21^stJune, 2019: The Executive General Management Programme (EGMP) at IIM Bangalore, India’s top ranked B-school, notches up a milestone achievement as it turns a fabulous fifty.

On June 22 (Saturday), 73 participants will be part of the 50th edition of the Executive Education Programme as IIMB plans a series of events to mark the exciting journey of this programme which has a unique model of staggered scheduling to ensure application of learning in real-life contexts.

A one-of-its-kind open enrolment programme among B-schools in the country, the EGMP at IIM Bangalore, launched in December 2004 by five senior faculty members – Profs. L S Murty, M S Narasimhan, P D Jose, Vasanthi Srinivasan and Shainesh G, has been the flagship programme in the school’s Executive Education offerings over the years. Over 4300 participants have completed this programme over 49 batches and 73 participants will start their journey of learning on June 22 (Saturday) as part of the 50^thbatch.

Prof. R. Srinivasan, Chair, Executive Education Programmes at IIMB, said: “This programme has filled an important gap in the learning journey of a middle manager. For those who have the entered professional workplace immediately after a technical education, it becomes imperative that they learn the basics of management thought and specific tools and frameworks as they transition to managing people and teams. This unique programme is offered over a span of 10 calendar months with 40 days of intensive classroom inputs taught by our experienced faculty.”

The longevity of this programme over the past 15 years and 50 batches is testimony to its strong learning outcomes, practical application, and superior value addition to the participants.

Professor Shainesh G, faculty from the Marketing area at IIMB and one of the founding directors of the programme, said: “Our mission was to contribute to the leadership pipeline for the rapidly growing industry when we launched the EGMP in 2004. Over the years, the programmehas enabled motivated, high performers to learn the functional aspects of management and leadership skills by leveraging their own expertise, peer network and participant-centred learning experience at IIMB.”

IIM Bangalore’s Executive Education is among the Top 50 globally and is top ranked in India by the Financial Times Executive Education Rankings 2019. Executive Education at IIMB offers programmes designed to inspire, achieve and lead. The EGMP, which is part of the bouquet of Executive Education Programmes at IIMB, is designed to attract exceptionally talented specialists as it helps prepare them to take up broader responsibilities, including leadership roles.

Professor Vasanthi Srinivasan, faculty from the OBHRM area at IIMB and a founding director of the program, added: “What makes the EGMP unique for me is that we followed the principles of a good leadership design which at that time was not so well understood – we had an outbound module, focused on personal leadership and functional leadership, and made sure that as coordinators we anchored the module.”

Prof. Rajendra K Bandi, Chair of the Software and IT Management Centre and faculty in the Information Systems area, and Prof. AvinashG Mulky, from the Marketing area at IIMB, are coordinators for the 50^thbatch of the programme.

The one year full-time MBA program’s duration has also been extended by two months to facilitate the transition into the job market and better suited to recruitment patterns in Germany. The program begins in January every year.

ESMT’s updated MBA now includes the opportunity for students to pursue one of several specialization tracks, including Managerial Analytics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Leadership.

The revised curriculum offers the students an opportunity to acquire additional qualifications such as German language or coding skills, which are especially relevant to tech companies doing business in the country, the School said in a press release.

“More than 90% of our MBA graduates come from abroad, and almost 90% stay on in Germany after their studies,” says Nick Barniville, Associate Dean of Degree Programs at ESMT Berlin.

In addition, it offers a high degree of individualization. After completing the core modules, students can choose between three areas of specialization in the second half of the year: Managerial Analytics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship or Strategic Leadership.

“However, German companies, especially German Mittelstand, tick quite differently than companies in the USA or Britain, countries in which the MBA has a long tradition. Recruiters here don’t just want to hire someone with the potential to be a great leader but are looking for candidates who also have specific, highly practical skills. That’s what this MBA is designed for,” he says.

The updated MBA curriculum has a specific focus not just on developing leaders, but also on developing specific technical skills such as data analytics and coding, a combination that is sought after in Germany.

In addition, it offers a high degree of individualization. After completing the core modules, students can choose between three areas of specialization in the second half of the year: Managerial Analytics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship or Strategic Leadership.

The curriculum also comprises an optional pre and post-MBA program in which students can take an intensive language course, do an internship, or participate in a coding boot camp. Within this period, they can also choose to do a six-month Responsible Leadership Fellowship in a developing country or set up their own business at a start-up incubator.

The MBA at ESMT is based half on formal coursework, while a significant portion focuses on valuable experience outside the classroom.

In addition to the core curriculum, students have a variety of options to enrich their MBA experience with further international exposure.

Every year, ESMT MBA students begin their journey in January and finish in February of the following year. The ESMT faculty designed all courses, including their sequence, to focus on the conjunction of theory and practice for the current and future challenges faced by global leaders.

