FMS to launch course in services management

The Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) is introducing a management programme designed specifically for those interested in joining the services industry.

The Masters of Business Administration in Management of Services (MBA-MS) programme will be a two-year, full-time course. In the first year of its administration, it will prepare professionals particularly for the financial, healthcare, information technology, public services and hospitality and transportation sectors.

The course will offer 44 seats, including four for foreign students. Classes for the course will be held at the Delhi University's south campus.

The selection process will involve a written test round, followed by an interview and a group discussion for candidates meeting all the eligibility requirements.

To differentiate it from regular management programmes, it will have additional courses that are not part of usual MBA programmes.

"Core courses in business schools do not particularly prepare students for the services sector, which has its own set of subtle requirements in terms of attitude, worldview and values. Manufacturing-based models of business practices are not always useful in the services industry. This course will fill a need that has long been felt by the industry," Jay K Mitra, programme director for the course, said.

He said students would be able to specialise both in the usual functional areas of marketing, finance, human resources and operations, besides programmes tailored for the services sector of their choice.

"We are offering a matrix of specialisation. A marketing person could also consider specialisation in marketing of, say, healthcare services. Thus graduating professionals will have better domain knowledge of the field they choose," Mitra said.

The design of the curriculum was examined by experts for an year before being first cleared by the Delhi University's Academic Council and Executive Council in September and then the University Court on December 22.

Although work experience is not a particularly important condition for eligibility, the institute says the programme is a good opportunity for practising executives.

The new course, to begin in July 2004, will coincide with the institution's fiftieth year of inception.

FMS, a brainchild of VKRV Rao, is entering its golden jubilee year, It was set up on November 26, 1954. The institute, which is funded by the University Grants Commission, takes in 90 regular students and maintains a part-time intake of 140 students.

Its annual corporate event 'Convention' was held this month. The theme this year was 'Essence of Leadership'.