2021 is turning out to be one of the defining years in the history of the world, and unlike any of the years that have preceded it. While on one hand, the ongoing pandemic is claiming lives all over the world, yet on the other hand the stringent measures to control the virus such as international travel ban, and lockdown, have played havoc with the economy. The series of unprecedented changes started in Q1 of 2020 that have affected many industries and geographies changing the way business is carried out everywhere. Many professionals have also been affected economically due to this, and many are reconsidering their career paths and options. These are precisely the reason why getting a business school education in 2021 may be the best decision. This statement may confuse you, that if a year is generally considered adverse for the industries worldwide, how can it be a good time to get a management degree which aims for industry integration. Here are some factors that you must consider that will help you understand the reason behind such a bold claim.

• The expected rise in Demand – Several industries have faced severe challenges and there have also been big lay-offs across sectors. There has also been a dip in hiring and the promotions have also been held off at several companies due to the financial losses. This is why several professionals are not looking for a change of job just yet. The industry is however is expected to rebound once the vaccines push immunity higher and open up trade. That is why it is imperative that when the market opens you put your best foot forward and propel your career forward with a B School degree.
• Changing of work norms – While the concepts of work from home and flexible timing have been in existence for a long time, it is only during the pandemic situation that the companies adopted it en masse. This means that employers in the future are likely to be more open to hiring from remote locations with work from home profiles. This provides the B School students a bigger playground since they can apply for a job located anywhere. These avenues are available to you once you go through the management degree and in the meanwhile the changes take shape.
• Changing career track – Many professionals have been interested in changing their career track however the industries have been less receptive to accept professionals from other backgrounds or industries. Management education is an excellent way in which you can showcase your talent and create a great transition point for your career. This way you can join the industry of your choice and build your career further.You can also upskillyourself according to the changes that might be sweeping through the industries such as digital transformation.
• Personality development opportunity – Apart from the education, one of the biggest benefits of undergoing a Management degree at a reputed B School such as ICFAI Business School or IBS, is the opportunity to enhance your personality. 2021 happens to be the perfect time to do so since you can work on your soft skills and be ready for the opportunity once you pass out from the B School. There are plenty of activities such as debates, discussions, presentations, skits, speeches, hosting opportunities, and other platforms that the students can utilize to hone their social skills.
• Global credential and validity – If you hope to move to a different country, you can utilize your business school degree to find a suitable opportunity outside. The MBA or PGPM is one of the most well-accepted degrees that is desired by employers throughout the world. The degree is even more valuable if you get it from a premier business school such as ICFAI Business School (IBS).Getting employedat a Multi-National Company or MNC can also provide you exciting opportunity to work offshore.
• Entrepreneurship acumen – If you want in the future to start your own business, the business management courses that are optimized for that can guide you in the right direction. This way, when you start your business at a later stage you will likely have the most updated tools and knowledge. The MBA also paves the way to getting better response and confidence in your ability to run the business due to the industry-oriented nature of the course.

These reasons make investing in management education is one of the best decisions you can take for your career. The post COVID period is likely to be still volatile with some of the fundamental changes in the ways of working have taken place in the course of the pandemic. The future-focused nature of management education makes it the perfect option for the professionals looking to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow. When choosing a course the professionals should pay special attention to ensure that the B School integrates learning methods that are fit for studying the market and industry closely such as the case study method used at the ICFAI Business School (IBS). This will ensure that the students develop sound insights about their fields of choice.

Management is among the field of studies that relies heavily on the active application of the concepts that have been learned during education. That is why in most of the top quality business schools, a big focus is placed on the students developing the necessary insight to implement the various management principles. To facilitate this, one of the most helpful instruction methods that have been tried and tested with a high success rate is the case study method. Many amazing results are achievable due to the case study method, but some of the most notable can be seen in the areas where the management practices need to be fully understood and implemented in a business simulated scenario. This helps the students validate the learnings and demonstrate the utility of it in the real world. One of the prominent B-School in India that emphasizes the case study method and has developed dedicated case studies to strengthen the quality of its’ management education is the ICFAI Business School also known as IBS. Let us try to grasp, how the case studies contribute to the development of the students especially in the current times when the ICFAI Business School (IBS)classes are being conducted in the virtual mode.

