Management graduates face a skill gap after they finish their courses in B-schools, according to a study ‘Curricula 4.0 – Creating Future Mangers’.
The survey focussed on identifying the relevance of the required skills mentioned in World Economic Forum’s ‘Future of Jobs Report 2018’. The survey also compared the gaps in the Indian industry as identified in the book Rethinking the MBA: Business Education at a Crossroads by Harvard Business School professor Srikant Datar.
Joint effort
The findings were based on a joint exercise carried out by the National HRD Network and IFIM Business School, Bengaluru, to frame a model curriculum for B-Schools.
Atish Chattopadhyay, Director, IFIM Business School, said, “This is the first time that a business school in India has taken the initiative to reach out to executives to find out the skills needed for Industry 4.0 and to bridge the gap between industry and academia.”
Data integration
Chattopadhyay, sharing the findings of the study, said there was a need to address multi-generation workforce. There is also a need for continuous learning and this involves reskilling of practitioners at various levels. Curriculum needs to be individualised, based on learning styles, pace and career stage.
Integration of data, technology and communication in business. Research as part of curriculum. Wellness and fitness emerges as critical components of managing self is crucial which is often neglected and syllabus should be become solution oriented.
Sample size
The study was based on the survey of about around 300 senior managers across 13 industries such as IT, consulting, education and manufacturing, who shared their opinions on what according to them should be the right skill set for future leaders.
This was followed by a series of roundtable discussions, across the country, comprising heterogeneity of CXOs and the academia to further understand the unmet needs.
About 89 per cent of the CXOs believed research and business incubation can provide great learning to students.