The program is divided into four modules or course groups. Each module builds on the previous courses to challenge students to think strategically, initiate creative solutions, and work in dynamic, international teams. Read below to see the full course offering in the MBA program.(Image Source:wikipedia.org)

The first batch will begin the program in June and graduate in just 11 months.

LSU Flores MBA Program Director Dana Hart said the program is geared toward students who are interested in expediting the process of getting an MBA.

“In assessing our MBA program, we came to the realization that the landscape for MBAs overall is changing,” Hart said. “This is a nice opportunity for us to offer a new format that appeals to a consumer base of students who are looking for a more accelerated pathway to the degree,” he added.

The one-year MBA program also doesn’t require students to participate in an internship like the participants in the two-year MBA program. Although students forgo a summer internship, the skills they develop in the 11-month program make them competitive in the job market.

A report on the student newspaper Reveille said E.J. Ourso College of Business faculty members had been working intensely to develop the program’s curriculum for over a year. Because one-year MBA programs are offered at some other universities, the program responds to the changing MBA market and provides a non-traditional approach to earning the degree.

Most MBA programs require two years of schooling. Students learn business fundamentals during the first year and take electives pertaining to their area of specialization during the second year.

The College of Business’ one-year MBA program is only available to students with undergraduate business degrees because the program does not cover business fundamentals in depth like the two-year program.

Accepted students enrol for a foundations course over the summer and take classes in accounting, statistics and professional development. Hart said the summer session ensures all students understand the business fundamentals that will be used throughout the program.

After the summer session, students are required to take four core courses in organizational behaviour, marketing, finance and strategy. They are free to choose the rest of their electives based on what they want to specialize in.

The one-year MBA program also doesn’t require students to participate in an internship like the participants in the two-year MBA program. Although students forgo a summer internship, the skills they develop in the 11-month program make them competitive in the job market.

“At present, we’re in a stronger market, so I think students have the ability to get an opportunity once they finish this one-year format,” Hart said. “Students see this as a way to get that foundation under their belt, but in a shorter period of time,” he added.

The MBA admissions committee is still evaluating applications for the program but anticipates a class of 15 to 20 students.

Hart said students who are weighing the benefits of a two-year MBA program versus a one-year MBA program to consider what elements of the MBA experience are most important to them.

“The programs are aimed at two different sets of students- one who is looking for the fast track and the other who are looking for that traditional MBA experience,” Hart said. “It’s really about thinking about what lies ahead for you,” he added.

The most common such misconception could be that you need very high GMAT scores to get into a top school. However, the admission committees do not consider just the scores or your academic record. They are more concerned about getting a holistic picture of the candidate and his/her particular ‘fit’ for the program.

While schools like Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, MIT, Booth or Columbia, may normally take in candidates with GMAT scores above 700, there could be others who get admitted even with lower score, says Mark Skoskiewicz, founder of MyGuru that provides customized tutoring and test prep, in an article in BusinessBecause.

While B-schools provide a platform and opportunity to build a network, you have to put in your own effort at every stage.

The fact is that the schools tend to take a closer look at your personal attributes, your stated reason for choosing the particular school and program and what all would you be able to contribute to the class.

Thus, you should take care to project all these attributes while writing your essays and recommendations and take enough time to put it together.

The second misconception is about an MBA automatically bringing credibility and value to impress recruiters. While the top schools may provide some brand value, the sheer number of MBA programs and graduates make it difficult to guess about the value a potential employer or business partner would place on this qualification.

Unlike a degree in law or medicine, MBA is not an essential factor in business. The degree only signifies that you possess a certain skill set, knowledge base and level of motivation. You will still have to build a network, learn new things, acquire new skills and in some cases, switch careers to progress towards your career goals.

The third misconception is that you will automatically be able to build a powerful network. Here again, you may have to find the time and make an effort to meet people and build up relationships.

While B-schools provide a platform and opportunity to build a network, you have to put in your own effort at every stage.

Mark says, in his case, he could not invest time to build up a network while attending the full-time one year program at Kellogg. However, as time went by, he was able to connect with and develop bonds with a colleague or business partner who also went to Kellogg. However, it is not a magic wand with which to close business deals or sell consulting projects.

The fourth misconception is that an MBA is not necessary for those who want to work or launch a startup. However, times have changed when the degree was aimed at preparing candidates for middle and upper management roles in large corporations. MBA programs now offer the opportunity to focus on building the skills and relationships you’ll need to start a business and even provide opportunities to test ideas and begin building the business and even arrange to fund it while you are still completing the program.

The fifth misconception is that an MBA will provide you with a deep understanding of several aspects of business. This may not be true as the programs are increasingly laying stress on specialisations in marketing, finance, operations, accounting, etc. It may provide you with expertise in certain areas. The rest, you may have to learn on your own. (Pexels.com)