• Enhanced Decision Making – There are many benefits of using case studies in modern education, but one of the top ones for the students is the ability to make better decisions in their work lives. The case studies provide excellent ground for the B school students to develop a perspective in various scenarios that translates into better business acumen when they enter the corporate world. The case studies used at ICFAI Business School (IBS)are equally useful in a virtual environment to challenge the students to apply their learnings in a well-defined context.
• Collaborative Approach – One of the key factors in the success of the virtual workplace has been a collaboration between individuals and teams. Many organizations have recognized it as one of the biggest determinants of success in the modern world. The case studies develop the collaborative working approach among students, requiring them to discuss, share ideas, respect different views, delegate responsibilities, exchange information, and manage conflict, all of which are important parts of working collaboratively.
• Concept Focus – The case studies of ICFAI Business School (IBS)are especially designed to provide the students with the opportunity to validate the things that have been taught in their classroom and syllabus. ICFAI Business School (IBS)is one of the top Indian business schools which has its own case development repository created through IBS Case Development Centre or IBSCDC. The IBSCDC has been credited with compiling over 5500 case studies which are extensively used in the ICFAI Business School (IBS)curriculum. These case studies require a clear understanding of the subjects to solve and challenges the students to clarify any doubts that they may face in these subjects.
• Realistic Scenarios – The scenarios that are covered in the case studies give a realistic scenario where the theories, principles, tools and techniques can be applied. Many of the case studies are influenced by the real problems and challenges that have come up in the corporate world and therefore the credibility of the case studies is beyond doubt. The best part about these case studies is that they also let us examine the management problems in their real environment instead of a hypothetical or imaginary setting. 
• Perfect for Virtual Environment – Virtual learning which has been prevalent in the past year due to the pandemic situation has left the students and the academic experience devoid of the usual human contact that is part of a great B School experience. Activities such as a case study provide a welcome change to interact and share ideas with the faculty and their classmates. It also brings the practical application of their learning which is always an exciting opportunity to showcase your talent.
• Reinforcing the Lesson – The case studies are categorized according to the various management subjects and fields such as Business Strategy, Marketing, Finance, Human Resource Management, IT Systems, Operations, Economics, Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics. This is why the case studies can be tied to the learning outcomes of the modules of these subjects and help in cementing the lessons learned in the course of studies.

These are some of the reasons which have made the case study method a hot favorite among the students as well as the faculty members of ICFAI Business School (IBS). The case study method also provides a fair evaluation of the academic performance of the students and the real-life value of the knowledge gained at the ICFAI Business School (IBS)campus. The IBS Case Research Centre has won many acclaims and international awards which speaks volumes about the high quality of case studies that are developed here. The case studies are also frequently included in notable international textbooks, as well as being mentioned in reputed management journals. Joining ICFAI Business School (IBS)provides an excellent opportunity for the business school aspirants to experience the world-class curriculum of ICFAI Business School (IBS)enriched with the case study method.

Management is one of the disciplines that strive and flourish in making classroom learning as applicable in real-life scenarios as possible. The various management principles find their place out of textbooks and as valuable tools at the hands of the management students which in turn can be used to shape their futures. That is why, for the management students, learning their course work in an applied and practical way is of utmost importance. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many management students, as well as business schools, have been facing a challenge in facilitating the classes through virtual or online mediums. One of the business schools that have carved away out of this predicament is ICFAI Business School, also called IBS.

Counted among the most prestigious and well-acclaimed business schools of India, ICFAI Business School (IBS) stands head and shoulder above the average B-schools. The students of ICFAI Business School (IBS) can enjoy the migration to the online classes during the pandemic easy to adjust since blended online learning has been an integral part of the ICFAI Business School (IBS) campus experience. The transition is backed by the learning management system or LMS called Quicforce, which has been surveying the ICFAI Business School (IBS)since the year 2012. The Quicforce is based on one of the popular platforms called Moodle and provides the courses a blended approach towards learning with synchronous and asynchronous modes. This enables the esteemed faculty members of ICFAI Business School (IBS)to deploy their course work through an assortment of learning activities assignments, evaluations, projects, quizzes, and assessments.

Here are some of the best features of online learning that are utilized at ICFAI Business School (IBS).

