IIM Bangalore inaugurated batches of PGP and PGP in Business Analytics (BA) with a virtual orientation program. Prof Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIMB, while welcoming students, said, “The current time has seen a lot of previous assumptions on business, management and economy being questioned. This may prove to be an exciting time for students, who can embrace the changes and write new playbooks in business and management.”
Highlighting the silver lining in the current situation, the Director said that analysts expect a recovery in the economy by mid-2021. “Moreover, manufacturing growth is projected in India with new schemes, so you people students will enter come to the job market to take advantage of such changes and initiatives.”
Breakdown
Of the 488 students in PGP, 423 are from engineering background; there are 146 women and 342 men. The average work experience is about two years and the average age is 25 years. For PGP BA, out of the batch of 46, there are 86.96 per cent men and 13.04 per cent women; the average age is 23 years; the maximum number of students are from engineering background —53 per cent from the IITs, NITs and the rest from deemed universities. However, there are also students from other backgrounds, such as, computer science, physics, mathematics, economics, biotechnology, and so on. A total of 54 per cent of the batch have some work experience, while 45 per cent have no experience.
Prof U Dinesh Kumar, Chair, PGP BA, pointed out that, “There is a demand-supply gap in talent pool in data science, analytics and AI in organisations, and hence IIMB has introduced the PGP BA programme after almost 47 years. Do not worry about the current changes —just focus on learning. IIMB has all the systems in place and we will discuss your career prospects in detail in days to come. As and when you are able to come to the campus, you will enjoy that as well.”
Quick to adapt
Prof Padmini Srinivasan, Chair, MBA, addressing students from all across the country and two students from Korea, said, “You are here today due to your hard work, determination, perseverance and fighting spirit. You must realise that today learning has changed. In fact, life is not the same anymore. In the following days you will experience glitches and self-doubt, and life will seem like a swinging rope with no predictability. But we need to adapt to the new normal. So, take a pledge today to be kind to yourself and those around you, avoid digital fatigue and try to spend time away from the computer monitor, take care of yourselves and engage in physical activities, be in a positive frame of mind - remember you are more privileged than many others. Also, take part in activities and build strong ties and networks. Do not forget the importance of time management. I am sure at the end of the pandemic you will emerge stronger, more resilient and as better individuals.”
Speaking of IIMB adapting to changes quickly, Prof Abhoy K Ojha, Dean, Academic Programmes, said, “The school held a virtual convocation and invested in technology to provide online education, for both faculty and students. We have support staff to help the cause of digital education. Collective knowledge will help more without hurting education.”
Referring to change in management, he said, “For every big unanticipated change, we first go through denial, then resistance, followed by exploration, and the last phase is commitment to the new system. Rest assured, in the long run all glitches will be cleaned up and you will be settled.”