Executives need to work more to join IIM Bangalore

To differentiate its one-year executive post graduate programme in management (EPGP) from its flagship two-year post graduate programme (PGP), the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B) has increased its minimum requirement of work experience from five to seven years. This has been taken into account while selecting its final class composition for the 2010-11 batch.

“Based on our experience of the first batch (2009-10), we found that soft courses do not go well with people who are too fresh. People with higher work experience are more receptive to the programme as they are able to identify better with experimental learning. They are also able to bring wider perspectives to the table,” said L Prasad, chairperson of EPGP at IIM-B.

The percentage of participants having an experience of 7-10 years has gone up from 43 per cent to 55 per cent for the second batch. Around 37 per cent have work experience of 10-15 years as compared to 41 per cent last year. Average age for the second batch is 34 years which is similar to last year’s average age group of 31-35 years. Average work experience for the second batch is 10.5 years. The EPGP programme will have a batch of 65 students.

In terms of functional experience, those from operations and project management form a major share of participants at 54 per cent, a jump from last year’s 38 per cent. General management, consulting, marketing and sales, finance, healthcare and R&D are other functional backgrounds of the batch. Similar to last year, participants from IT consulting and software services sector make up the majority with 43 per cent. Banks, finance, insurance, telecom and defence are some of the other sectors where participants have worked prior to joining the programme.

Participants from engineering education background total 86 per cent up from 80 per cent last year. Fee for the programme is Rs 16.75 lakh (single accommodation) plus international immersion approximately Rs 2,00,000. For married, accommodation fee is Rs 19.70 lakh. The batch consists of a naval commander with experience relating to shipbuilding and ship repairs, a squadron leader, co-founder of a software products start-up and an entrepreneur in the textile industry.

Apart from core and elective courses, the programme has a project and also a series of seminars on general subjects like history, philosophy and science. Prasad said that the institute was keen on bringing a diverse composition of participants and is looking at pushing the programme internationally through the alumni network. “We would like to contact alumni members and our sister universities in other countries and give a push for more international participation into our programme. In a couple of years, we might see participation from countries like Asia and Africa,” he added.