Reimagining Business School Education In A Post Pandemic World
The Covid pandemic has resulted in a paradigm shift in the way businesses operate. Covid induced upheavals have forced firms to reinvent their business models overnight. Altered ‘job requirements’ and changes in ‘required skillsets’ needed by budding managers are significant consequences of this massive transformation, necessitating radical reviews of B-school course curriculums. Domain-specific knowledge and infusion of technology into course curriculums are two significant byproducts of this shift in business priorities. The PGDM programmes at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad have evolved to imbibe these contemporary trends. The revamped programme architectures of two of its niche postgraduate programmes, namely the PGDM — Banking and Financial Services (BFS) and the PGDM — Dual Country Programme (DCP) highlight this positive transition.
IMT Ghaziabad, in collaboration with Vlerick Business School (VBS), Belgium, launched the PGDM BFS Programme in 2019. The programme was designed to prepare industry-ready professionals for management roles in the banking and financial services (BFS) industry. The programme design aimed to strike a fine balance between content depth and variety, delivered through a mix of classroom and experiential education with a focus on both theoretical rigour and managerial applications.
DIVERSE PROGRAMMES: The programme curriculum covers a diverse range of areas including general management, finance, banking institutional and regulatory issues and data analysis, with flexibility built into the programme so that candidates can build course portfolios better aligned with career interests. The programme architecture differentiates the programme from the traditional postgraduate courses being offered in the sub-continent with course content and pedagogy benchmarked against the top financial management postgraduate programmes in the world.
In addition to the course content, the programme stands out for the international exposure it provides to the participants through its faculty (over 40 per cent of the courses are taught by international faculty from abroad) and the boot camp held in Europe. The job placements for the first batch and the enthusiastic recruiter feedback are indicative of the success of the programme so far.
Despite the Covid induced exigencies, the PGDM BFS Programme has been successful in leveraging the post-pandemic scenario to its advantage. The inclusion of technology-centric courses and incorporation of online modes of collaboration into the course design are examples of the positive changes to the programme architecture and delivery. The increasing prominence of domain-specific knowledge and requirement for niche skillsets are likely to bring such specialised degrees to the forefront soon. The contemporary design of the PGDM BFS Programme makes it an attractive option for aspirants interested in the banking and financial services sector.
GLOBAL CAREERS: The PGDM Dual Country Programme offered by IMT Ghaziabad is another contemporary course and is intended to mould MBA aspirants for global careers. Participants spend a year each at the IMT campuses in Ghaziabad and Dubai. The foundational core courses of the programme are delivered at IMT Ghaziabad and the super specialisation elective courses are offered at IMT Dubai. The multi-country, multi-cultural exposure, central to the programme, prepares the students towards international careers, equipping them with the technical and interpersonal skills necessary to excel in a global setting.
The revamped programme architecture for the AY 21-23 batch now offers three super specialisation tracks which the students can opt from -- Advanced Quantitative Finance, International Trade and Logistics, and International Business and Marketing. The students of the super specialisation tracks are also exposed to courses in International Business and Law in addition to the core subjects and electives in their respective domains. In addition to the classroom-based coursework, students have the option of undertaking international internships and short-term projects, providing them with the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of students and professionals.
THE DUBAI SETTING: The yearlong exposure to the business and cultural environment in Dubai provides an ideal setting for the students to prepare themselves for global careers. The revamped programme architecture, through its super specialised tracks and contemporary courses, differentiates the programmes from traditional postgraduate programmes offered at peer institutions and is a unique offering for business school aspirants.
In line with the IMT tradition of timely adaptation to contemporary trends, the course content has been designed to offer significant coverage for technology-driven management courses and business laws, in tune with the need of the hour.
While the world has grappled with the Covid pandemic induced disruptions and threats, IMT Ghaziabad has been successful in turning these threats into opportunities, by redesigning courses and programme architectures to incorporate industry needs for creating industry-ready professionals who can excel in the post-pandemic world.
