Looking at joining a One Year MBA? Scouring rankings of the best One Year MBA programs is a great way to start your search. Rankings, when they are good, can give you a 360 degree view of a B-School or course on all the important parameters when you are figuring out What MBA to Select?

Outlook’s MBA Ranking should be one such ranking since it comes from a publication known in every household in India. But is Outlook’s ranking accurate?  Let’s find out!

Top 10 Colleges For a One Year MBA Programme 2018-2019

1. IIM, Calcutta
2. XLRI, Jamshedpur
3. Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai
4. SPJIMR, Mumbai
5. IIM, Shillong
6. IIT, Chennai
7. DMS, IIT, Delhi
8. IMI, Delhi
9. KJSIMSR, Mumbai
10. SDMIMD, Mysore

B-Schools That Deserve A Top 10 Rank

Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM C)

Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur

SP Jain Institute of Management Research, (SPJIMR) Mumbai

All three B-Schools have had a good track record vis-a-vis the quality of students, infrastructure, international tie-ups, placements and quality of faculty for their One Year MBA and deserve to be ranked among the Top 10 Institutes offering a One Year MBA.

B-Schools That Are Missing From the Top 10

Indian School of Business, Hyderabad 

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM A) 

Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM B)

Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM I)

Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM L) 

These are some of the top B-Schools with excellent One Year MBA Programs that are missing from the ranking.

If you came looking for the ranking of India’s best executive MBA programs (part-time programs suitable for people with 10+ years work experience) and not One Year MBA courses (full time courses suitable for people with 5+ years of work experience) – please read Top 10 Executive MBA Programs in India

All these B-Schools have well established One Year MBA Programs with average salaries in placements in the Rs 20-30 lakh/ annum range.

Tier 1 recruiters such as Google, Goldman Sachs &, Deloitte hire from these programs in middle to senior management roles.

These B-Schools are respected not just in India, but have made a mark on respected global rankings.

Indian School of Business is Ranked the No.1 B-School in India for its 1 Year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) as per the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2018-2019 while IIM A’s One Year MBA (Post graduate programme in Management for Executives / PGPX) at IIM A is ranked No.2 in the same ranking.

If one looks at the quality of students joining the course,  these B-Schools sit right at the top. Average GMAT scores at these institutes hover around 710-720. 

Outlook mentions that “Various B-schools across India were contacted for participation, among which 145+ B-schools responded and provided their objective data within the stipulated time.”.

In could be possible that these B-Schools have been excluded from the ranking because they did not respond in time/ chose to participate. 

Does this ranking then stand for anything? 

If Outlook’s ranking has excluded top B-Schools since they did not respond, Outlook should clearly say so upfront and inform the reader about which B-Schools were excluded for this reason.

Automatically giving top slots in the ranking to less deserving B-Schools, if that is what has happened here, is misleading.  

Prospective MBA students take these rankings at face value and such a practice would lead them to a wrong decision.  

The Odd Birds in The Ranking

Great Lakes, Chennai, has been awarded Rank 3 for its One Year PGPM program. It is unclear by what standard.

Outlook India’s 2018-2019 Ranking of Top 10 Institutes With One-Year Programmes

Great Lakes’ placements, recruiters base and roles on offer are not comparable to those at the top B-Schools in India. 

The average CTC salary at Great Lakes for the Class of 2018 was Rs 11.21 Lakhs p.a., which is below average for a One Year MBA course in India. The lowest salary for the Class was Rs 8 Lakh p.a.

As we shared earlier in the article, top B-Schools such as ISB and IIM A offering a One Year MBA are able to secure Rs 18 lakh-25 lakh+ avg. salaries for their students. 

Alumni reviews about Great Lakes, Chennai, like most other things on the internet are split between the positive and the negative. The positive reviews talk of good mentors and a great campus, others are very critical and talk of poor placements & dressing up of placement data. 

Some of the reviews are anonymous – this is understandable, as current students who are dependent on the institute for placements would not want to attract the institute’s ire by sharing their views openly under their own name. 

IMI, Delhi, featured at Rank 8, has had a rough ride with its Executive PGDM. 

While the sanctioned intake at IMI is 60, the Class of 2018 consisted of just 10 self-sponsored students (another 6-8 are sponsored by their companies). IMI’s class size has been shrinking steadily over the past years.  

The average class size in a One Year MBA in India course in India is 60-100 students. Some B-Schools such as ISB have a 1000 strong intake for the PGP.

It is clear that IMI’s course has a low demand from students. The ranking awarded by Outlook is therefore surprising.

KJ Somaiya’s Executive PGDM, another school included in the Top 10, has not had a great run either. The placement statistics put up the institute on its website show that the average salary for the Class of 2018 was just Rs 10.7 lakh. 

The Ranking’s Twilight Zone

The inclusion of IIT, Delhi and IIT, Chennai is possibly the most confounding aspect of the ranking. IIT, Delhi offers an Executive MBA (part-time course for executives) – it doesn’t offer a One Year MBA. Similarly, IIT, Chennai offers a 2 Year Executive MBA, it doesn’t offer a One Year MBA at all!

The inclusion of SDMIMD, Mysore in the Top 10 B-Schools for a One Year Programme published in 2018 takes the cake since the first batch of the One Year Post Graduate Certificate Program in Management hasn’t even started as yet!

Outlook’s rankings have had such goof ups in the past. Outlook had included IIM Kozhikode’s 2 Year Executive MBA course in the 2013-2014 One Year MBA ranking. 

What takes the cake is the inclusion of SDMIMD, Mysore in the Top 10!

