VAMNICOM gets NAB certification

After more than 50 years of existence, the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Co-operative Management (VAMNICOM) institute has managed to get the certification from National Board of Accreditation (NAB) for its post graduate diploma in management course.

The Pune-based agro-management institute provides for a two year Agri Business Management (PGDM-ABM) programme with a seating capacity of 120 students.

"NBA has offered two-year accreditation to VAMNICOM, which is indeed a unique credential for us. Also, this reflects our efforts towards achieving excellence in terms of academics, faculty research, intake quality of students, placements and consulting", said Sanjeeb Patjoshi, former director, VAMNICOM. Patjoshi has recently joined as joint secretary, Ministry of Panchayat Raj in New Delhi.

Getting the institute NAB certification has taken some efforts as the institute had not conducted a single convocation for the past seven years. Add to this VAMNICON, which is a grant-in-aid institution under the Agriculture ministry, government of India, did not have an alumni network which yet again impacted placements.

"Over the last three years we have been working to get VAMNICOM a wider audience. Earlier the students demography coming to the institute was from Maharashtra region, today the institute boosts of pan-India students participation. More importantly the number of girl student has gone up from zero to 12-13," added Patjoshi. At present the institute has over 2,500 listed alumni's.

The institute conducts three post graduate courses --- Post Graduate Diploma in Cooperative Business Management (PGDCBM), Post Graduate Diploma in Agri Management and Diploma in Management of Computer Operations.

The institute has a track record of having 100 per cent placements from the last three years and students get average salary package of Rs 5 lakh per annum. This year over 40 companies conducted recruitment drive at VAMNICOM, majority of them were private banks. The highest salary at VAMNICOM was package of Rs 9.5 lakh.

"Government of India's various schemes and initiatives in financial and agriculture sector has led the banks to recruit students from our institute. There is demand for our students from sectors like banking, agriculture, seeds industry and food processing, said Patjoshi. This year National Stock Exchange (NSE) too hired students from this campus.

Founded in 1964, the institute runs to access the training needs of the co-operative sector. The central government provides grants-in-aid to VAMNICOM of Rs 5 to 6 crore every year.