate world with giants like BASF and PI Industries. His extensive background in industry provides him with a unique perspective on management education, emphasizing the importance of both core management principles and the development of essential soft skills. Check out some of the important excerpts from the interview below:

Q: Dr. Ramachandran, with your extensive experience in the corporate world, particularly with BASF and PI Industries, how has this shaped your approach to management education at K J Somaiya Institute of Management?

Dr. Ramachandran: My extensive experience in the corporate world has taught me that while technologies may disrupt industries and accelerate change, the core principles of management studies remain steadfast. At KJSIM, our goal is to ensure students deeply understand these fundamentals. Equally important is recognizing the role of both hard and soft skills in shaping future business leaders.

That’s why our program places a strong emphasis on developing these essential skills. Initiatives like Parivartan, which enable a transformation journey for our students, embody this commitment. The initiative recognizes seven core competencies that organizations seek across sectors. Students undergo psychometric testing to understand their relative strengths and weaknesses. We believe it is best that students start their self-discovery process sooner, as it helps them re-orient their careers accordingly. The other part of Parivartan is the student progression index where students measure their performance beyond their CGPA.

Q: Can you walk us through the changes in the admission process at K J Somaiya Institute of Management for the upcoming academic year? How has the process evolved to meet the current needs of aspiring management professionals?

Dr. Ramachandran: We remain committed to raising the cut-offs, as it is an important benchmark. However, our vision goes beyond numbers. We aim to identify aspirants with a fire in their belly, a passion to succeed and a clear sense of purpose. This is where initiatives like Parivartan come into play. We are trying to understand the level of these seven competencies, even at the entry-level, as they will help shape well-rounded leaders.

For B-schools, I believe building a diverse cohort is invaluable. A balanced mix of students from engineering, commerce, law, liberal arts and other streams fosters not only greater acceptance of diversity but also a higher propensity to collaborate. This approach encourages mutual respect for varied skill sets, ultimately preparing students for successful and well-rounded careers.  

Q: Placements are a major concern for most students entering management schools. What kind of placement assistance does K J Somaiya Institute of Management provide, and how do you ensure students are well-prepared for the job market?

Dr. Ramachandran: Our placement process is structured and efficient. Though we follow the regular process of reaching out to recruiters, we emphasize a lot on shaping day-one-ready graduates.

To prepare students for placement season, we have a Placement Readiness initiative. Empaneled vendors come in and offer placement training tailored to specific companies and the roles they offer. Students participate in group discussions, mock interviews, and case study competitions to hone their skills. Mentoring program, readiness sessions and counselling by faculty and alumni further align students with hiring trends. KJSIM has a more data-driven and science-backed approach to ensure that students are well-prepared and confident to meet their recruiters.

Q: With the increasing demand for skills in artificial intelligence and data analytics, how is K J Somaiya Institute of Management incorporating AI and related technologies into its curriculum? Can you give us some insights into new courses or programs being introduced?

Dr. Ramachandran: Technologies like GenAI offer immense potential to enhance learning and teaching when used effectively. At KJSIM, our faculty has undergone extensive training on leveraging GenAI to enhance both learning efficiency and teaching effectiveness while also meeting diverse learning needs. We are also developing courses to help students seamlessly integrate this technology into various disciplines.

Our Data Science and Business Analytics departments are at the forefront of these efforts, hosting multiple faculty development programs and masterclasses by industry experts and alumni on topics like GenAI and machine learning.

Beyond AI, our partnership with Bloomberg Lab provides students with real-time exposure to equity markets, aiding informed decision-making. Business simulation and media analytics labs focus on tackling supply-chain risks and opportunities and real-time media trends, offering experiential learning that mirrors real-world scenarios. By integrating gamification, we further enhance engagement and deepen understanding, ensuring students are well-prepared for dynamic business environments.

Q: There has been significant emphasis on AI and digital transformation across industries. How do you see AI playing a role in shaping the future of management education, and how are you integrating these changes into the curriculum at K J Somaiya Institute of Management?

Dr. Ramachandran: Management education has evolved from initial suspicion and skepticism about GenAI to embracing its potential in teaching and research impact. At KJSIM, we are exploring ways to leverage AI for various purposes – from designing innovative curricula and employing diverse pedagogical tools to enhancing teaching effectiveness.

We also focus on using AI to cater to the different learning needs of students, ensuring a personalized and impactful educational experience. Additionally, we guide students on how generative AI can be applied across different job roles, helping them deliver more efficient and impactful outcomes in their professional journeys.

Q: K J Somaiya Institute of Management is known for its strong academic framework. Are there any new collaborations or partnerships on the horizon that will further enhance the learning experience for students, particularly in the area of international exposure or industry partnerships?

Dr. Ramachandran: We have several strategic partnerships designed to enhance our students’ learning experiences. Collaborations with institutions like the Project Management Institute, CMT, FPSB India, ACCA, CFA Institute and others help us align our courses with their certifications, reducing the number of exams students need to take. These partnerships also offer subsidized fees for select programs to our students. We actively encourage students to pursue such industry-led certifications to boost their professional readiness.

There are other collaborations with industry to provide students with valuable internships and capstone projects. Students undertake capstone projects with MSME and Social development sectors, focusing on real-time managerial problems to find solutions that create value and are sustainable in nature.

With over 130 students enrolled already and more in the process of onboarding Capstone projects, we aim to provide valuable learning experiences that ensure our students are well-prepared for dynamic business environments.

There are two unique projects I would like to highlight:
Ankur ELI - a KJSIM project, aims at creating empathy and a robust learning environment & fostering holistic development for management students. The project involves teaching children from vernacular schools’ English communication skills and Mathematics.
Flash Consulting - In global collaboration with an University from the US and a clean-tech company, this project employs a flash-consulting approach with multinational teams to help an Indian business expand across international borders.

Q: Scholarships and financial assistance are often crucial for many students. Can you tell us more about the scholarship programs available at K J Somaiya Institute of Management and how students can benefit from them?

Dr. Ramachandran: We are proud to offer merit scholarships to support outstanding students, including full waivers for our top performers. In addition to this, we awarded financial aid to 131 needy students amounting to INR 3.5 crores.

Additionally, our students benefit from state-level and industry scholarships, such as those from the FPSB India, CFA Institute and CMT Association, further enabling students to pursue globally recognized certifications.

Q: With your background in leadership and coaching, how do you see the role of soft skills and leadership training evolving in management education, and what specific initiatives is K J Somaiya Institute of Management taking to nurture these qualities in its students?

Dr. Ramachandran: As graduates transition from individual roles to leadership positions, the importance of soft skills becomes paramount. Our approach focuses on helping students identify their strengths and areas for improvement.

Through initiatives like Parivartan, we enable students’ transformation journeys by cultivating core competencies such as collaboration, adherence to principles and values, effective communication, analytical thinking, learning and researching, meeting customer expectations and adapting to change. Initiatives like Careers & Conversations – an elite and exclusive platform to rendezvous with eminent speakers from different walks of life reminiscing about their personal and professional voyages – feature industry leaders sharing their success stories and offering students valuable insight. Student committees and clubs also play a crucial role in teaching collaboration, active listening, and influencing without authority.

Another aspect of SPI is Deep Reflective Learning, supported by resources like The Ken & The Economist, to deepen students’ understanding. There are mentoring sessions where faculties guide six to ten students, ensuring tailored growth and leadership readiness.

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