SCMHRD Admission Process evaluates competencies industry expects from MBAs: Director

In an exclusive conversation with Shiksha.com, SCMHRD Director Dr Netra Neelam shared some important tips to crack CAT, implementation of NEP 2020 in her institution, changes in the SCMHRD admission process and more. 

In an exclusive conversation with Shiksha.com, SCMHRD Director Dr Netra Neelam shared some important tips to crack CAT, implementation of NEP 2020 in her institution, changes in the SCMHRD admission process and more. Checkout some important excerpts from the interview below:

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

A: Post-pandemic and at the brink of an uncertain economy, there are some changes in the characteristics that companies are looking for in candidates. One of the characteristics is Adaptability.  This characteristic has gained in importance as the business environment has become more dynamic and organizations look for multi-skilled professionals that can offer agility to the organization. Another in-demand characteristic is Critical Thinking.

In an era where people navigate through contrasting an overload of information, it is critical that one is able to think rationally and critically to make effective decisions. With jobs moving to remote working or hybrid working, one characteristic organizations look for is Tech Savviness. Specialist digital skillsets can help businesses become more aligned with today’s myriad technologies and platforms and ensure employees productivity is not hampered by technology. Another long standing characteristic is Good Communication and emotional intelligence.

As many of us continue to work in the hybrid mode, communicating clearly and concisely is of utmost importance. Clarity in emails and written communication, as well as spoken communication is a must.  Another characteristic is Creativity and innovation. To steer the business in the right direction it is imperative to foster a culture of innovation and creativity in the organisation. This is where the need for this characteristic arises.

Team work and soft skills are also important characteristics. How one works through team dynamics, and delegates work and divides it through as a team is considerably vital to the organisation as most of the work these days is carried out in teams.

Agility is a competency or capability which describes a person's speed to learn. In most businesses, this skill is considered one of the most important factors in great leadership.

Q: How is SCMHRD implementing NEP 2020?

A: In the context of Identifying skills and values to be imparted to higher education students, currently skills and values are being identified as Program Learning Goals as part of the Assurance of Learning Process (AACSB).  Also at the University Level, Graduate Attributes are being used to align learning processes. The admission Process at SCMHRD also evaluates competencies that the industry expects from MBAs and uses that for candidate selection. This gives the institute a pool of students with strong skills and values to further polish into model citizens and leaders.

From an academic perspective we have the Assurance of Learning (AoL), a process to continuously improve teaching-learning activities, in place. For this process, a committee is constituted, which comprises AoL faculty in charge as well as representatives of each department.

All programs have curriculum design aligned to identify ten employable MBA competencies: Communication, Critical thinking, and reasoning, Creativity, Building Collaborative relationships, Global Mindset, Ability to work in a team, Learning orientation, Achievement drive, Emotional Maturity, and Decision Making.

SCMHRD encourages the internationalization of higher education through Student Exchange Programs with foreign Universities, interaction with foreign faculty, and supports students to participate in international level case study competitions.

The Student Research conference (S-TEAM) also gives the students an exposure to develop their research and analytical skills.

Q: What major preparations should a management student do while sitting for campus placement?

A: Campus placements at an MBA college are aimed at recruiting coherent and desirable candidates who can further be trained as per the company requirements.
They are helpful for the students in finding their desired jobs requiring the students to gear up well in time and prepare accordingly.
Listed down are some pointers that can help students prepare for the process:
1. Make a Crisp and Clear Resume.
A resume plays a very important role in your job search and is the perfect way to showcase your qualities and skills.
Things to include in your resume

• A clear career objective and profile summary
• Academic References
• A good formatted CV

2. Do extensive research on the company.
   Researching about the company in detail is crucial before preparing for an interview. By doing this, you will be able to prepare better and determine whether the company is a good fit for you.
   A briefing about the company will be made when it comes to recruit on your campus. Pay close attention to it. On the basis of that, the interviewer could ask you questions. Additionally, you must discover all you can about the company. Pay Close Attention To Your Company's Presentation
   Some factors that you should be well-versed with the company

• Company vision and mission
• The company cultures
• Industry trends
• What is the company currently aiming at?\
• Have a good understanding of yourself: Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Know your learning and working styles.

3. Revise your Basics
   Your familiarity with the theoretical ideas will be the first thing the interviewers assess throughout the interview. Your understanding of every aspect of your Subjects must be precise. Keep all of your notes in good shape so you may review them as needed.
   Last-minute rote learning won't benefit you, so avoid doing it. Instead, create a schedule and continue to study at your own pace until the placements begin.
4. Communication Skills
   Effective communication is the foundation of everything in your professional life. It must be gradually and steadily improved. Make it a practice to consider your every word before you speak so that you may express yourself as clearly as possible.
   Track your thoughts and you'll undoubtedly see the difference in just one month!

Q: Tips for students who could not clear CAT 2022?

A: CAT is a tough exam to crack and there are a number of candidates that are not able do well in CAT or land in an institution of choice post the CAT. A student should not be disheartened if his/her CAT Score is not up to the mark for gaining admission in CAT Based B Schools. Since there are multiple horizons of other opportunities available via the other examinations. If a candidate is unable to clear the exam, he/she should not be disheartened by this but must sit down and reflect upon what are the reasons for this. A SWOC analysis can be useful to identify areas aspirants need to work on.

If one has a mentor, with their guidance one can map out a plan and figure out how they can ace MBA entrance exams. A candidate should not dwell on this set back so much that they overlook other great opportunities. They need to recover and look forward and explore other renowned and accredited B- Schools and must not miss out on applying for other MBA entrance examinations.

Q: Options in the management field without CAT score

A: The management field is quite vast and way beyond institutes that accept only CAT Scores. There are myriads of premium B-School options which take students via various other entrance examinations like the SNAP, IIFT, TISSNET, GMAT, NMAT to name a few popular ones. These B-Schools are at par with the premier B Schools like the IIMs and also hold an extra advantage of geographically being located in buzzing corporate spaces.

Q: What are some major changes in SCMHRD admission process that students can expect while applying?

A: SCMHRD has a very inclusive and robust admission process. We see a lot of Artificial Intelligence used in admission processes. While this may be relevant in some cases, SCMHRD will always focus on giving a human touch to every aspirant who wishes to be a part of our 30 year legacy.

Q: What are the steps the institute is taking to give students a practical understanding of the industry?

A: SCMHRD has always been an institute of excellence which has always promoted a culture of learning and growth in the students.
A myriad of corporate events is organized throughout the year to expose the students to best industry practices which gives them valuable insights into how the classroom taught concepts are actually applied from an industry point of view.
Combined with our carefully crafted curriculum incorporating the expertise of industry partners.

Q: How has been the placement this year at SCMHRD, which sectors are witnessing surge in demand for MBA graduates? 

A: The recently concluded placement season 2022-23 was yet another successful one with participation from eminent organizations, both domestic and international.
This placement season witnessed growth in both, the number of recruiters visiting the campus and the average compensation offered. The students at SCMHRD were offered prestigious roles across organization, with many organizations bestowing their faith in our students for their leadership programs.
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