• Live sessions: The experienced and well-versed faculty members of ICFAI Business School (IBS)deliver an impactful session filled with interaction, discussion, and insights about the subject.
• Learning reflections: Once the live session has been conducted, the students can access the learning reflections through a series of formative assessments. This is made possible with the help of LMS where the students’ learning journeys are preserved.
• Enabling preparedness: For the complex subjects that are covered in the course of management education at ICFAI Business School (IBS), the students can prepare well in advance for better understanding during the class. The iBooks which are the online version for the coursework of the students are available on the LMS so that they can be accessed by the students at any place and any time. The physical books are also available for the students which are sent to their registered address so that they can make notes and have a tactile experience while studying.
• Timely notifications: The students do not have to worry about missing the important updates and alerts since the mobile app of the LMS can provide notifications. It is another way for the students to take timely action and manage their academic administration remotely.
• Learning enablement tools: Various tools for increasing the interaction with the content and the retention of the course work, the micro-learning tools are utilized. An example of this can be the case videos which are created based on the unique case-based learning method as employed in the ICFAI Business School (IBS)curriculum.
• Impactful exercises: Designed for individual students as well as smaller groups, the engagement exercises simulate practical scenarios and real business challenges. This prompts the students to collaborate and apply the principles learned in their studies to find solutions to management problems.

The students are also familiarized with all aspects and functions of the LMS early in their academic session so that they can make the most of the resources made available. The study plan and schedule also help them in staying on track along with the academic session and even prompts them of certain important milestones through the gamification aspects of the LMS.

These learning methodologies help ICFAI Business School (IBS)in developing and delivering a world-class management education experience to their students even when the campus is closed. The virtual environment of the classes reinforces the learning of the students while creating opportunities for the students to interact with each other and the faculty members. As management is one of the most dynamic fields of studies that change rapidly, the “beyond the classroom” experience of the students develops them to prepare for the demands of the industry. The engaging exercises and meaningful challenges prepare the students well to succeed in their careers and life ahead.

The world has changed a lot since the rise of technology, and with it, the meaning of the classroom has changed too. Although traditional classroom learning has not gone obsolete, there is a lot of focus on online and self-paced learning as well. The truly remarkable institutions have utilized the best features of classroom and online learning and amalgamate them in the form of blended or hybrid learning methods. As the name suggests the blended learning is a modular learning method where the learning or instructional design tries to strike a balance between self-paced online learning and face-to-face classroom learning. The integration of online modules in the session make the learning-rich in information and the self-paced feature helps the students go through the learning as many time as they need to ensure the proper learning is taking place. The doubts that are left in the minds of the learners can be cleared away by physical or virtual instructor-led training. Here is how the top business schools such as ICFAI Business School (IBS) have used hybrid learning to create a conducive environment for management education.

Integration with the LMS necessary

One of the major pre-requisite that is faced by business and educational organizations before shifting to the hybrid and blended is the usage of a Learning Management System or LMS to host the online modules. The LMS can further include a link to the recording of the virtual session that the student can go through even if they could not attend the classes live. The learning material created by the faculty member can also be kept on the LMS platform for the students to refer to while they are going through these sessions. The e-books can also be kept online so that the student is not reliant on the physical books while they are going through various coursework. The LMS can also use gamification aspects such as badges and progress bars to keep the learner updated along with their progress on the course and the milestones that they reach, providing a sense of achievement and motivation. ICFAI Business School (IBS)have their own LMS Quicforce which has been in service since 2012 and provides an effective way to manage the curriculum while the students are going through their management education. In addition to the above pointers, the students can also be sent notifications and important announcements through Quicforce, so that students take note of all academic and other events.

Academic benefits of Hybrid Learning

The benefits of hybrid learning extend well beyond the management of the learning and can be evident in the academic success of the students and the institution as well. Some of the key benefits of hybrid learning in academics can be as below.

