Management courses in Punjab find less takers

Most of the private and unaided management colleges in the Punjab region have this year found it tough to fill the seats, courtesy a general slump in the students’ enthusiasm about the courses.

Representatives of most of the management colleges Business Standard spoke to claimed to have got their seats filled for now, but said a recent mushrooming of colleges in the region, coupled with waning interest for the subject, was working against their functioning in general. In the last few years, the number of colleges under Punjab Technical University (PTU) that offer management courses has swelled considerably.

Officials in the region’s private colleges, speaking on condition of anonymity, blame lack of quality education in most if the institutes as a major deterrent for students joining management courses. Most of the students, after completing their master’s in business, find their alma mater faltering at the placement stage by giving them job in companies that require just the skills of graduate. This, they say, is impacting the decision for students to come forth for management courses.

 

The sources maintain that lesser number of students turning up for the courses has prompted many management colleges to offer huge discounts and attract students.

Sandeep Kaura, Executive Director, Rayat Bahra group, says that the problem with management colleges was the lack of curriculum are per the country’s requirements. Since most of the colleges in Punjab are affiliated to PTU, they offer courses as per prescribed by the university. This, when changing times warrant immediate need for reforms in the curriculum.

Rayat Bahra, which has a university in Himachal and also runs colleges in Punjab, claims that their courses have evoked good response from students since they designed are as per industry needs.

Dr P P Arya, managing director of the IT group of institutions that offer management courses along with other courses, says traditional courses are finding a renewed interest among the students. Availability of more opportunities in humanities and commerce stream could also be motivating factor for students willing to join humanities and other stream, compared to business courses.