Here’s all you need to know about PGDM in Law offered by AIIM, Ahmedabad
Knowledge of Management and Law has over the years become interdependent as the business competition becomes cutthroat in the market. To cater to this growing demand for Law as a specialisation in Management course, Ahmedabad-based AIIM - Adani Institute of Infrastructure Management introduced PGDM Law programme. This programme equips students with knowledge about Business and Law together. In a conversation with Shiksha.com, AIIM experts give an in-depth insight into the programme structure, eligibility criteria, selection parameters, fee and placements.
Read the excerpt of the conversation below:
Q: What is the difference between PGDM and MBA programme?
A: The basic difference between PGDM and MBA programme is that while a PGDM is ‘Diploma’ awarded by institutions that are recognised by the Government of India through the Ministry of HRD or the AICTE, MBA is offered by the institutes which necessarily have to be affiliated to a university. The other difference lies in the fact that PGDM programme is more flexible and customised as compared to MBA.
Q: Management degree with a specialisation in Law is a one-of-its-kind programme. What is the idea behind introducing PGDM in Law? And, how is it different from regular management degree programmes?
A: The PGDM (Law) programme is a two-year, advanced, exclusive, AICTE-approved, full-time curriculum for fresh graduates or practitioners aspiring a career in 'legal and regulation' with expertise in infrastructure management.
The need for PGDM in Law
Law and businesses are closer to each other than ever before. But it is increasingly difficult, in situations often fraught with a complex legal environment, for corporate managers to make sound decisions in business.
On the other hand, it is difficult for lawyers who counsel corporate executives to align themselves with the needs and constraints of the business. This indicates that the captains of the industry need the insight of a businessman for development and an eye for detail as lawyers.
Difference between PGDM Law and other management degree programmes
In most of the institutes, PGDM or MBA are offered with specialisations catering to core areas of management such as Marketing, HR, Finance, Operations and sometimes Analytics for catering to the increasing demand of Business Analytics professionals in the industry.
PGDM (Law) is for students who aspire for leadership in business and know the value of legal expertise or are interested in a career in Law but seek a solid understanding of infrastructure business models and management functions from both domestic and global perspectives.
Q: What is the eligibility criteria for admission to the PGDM Law program at AIIM?
A: For admission to PGDM Law program at AIIM, the applicant must have:
- A minimum aggregate of 50 per cent (45 per cent for reserved candidates) in graduation in any discipline from a recognised university or equivalent CGPA in the qualifying exam
- As per the AICTE guidelines, the candidate should have a valid score of any nationally accepted management qualifying exam such as CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT and CLAT
- Candidates in the final year of graduation are also eligible to apply
Q: What is the admission process and selection parameters for admission to PGDM Law program at AIIM?
A: As a part of the admission process, all eligible applicants need to fill up the application form online on the institute’s official website by paying a nominal fee of Rs 1,500.
Basis of their detailed profile, students are called for a Personal Interview round.
The final selection will be based on the following criteria:
- Valid entrance test-score
- Personal Interview
- Academic performance
- Relevant work experience
- Extra-curricular activities
All the above parameters and prior work experience (if any) are taken into consideration for the final selection of the student.
Q: What is the total cost of the two-year PGDM Law programme? Do you offer any financial aid or loan assistance to students?
A: The total fee includes tuition fees for two years, cost of all study materials, basic programme books, library charges and internet charges. It does not include the expenses on Hostel Accommodation and Food.
The total cost of two-year PGDM Law programme is Rs 7.6 lakh that is to be paid in six equal installments of Rs 1.1 lakh and one installment of Rs 1 lakh which is to be paid at the time of acceptance of the admission offer.
As the programme is AICTE approved, students may avail of the education loan easily from any National Bank and NBFC. We have a dedicated team to help students throughout the process.
Though we do not offer any pre-programme scholarship to any candidate. But based on the performance of the candidate during the PGDM (Law) program, they may get the scholarship.
Q: How do you help students become industry-ready?
A: Industry-readiness is a skill that we believe is inculcated over time. We pave way for students to become industry-ready by bringing them opportunities such as exchange programmes. We have international academic collaboration with Purdue University, USA. This collaboration primarily focuses on the exchange of faculty and research scholars, the exchange of students, joint research and the exchange of materials in education and research. AIIM is also in the process of exploring collaborative engagement and partnership with the universities and institutions of global prominence.
Students are made to work on live projects under the guidance of industry professionals and it's also mandatory for every student to undergo a summer internship or apprenticeship programme to understand the working culture of the corporate world and also to understand what the industry expects from them.
Q: Can you talk about the placements at AIIM?
A: Though we have a track record of 100 per cent placements since the inception of the institute, still we do not provide placement guarantee to students. The industry-ready curriculum and AIIM’s extensive linkages with industry should help the graduating students in securing a good placement.
Talking of the most recent placements trends, we have witnessed active participation of over 50 national and global companies from various verticals such as infrastructure developers, EPC companies, consultancy companies, realty sector, transport & logistics, oil & gas and power companies, private equity and asset management.
Some prominent recruiters on campus are Adani Group of Companies, AFCONS, AECOM, Anarock, Reliance Industries, HOWE India, L & T Realty, Bureau Veritas, Maztek, KPMG, PwC, Protiviti, Mott MacDonald, CBRE, JLL, E&Y, GDCL, Urbanac, ITD Cementation, Simplex Infra, IL & FS, Nila Infra, Quattro Rail Tech, EMC Power, Thermax, TUV Nord, Prism RMC, HDFC Realty, Knight Frank LLP, JSW Infra and Bridge & Roof.
Shiksha writer