• Flexible learning – Whether we believe it or not, all of us have different ways of learning. Teaching everyone, in the same way, may not meet the learning needs of everyone, but with blended and hybrid learning, the institute or school has a wider option of tools to meet all learning styles. The students can also utilize the time they want and cover the topics at their own pace.
• Better time utilization – One of the popular ways of learning in the modern hybrid learning courses is to ask the students to go through the online courses first and then proceed with the classroom interaction. This way the time of the classroom can be better utilized rather than reading text or watching learning videos.
• Collaborative learning – With the inclusion of the Learning Management System, the teacher can easily make groups, assign activities, discuss case studies, and interact freely ensuring better individualized attention. It also makes it easier for the students to connect after class and share learnings.
• Variety of formats – The learning can be reinforced better through online quizzes and other activities since they may be great for revision and retention of the students. There are also several tools such as project work and questionnaires to connect their classroom learning to real lives and industries.

Hybrid learning advantage during the Pandemic

The recent pandemic has confined many students to their homes, with no means for them to attend instructor-led classes physically. Under these circumstances, hybrid learning has come up as a huge help in ensuring that the campus interactions and other soft components can be managed through online modules. Familiarity with hybrid learning can also give the students an edge when they join their industry of choice since hybrid and blended learning is practiced in most corporates in modern times. The students can also pick up on the many necessities of developing their digital citizenship and learning essential soft skills such as email communications. The hybrid learning model also empowers the students to take ownership of their learning and ensure that they can take proactive actions to facilitate their academics better. The Quicforce LMS and the ICFAI Business School (IBS)faculty who utilize modern techniques in optimizing the learning in the classroom and beyond, go a long way in developing the business leaders of tomorrow educated through hybrid learning methods.

Gone are the days when the learning used to be synonymous with the classroom, and when missing a day’s classes due to an exigency would put the students’ academic performance at a disadvantage. The new way of learning digitally has provided the students of various streams with remarkable tools that have made the learning flexible and free from the confines of the classroom. Today the management students who are pursuing their education from premier business schools such as ICFAI Business School (IBS) can take ownership of their learning. To enable this change, ICFAI Business School (IBS)offers the students access to on-demand learning thanks to the integration of technology in the education system. The usage of a Learning Management System or LMS is one such solution that has enabled the educational institutions to provide quality education while giving the students easy access to learning. At ICFAI Business School (IBS) the LMS is named as  “Quicforce”, has some great functionality that befits the world-class education provided by the B-school. Let us take a closer look at the Quicforce and how it contributes to the academic performance of the students. 

What is Quicforce LMS? 

Quicforce is a Learning Management System which is based on one of the most popular LMS which is open source. It provides the students with plenty of high-quality and dynamic e-learning content that is provided by ICFAI Business School (IBS). It can easily be accessed by the students from the safety and comfort of their homes, or any other location. All they need is a computer with an active internet connection. It is a tried and tested system, having been a reliable asset to ICFAI Business School (IBS) since 2012 when it was first launched. That is why even in the face of the ongoing pandemic, it has been working seamlessly connecting the students to ICFAI Business School (IBS). The students can carry out most of their studies using the Quicforce system, including accessing the e-learning modules, coursework, and even remotely submitting assignments. On the other hand, the teachers can get a lot more flexibility in creating online, and blended learning courses for the students with flexibility in course design, multimedia content creation, student evaluations, providing feedback, and even grading the work submitted by students. 

Contribution of Quicforce to academic success at ICFAI Business School

Since its launch in 2012, Quicforce has been an integral part of the ICFAI Business School (IBS)academic experience, reinforcing the learning practices of the business school’s world-class curriculum. Here are some of the key benefits that Quicforce provides to the students and teachers of ICFAI Business School (IBS): 

