Post pandemic era require MBA graduates that adapt to dynamically changing market: IIMK Director

We are working on designing some exciting deliverables in the field of Sports Management; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; cross-cultural management and entrepreneurship, said Professor Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM Kozhikode,

Management education is going through a transformation phase in the post-pandemic era. The placement scenario is also improving thus bringing cheer among b-schools. To know more about future collaborations, upcoming courses, and faculty development programmes, Shiksha.com got in touch with the Director of IIM Kozhikode, Professor Debashis Chatterjee. Check out the excerpts from the interview below:

Q: IIM Kozhikode recorded 100% internship placements this year. Highest CTC during PGP-BL Placement stood at INR 69.3 LPA. What is the mantra behind such back-to-back record placements despite bleak economic climate? 

A: IIM Kozhikode is known for its diverse offerings.  It is also important to realize that Placements are a function of place-ability and your ability to respond to the market. We have proactively trained students to not only face the corporate world but also equip these future managers with the earnestness to deal with human beings with equal effectiveness.  

IIM Kozhikode’s mission to nurture young professionals with experience into potential business leaders is on a sound academic and industry footing and our recruiters are appreciative of these aspects. The success of the process speaks volumes of their competencies among competition. The diverse talent pool, support of IIMK’s strong alumni base, trust of the recruitment partners who have belief in our programme offerings and the legacy of IIM Kozhikode are factors that help us achieve these milestones, despite adverse market conditions. 

Q: What are companies looking for in management graduates in the post-pandemic era? 

A: In a post-pandemic era where going back to a physical world is a challenging aspect, it is important to realise that management graduates will be adjudged for their ability to adapt and respond to a dynamically changing market. It is here that we have to realize that along with technical knowledge and IQ, the managers of tomorrow should also possess the Emotional as well as Cultural Quotient to understand the organizational culture and assimilate the organizational values. It goes without saying that candidates with good behavioural and interpersonal skills, coupled with the ability to be a good listener hold an edge over the others. 

Q: IIM Kozhikode is launching Certificate programme in management social initiative, leadership programmes, etc. Tell us about some new programmes which the institute plans to offer.

A: We are working on designing some exciting deliverables in the field of Sports Management; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; cross-cultural management and entrepreneurship.  Big Data, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are also some other exciting programmes which have already been rolled out by us.  

Q: The b-school recent collaborated with Suzuki Motor Corporation, People’s Knowledge Movement and more. What are the other collaborations on the card?

A: IIM Kozhikode is renowned for its ‘Thought Leadership’ and we feature among the top 85 institutes of the world in the category.  All our collaborations are driven by thought leaders who take challenges head on and drive pedagogical changes. In a massive boost to the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ Abhiyan,  IIM Kozhikode’s (IIMK) business incubator Laboratory for Innovation Venturing and Entrepreneurship (LIVE) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) have joined hands together to launch a start-up framework to boost startups in the maritime sector. Startups can get upto Rs.50 lakhs as seed grants, Rs.1 Cr as prototyping grants and equity funding for start-ups at the scale up stage.

Similarly IIMK LIVE has also collaborated with Indian Bank to support early-stage startups by providing loans up to 50 Crore INR. We are also collaborating with the Indian Navy to exchange best practices in the field of Instructional Leadership, Educational Psychology and Management. Together with NITI Aayog we have also have an Institutional Partnership that will focus on strategic and technical collaboration to strengthen the overall monitoring and evaluation environment in India, with special focus on building a data monitoring and evaluation stack.

Q: Some exclusive tips for CAT aspirants, especially repeaters

A: Time Management, Routine and Discipline are the most critical aspects, especially if you are taking the CAT Exam again. It is also pertinent to understand and work on your weaknesses based on previous experiences and turn it around with planning and practice. If things are not going as per plan, it is important to not feel demotivated and give it your best shot. Retaining your composure during the attempt therefore is the key. 

Q: Major Prep tips for management aspirants appearing for IIM Interview for admission.

A: The most important tip is to be honest with oneself. Once you know your limitations you can always put in dedicated efforts to turn your weaknesses into strengths. That being said, it is also advisable that grasp on subject knowledge, coupled with your communication skills and an interaction delivered with confidence will definitely brighten your chances. Listening to understand, organizing your thoughts and then answering systematically is the key. 

Q: Is IIM Kozhikode conducting some faculty development and training programme considering the academic changes in the post-pandemic era?

A: Faculty come with Differential skill sets and we ensure that upskilling and reskilling are integral to their progress. After the onset of the pandemic some freshly recruited faculty were quick to adapt to technology, whereas some with considerable exposure to human-to-human interface did need a helping hand. So, an Institute like IIM Kozhikode always consciously works towards faculty development and ensuring that they are ahead of the learning curve. We also have senior professors as mentors to the younger members of the profession which ensures interconnectivity and the seamless transfer of knowledge and experience. We also encourage the faculty to establish themselves as “competent” individuals who can deliver what the students expect through internal training programmes. 

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