Editor's Letter: Learning Right

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Nelson Mandela’s words resonate the importance of education and the role it plays in toppling status quo to facilitate mobility towards a better future. Ironically, one of the world’s most democratically educated countries stepped on its own toes on 8 November — that is what I think and I respect the views of others. Since I consider the development a disaster, I must also point out how the right kind of education matters. The right kind of education nurtures, not just ideas, but the right ideas — which when implemented, do not hurt others.

This issue of BW Businessworld is dedicated to education and more specifically, education in business schools. We have tried to examine the subject on different parameters and to do so, we joined hands with the reputed research organisation, C Fore, which helped us zero in on the top B-schools in India. Rankings matter. Because they guide us and inform us, not just about a group, but the order in the group. Hence, the B-schools have been ranked on different parameters, using research tools for different areas of importance. We hope B-schools ranked higher refine their parameters further and those ranked lower are motivated to do better in 2017 BW rankings.

This issue is not just another edition of our magazine. It is effectively an encyclopaedia on B-schools and B-school education in India. The issue in your hand carries views and opinions of B-school veterans and experts, highlighting different aspects of management studies — the disruption in their curricula and the future of management education in India. Each column is a mini research paper. Media and business strategist Mayur Amarkant scours through B-school campuses for our lead report on how corporates and B-schools are coping with disruption in technology and business management.

BW’s in-house team of writers report in-depth on the quality and future of management studies in India. Senior associate editor C.H. Unnikrishnan scrutinises courses on healthcare management, while associate editor Ayushman Baruah mulls on how edutech companies are linking up with B-schools. Special correspondent Monica Behura brings down the flashlights on executive education in India. Senior editor Ashish Sinha compiles an extensively researched report on the severe shortage of faculty at B-schools. Deputy editor Suman K. Jha brings to you two exclusive interviews, one with Union Minister of State for Skill Development Rajiv Pratap Rudy, whose focus on skill development could at last, make education relevant in the job market, and the other with AICTE chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe. Sahasrabudhe divulges a new startup policy for technical institutions and B-schools, and says that he will withdraw a 2010 order which had caused a lot of discontent among PGDM institutions.

It is worth noting that B-school education in India is going through a sea change and that the schools are competing fiercely to stay ahead of peers. The churning comes just when management studies as a discipline is also gaining importance. As we said at the start, in the end, though, only correct education and the right grooming matters.

anurag.batra@businessworld.in