• Classroom to Online – The most essential way that Quicforce contributes to the academics at ICFAI Business School (IBS)is that it reinforces the classroom and instructor-led learning with a variety of e-Learning material. The material is made available online, so that the students can access it anytime and anywhere, even long after the class. This minimizes the student’s dependence on the classroom notes and frees them up during the class to interact and experience the activities of the classroom. 
• Captivating Content – While the traditional presentations and books only gave a few opportunities for the teachers to engage the students, the modern tools available with the LMS help the teacher make interactive content easily. With interactive quizzes, activities, and online forums, the students can showcase their learning.
• Access to eLearning – The students can access their classroom presentations, iBooks, and specialized ICFAI Business School (IBS) Case-based Learning Guides, all through the Quicforce LMS. Along with these, the students can also take part in quizzes, and other exercises to evaluate their understanding of specific chapters.
• Interactive learning – The students can engage with other learners to share best practices through the specialized forums and build their understanding of certain subjects. They can use self-assessments designed in the course to showcase their knowledge.
• Curriculum management – Through utilizing the instructional and learning design technology, the students can visualize their progress along the curriculum designed by their instructors at ICFAI Business School (IBS). This provides a clear sense of direction to the students and even helps them revise their course progress before the examinations. Messages and alerts can be sent to students through the LMS automatically, to guide the students along with the important steps in their course.
• Live Sessions – Thanks to the live sessions hosted on the LMS, the quality of education at ICFAI Business School (IBS) can be kept consistent as the faculty and the students can have two-way interaction in real-time. The students can even ask questions and clarify their doubts so that there are no gaps left in their understanding.
• Examinations Made Easy – Despite the restricted movement, social distancing, and other protocols enforced by the government, the studies and examinations are taking place seamlessly due to the LMS Quicforce. Even the examinations are easier for the students since they can attempt the examinations from the comfort of their home.
• Students and teachers constantly rely on Quicforce to continue the progression of the courses at ICFAI Business School (IBS). The younger generation has been finding it easier to find the right information related to their coursework through the app or online platform with relative ease, accelerating their learning. The teachers can automate many of their tasks and the learning administration has become easier cutting off the work involved in managing the course. This makes the Quicforce a win-win solution to many problems encountered by the students and faculty members. Access to Quicforce is provided to all the ICFAI Business School (IBS)students freely and they can log in through their id and password as shared by the ICFAI Business School (IBS). The robust technology solutions of the LMS helps ICFAI Business School (IBS) break the barrier of the classroom and provide the students access to the best Management Education in India.

My association with IBS started a year ago with a call from the IBS enquiring about my choice for doing MBA. Having worked with a manufacturing industry for past four year, I had observed changes that happened in corporate world where young MBA graduates had started occupying seats in management decision-making. I realized that in order to make it into the echelons of top management it is would be necessary to acquire impeccable managerial skills.

Soon I became part of the ever growing IBS family in June last year. Life at IBS is really fabulous enriching you with good blend of academics and co-curricular activities. Every day and every minute is full of joy and happiness. IBS is one among the earlier pioneer in the country who started practicing the case methodology of teaching. Case based learning and usage of ibooks helped a lot in understanding and experimenting with the concepts. Case methodology also paved the way for peer learning and encouraged us to think out of box.

Our life here has been scheduled perfectly with a fine mix of academics and co-curricular activities. We had guest lecture every week where eminent personalities from industry addressed students on current / topical issues faced by their companies besides sharing valuable insights and solutions that were adopted. This introduced us to the expectations that the corporate world holds from new management graduates. At the campus student activities were a plenty. Students organized number of games and events. These gatherings created healthy relations and provided a platform for the students to interact, discuss and debate various ideas.

All the faculty members also participated in the discussion forums and shed light over happenings and trends in their respective areas of expertise. I would conclude by stating the famous statement made by Ray Le Blond “YOU LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY IF YOU PAY ATTENTION” and here at IBS attention of the students were drawn with the use of I-books for learning and quicforce forums which have been designed to resemble facebook which students have adopted with addiction-like enthusiasm.

Contributed By : Ramabalaji, Batch 2014, IBS Pune

Srikanth owns stocks of ABC Ltd. After he learnt about the concept of futures and hedging from professor Nicky, he used the futures contracts on ABC Ltd. to hedge the risk of a downward slide in the share prices. Unfortunately for him, just a few days after he entered the contract, the company announced its quarterly earnings and the stock prices have gone up steadily ever since.

The value of his stocks are now higher. That’s good news. But he does not intend to sell the stock. On the other hand, his losses are very real! He started getting margin calls from his broker. So he closed out his position in the futures market, before his losses become larger.

However, this led him to think of how it would be great if he could have the good part of futures without the obligation to honor the contract!

“Naah…I guess that would be too good to be true…”, thought Srikanth. Nevertheless, he walked into prof. Nicky’s room to share his experience with futures with the professor.

Prof Nicky: Well, as a matter of fact, such instruments do exist. They are called Options. By buying an option, you can lock in a price but can choose not to exercise your option if the market offers a more advantageous price.

Srikanth: Buying an option?

