Indian B-Schools Climb Up the Ratings

Indian B-schools climb up the ratings with better rankings as well as better placements.

Four Indians institutions have made it to a list of top 10 B-Schools in the Asia-Pacific region, in a recent survey, in a strong indication that Indian business schools have strengthened their standing among international employers. The QS Global 200 Business Schools Report 2012 notes that Indian B-Schools have moved up in almost all specialisations in Asia-Pacific rankings.

The report, which names 36 top business schools in the region, including 11 in Australia, points out that India has improved considerably in recent times, with six schools on the list, including four in the top 10. The Indian B-Schools that have made it to the top 10 among the Asia-pacific region are Indian institute of management Ahmedabad (2^nd), Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (5^th), Indian School of Business (7^th) and Indian Institute of Management Kolkata (8^th). The other two business schools named include S P Jain Institute of Management and Research at 16^th rank and Indian Institute of Foreign Trade which made the cut this year for the first time at 21^st place.

Business schools in India are continuing to climb up the ratings, the report observes. “Indian economy that is rapidly growing in global importance, the rise in employer opinion of MBA graduates is extremely promising in ensuring development of future business leaders to sustain the fast-paced economic growth,” the report said. It also observes that business schools in the Asia-Pacific region are strengthening their position in the global MBA education scene. In 2004, only 10 Asian and Australian schools had been included; the number has gone to 36 this year.

“Economic growth in some Asian countries, particularly in China and India has heightened the demand for more accredited business schools in the region in order to train the next generation of successful business leaders,” the report said.

“In a world that is growing more integrated by the year, the importance of future business leaders having an International outlook cannot be underestimated,” says the recent report on B-Schools, the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report 2012.

“In their quest to ensure MBA students are given the international exposure needed to operate in the heavily globalised world that they work in, many business schools place a high importance on internal class diversity.”

The report, based on details provide by 2,000 employers who recruit MBAs, notes that while business schools in Asia are still in the developing stages, the rapid rise in the number of schools meeting their criteria are very impressive. It points to a “fast paced increase in the quality of the region’s MBA programs which are increasingly being recognised by international employers.”

The report notes that management education is globalising, with the last decade having seen an increase in the number of accredited business schools in emerging markets such as in the BRIC countries. (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). Pointing out that while B-schools in Europe and the United States are still the most popular, it finds that those in the Asia-Pacific region are gaining popularity.

Many private business schools have been continuously doing well over the past two to three years. With surging Indian economy, the campus placements of 2011 batch in many business schools were highly encouraging.

At Faculty of Management Studies at Manav Rachna International University saw arrival of many big brands such as Citibank, India Bulls, Religare, HDFC, Kotak Mahinda, HSBC, ICICI, Oracle Financial Services etc.

In a survey carried by Mail Today to identify top business schools, Manav Rachna was ranked 5^th in terms of Infrastructure available to the students. The spotlight of this report is on management institutes in India and their ability to produce management professionals geared up to meet the demands of the emerging economic order. Conducted by Indus learning this survey employed two methods to come up with an integrated ranking list. There was a perception survey and a Fact Survey. The fact files collected from the institutes were tallied with seven established parameters and the overall score was arrived at. Following this, a cross weighted, institute wise ranking was prepared which combined the perception and fact surveys for a comprehensive, final list.

The QS report observes that this is even the case for international management, as while Indian business schools feature lower down the rating than they do in other specialisations, they are still climbing and showing promise in developing a greater international outlook among their MBA Graduates.

Wearing the Right Attitude

In the prevailing dynamic global economic scenario, intellectual competence alone cannot make you climb the ladder of success. For professional growth, one needs to have an all-round personality with a balanced fusion of domain knowledge (also called Hard Skills), Soft Skills and the Right Attitude. While understanding what is Hard Skill and the Soft Skill is easy, often individuals tend to get confused as to what is implied by ‘Attitude’, a very important facet of a towering personality.

So what is ‘Attitude’?  There is no set definition for Attitude for it is a way of life. In very simple words, it’s the way one feels, thinks and acts in any given situation/ environment. One’s Attitude determines whether one ‘tells truth or a lie’, ‘loves or hates’, ‘acts or reacts’, advances or withdraws’. As a matter of fact, it is one’s innate ability encompassing ‘Emotional Component’ (how you feel), ‘Cognitive omponent’ (your belief, values, perception) and a ‘Behaviour Component’ (how you act in a situation). At times, people tend to get confused between ‘Behaviour’ and ‘Attitude’. While ‘Behaviour’ is more extrinsic and is determined by your knowledge and skills. ‘Attitude’ is more intrinsic indicating your inner values, standards, motives and ethics (characteristics largely unknown to others). Attitude sometimes is also expressed as an outward reflection of what happens inside. Amplifying further, your actions are extension of your ‘Attitude’. Therefore, if we have to act/behave in a mature, balanced and coherent manner, we need to have the ‘Right Attitude’ also termed as ‘Positive Attitude’. Positive Attitude is the most valuable asset of an individual as it plays pivotal role in personal growth. While some individuals are born with such attitudes, others, who have not been genetically fortunate, need not get disheartened because like Hard Skills and Soft Skills, even ‘Attitude’ can be developed/acquired. In fact, one has total control over ones ‘Attitude’ but the irony is that despite knowing this, people seldom make efforts to tame their ‘Attitude’.

A person endowed with a Positive Attitude would always subscribe to Positive Thinking. And, when one thinks positively, it results in inner tranquility, improved relations, happiness and good health. It also helps in conducting daily affairs, both at personal and professional level, more smoothly and efficiently paving way for career progression. So, if by merely acquiring a ‘Positive Attitude’ one can accrue handsome dividends, then why not give it a try. But, before you embark on this transformational journey, you must do introspection and convince yourself that you are willing for this inner change and are ready to mend the way you think. If the answer is affirmative, then the following simple tips/ techniques could help:

• Think Futuristic. Do not sulk about events in the past. Instead, set your goals and move on.
• Think of Solution. Do not become part of a problem. Focus on the solution.
• Think Positive. Always use positive words while thinking and talking e.g ‘It is Possible’, ‘I can do it’, ‘I am able to do it’, ‘I shall give it my best shot’. Look at the flowers and not the thorns
• Look for Opportunity. When faced with a challenge, do not get bogged down. Instead, look for opportunity in every challenge.
• Be Optimistic. Be optimistic and hopeful in your approach and expect favourable outcome while performing any action.
• Keep Positive Company. Move with individuals who exude positivity as positivity is contagious.
• Avoid Negative Thoughts. Whenever negative thoughts tend to guide your actions, pause. Make deliberate attempt to flush them out and let positivity prevail. It is difficult but very much possible. Meditation can also help.
• Inspiring books/articles/movies. Read books which have inspirational content and watch movies and TV programmes which make you happy.

Finally, remember employers look for knowledge, skills, talent and attitude in the employees. Like knowledge, skills and talent, ‘attitude’ too can be acquired. By imbibing ‘Positive Thinking’ and ‘Right Attitude’, you can definitely transform your personality. So why not wear the ‘Right Attitude” and be a ‘Winner’ for lifetime. “Sooner or later, those who ‘WIN’ are those who think they CAN”

Maj Gen A S Bakshi (AVSM) Retd