Prof. Nicky: Perceptive as always Srikanth. Yes, you buy an option. Since you have a right but no obligation to trade your stock at a pre-determined price, you pay a premium. Else it would be like being able to have your cake and eat it too!

Srikanth: Hmmm… though that would be great, I suppose no one would sell options for free, so this situation seems fair enough. So how about if I want to be able to sell a stock? Can I buy an option to sell a stock?

Prof. Nicky: Yes Srikanth, weirdly as it sounds, you can buy an option to sell a stock… It’s pretty interesting actually, there are fundamentally two types of options, a call option which allows you to buy stock and a put option that allows you to sell stocks. Buying an option allows you to, at a cost, transfer risk to the seller of the option. A simple call or a simple put option are also referred to as plain vanilla options.

Srikanth: Professor, in the futures market, we can buy and sell our contracts any time. Can we do the same in the Options market?

Prof. Nicky: Indeed you can buy and sell them anytime at the price (premium) in the market. However, you can exercise your options anytime only if they are American in nature. Now… before you ask… no you don’t need to be in America to be able to trade in American style Options. It’s just nomenclature.

Options which can be exercised anytime up to expiration are called American Options, where as those which can be exercised only on the day of expiration are known as European style options. Both kinds of options are traded all over the world. In India, the index options are European in nature, while the stock options are American!

Srikanth: They don’t seem too plain to me… But why would anyone sell options? The seller seems to take on a lot of risk!

Prof Nicky: Great question! Simple answer — for the premium. The person writing the option believes that the probability of the option being exercised is very low. So he gets to collect and keep the premium.

Srikanth: Wow!… this is information overload for now..but how about we continue this discussion next week and you tell me how someone like me can use options?

Prof Nicky: Sure!

Contributed By : Amulya Chirala

This article was originally published in Postnoon on June 22nd, 2012

http://postnoon.com/2012/06/22/keeping-your-options-open/54996

Management Education for an Upward Career Graph, I am sure the blog title reads like a cliché which almost every management school and university is talking about. Despite knowing the fact, I decided to write on this title as it keeps it simple and make most sense. A management degree certainly provides the required push to your career, the only matter of difference is this – how sure you are about this decision and how you tread on the career path.

MBA program is truly a phase of self-reflection.

To reach out where one wants to reach in life – one needs to be sure of what makes them happy and provides with the best of opportunities for a successful career. A management program certainly deals as the best resources for an individual to self reflect and assess the capabilities and interest levels.

The Program Design is such that it puts the students into real life business situations, the practices like case studies, competitions; team functioning etc puts one into a situation where lot of self-reflection happens.  Through this design, a student gets ample of opportunities to take up different kinds of assignments, work with various kinds of team, and explore the various career opportunities. Some gain the business intent and start working towards their entrepreneurial ventures.

General Management as a Resource for Career Development

The first year in a management program is about the basics in any career move. This covers the essentials in management and the focus is on basic grooming of a college pass-out, a fresher and sometimes a business person to experience and lead the career path more confidently.

Basics work as the significant ingredients of a career development resource. It is the beginning of an era of life-long networking, where an aspirant learns to work with cross-functional, cross-cultural teams and also leads towards realization of her the leadership potential. During the general management education phase – an aspirant gets a chance to investigate the interests, skill-set required and those which needs to be further acquired or polished to work efficiently on the personal plan of the program candidates.

Electives Empowering the Career Goals

The electives in MBA education add required power to the careers. The choice of an elective is the starting point for an upward growth movement. It opens the avenues further and hence marks the beginning of a new era – be it career, business or a self employment. You know what you want out of it and you are all geared to explore the chosen world. Choosing the electives also mean that a candidate will be taking up the internships and research project from the relevant industry, which would mean more exposure in the chosen area of work. These projects and sometimes On the Job trainings help when we jump into the real world and it is because of these lessons – we are ready to face the world from day one. Unlike other B-schools where the internships are of 3-4 week, IBS offers 3.5 months of Internship Projects which changes the mindset of the candidates and put them into real life corporate situations ranging from achievement, learning, peer pressure etc. More importantly, it is part of curriculum at IBS and for regular students the placements in the top-notch companies is offered free of cost.

Similar to these Internship Projects there are Management Research Projects at the end of the program which teach more about the research and documentation. Similarly, though there are limitations in terms of attendance but a student is allowed to take up industry projects during the class curriculum for almost 14 hours a week.

This industry experience place the students a step higher in the corporate hierarchy and they lead the fresher teams as they have the technical know-how and also share better relationships in the job area.

Mentoring

Mentoring may be a term which came into picture a little later but it certainly works in the benefit of the students. A mentor is your first career counselor who helps you through-out to make a distinct career path. A mentor helps you in taking some initial difficult decisions of the career. They not only track the candidate’s performance and help them in excelling as per the corporate guidelines but they also help in key decisions pertaining to people skills, role rotation, client servicing, working in team etc.

A mentor works on all the personality and performance aspects of a candidate. They teach them the basics of management in the corporate world. Mentors are the first guides of real career life and hence are considered as the first movers of your career graph. A good mentor can make or break the career slope – s/he enacts as the guiding light. At IBS, it is must for a student to have 2 guides – one from the faculty side and other from the company side during the internships. The candid conversation for 3.5 months help one builds a relationship of trust and the student can turn to their mentors for candid conversation, second opinions on career moves and also career advice.

An MBA offers numerous such opportunities to have lifetime mentors and in-fact, candidates can make the best of mentors from among the seniors, faculties, counselors or the industry guides. 

Alumni Strength

Alumni Base in an MBA college works as an asset in any career graph. A student can consult, follow, take guidance and use the alumni base network – in any choice of career.

A good alumni base helps in job change, gaining company information, connecting with the right people, discussion and advice on the entrepreneurial ventures, one can also look for co-founders in the large alumni base an MBA college offers.

The various reunions & meets helps keep one connected and these events also work as the possibility of brainstorming sessions with the like-minded people. An alumna can help in making right career choices – be it a job move or an industry switch. The huge network strengthens the career decision and sometimes raises alarm.

All the above points help MBA candidates to move their career upwards. By seeking possibility and constant industry updates – a management degree certainly helps in shaping the career graphs. Some of the colleges are now offering specialized streams which act as the add-ons to a candidate’s career goal. And a management degree certainly impacts the career outcome in a big way.

Contributed By : IBS India

One of the best decisions which helped me to know myself better, provide a platform for growth and experimentation was to join IBS, Bangalore.

It’s been such a great journey so far. A thrilling experience altogether, it’s exciting to see the zeal, energy and motivation the students bring to the campus. We create the environment of enjoyment, learning, knowledge sharing and innovation at IBS.

My experiences from the very beginning had been very special- be it the first day at the campus, the introductory sessions to the final semester! It’s been a pool of developments and continuous learning throughout. I’ve benefited and enjoyed each moment spent. To quote a few- friends form the part and parcel of our lives, at IBS we all mingle with everyone thereby creating a friendly environment. Our faculty, I would say is the most dedicated and friendly one. They are always approachable, thriving with new ideas for the students, willingness to help in each way helps in developing the culture of our college. IBS gives us the platform to showcase our skills not only in the prescribed course but other activities also. We get wide exposure by participating in the management and cultural fests of other B schools as well. IBS hosts number of fests and activities to help us explore our skills and grow ourselves not only intellectually but culturally, at the same time enjoying ourselves to the core. We have Tarkash and Manthan as our business fests, Art beat, festival celebrations, sports events and various parties to keep us engaged and charged all the time!

This has helped me to understand my talent, expertise and areas of interest which could be developed over a period of time. One thing without which my experience remains incomplete is my internship with one of the Big 4 Companies. I can rightly put it as “an internship of life time” and thank IBS for providing me an opportunity to get the feel and look of the corporate world, learn new things and develop myself. Another aspect which I would like to focus on are the teaching techniques adopted by the faculty, focusing more on providing the corporate exposure, assignments with filed visits involving industry interaction and providing us with an opportunity to leave a mark on them by our work and learn as much as possible. The faculty helps and guides us with our moves and actions making us more presentable and meet the required standards.

With all the everyday learning (as it is a continuous process) accompanied by fun and frolic,  with all the fests and other activities at IBS makes me more confident for what I stand for, speak my mind and achieve the desired goals, helping me to grow and strengthen relations each day!

Contributed By : Neha Maggu,Batch 2014, IBS Bangalore