The institute has announced that the first batch of  its One Year Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Management (PGCM) will start in August 2019.

There is no batch yet, no track record the quality of students who are choosing the course, of placements or of feedback from students on the course quality – and yet, somehow, Outlook has deemed the course worthy of a Top 10 rank! 

See the anomaly on SDMIMD’s website where the the Top 10 Ranking gained in 2018 ranking is showcased next to the course commencement date of August 2019!

SDMIMD’s Rank 10 in Outlook’s 2018 Ranking showcased on the college website – right next to the course’s commencement date in August 2019

Unclear Methodology

Outlook’s MBA Ranking 2018-2019 covers both Two Year MBA Programmes & One Year Management programs. 

The publication has published a detailed methodology for the ranking of the Two Year MBA Programmes, namely – perceptual factors, placements, infrastructure & facilities, academic excellence, selection process, personality development & industry exposure.

The publication has however not mentioned the methodology for ranking B-Schools offering a One Year MBA. 

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

The program launched way back in 1984, is aimed at experienced middle-level managers who want to assume leadership roles in the industry or have been identified by their organizations for such posts.

The full-time program is spread over 15 months (12 months coursework followed by 3 months of project work at the place of employment). It is approved by AICTE and accredited by the UK-based Association of MBA’s (AMBA).

The participants get general management and functional area orientation with emphasis on international and cross-cultural exposure. They also have an opportunity for personal as well as professional growth through a rigorous interactive learning environment including a 5-week International study module.

Prof Himadri Das, Director General, IMI New Delhi, says the Executive PGDM is specially geared towards transforming lateral talent in terms of executives who have already worked for five years or more.

You should have a minimum 5 years of full time, post-qualification experience as on March 31, 2019. You should also present scores obtained in CAT / XAT / GMAT or IMI’s Admission Test.

“Their needs are very different as they are at an inflexion point in their career where our inputs can take them to the next level.

“We are particularly experienced at catering to this segment of executives as we have been running this kind of program for about 30 years. We believe that innovation will drive the business world, and accordingly, we have ambitious plans to forge innovative ways of teaching, learning and interacting with the international community,” he says.

“We have a well‐established corporate engagement program which ensures exposure of our students across diverse segments spanning services, technology, consulting and manufacturing, spanning across private and public sector companies.

“We have a very active ‘Business Thought Leadership Program’ where senior executives and our own alumni speak to our students. We have over 5500 alumni across the world who have become change agents in the industry and in society, taking up positions of leadership and responsibility,” he adds.

Ever since its inception in 1981 as the first corporate sponsored B‐school in India, IMI New Delhi has had a constant influx of talent from across the country and the world, with diverse experiences, backgrounds and sub‐cultures.

Eligibility Criteria

You should have a minimum 5 years of full time, post-qualification experience as on March 31, 2019. You should also present scores obtained in CAT / XAT / GMAT or IMI’s Admission Test.

Program Fees

The program fee is Rs 11 lakh (inclusive of boarding and lodging) and Rs 17 lakh with international study module.

Placement Figures

The average salary drawn by graduates in the latest placement is Rs 12.8 lakh with the median at Rs 10 lakh and the highest at Rs 27 lakh.

Class Profile

B. Tech graduates form an overwhelming 70% of the Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Management (EPGDM) Class (2018-2019) at the International Management Institute (IMI) New Delhi.

The rest of the class is made of BA Economics graduates 20% and others 10%. In the professional background, IT/ITES forms 55%, followed by Banking/Finance 18%, Telecom, Oil & Gas and others at 9% each.

In terms of gender, the class has a well-balanced 50:50 ratio of female and male students.

In work experience, 30% each have 81-90 months and 61-70 months and 10% each with 91-100+ months and 50-60 months.

The special characteristics that define IMI New Delhi as a management institute & details about the placements statistics, key recruiters, class profile, Scholarships etc:

1. What are the average and maximum CTC for the latest batch? Is it maintaining an upward or downward trend?

Batch – 2016-17

Maximum CTC – 27 L/PA

Average CTC – 13.5 LP/A

Placements are ongoing for the current Batch

2. The key recruiters from the course? Accenture, HCL, KPMG, REPL, For the previous Batch

LAVA International, Newgen, Sapient, for the Current Batch

Some of the key recruiters are: Accenture, Deutsche Bank, Genpact, HCL, Jet Airways , KPMG, LAVA international, Maruti Suzuki India Pvt. Ltd., Newgen Technologies, REPL ,Sapient, Ujaas Energy Ltd. etc 

3. What were some of the roles offered to the batch post the course? 

Business Development Consultant, Consultant-Advisory-Risk Consulting, Business Unit Service Manager, Business Analysts, Team Lead –Digital marketing, Project Manager, Asst. Manager- Product & Solutions.

The amount of scholarship is Rs. 60,000/- for the first rank holder, Rs. 40,000/- for the second rank holder and Rs. 20,000/- for the third rank holder.

4. Which sectors attracted the maximum number of graduates/offered the best pay and other benefits?

IT/ ITES & Telecom

5. What was the class profile? The gender ratio, work experience, education/work background?

The class has 79% of Indian students and 21% of international students.

The work experience ranges from :

• 50-60 months – 36%
• 61-70 months – 36%
• 71-80 months- 7%
• 81-90 months- 7%
• 90-100 months- 14%                                                                                                                                                                     

6. Any steps being taken to increase diversity in the classroom, changes in the course content (in view of the rapidly changing market environment)

The college lives by its name that is International Management Institute as the batch has a mix of both Indian and International students working together in synergy. The program is also scheduled as such that students from various different industry backgrounds are taken to provide an overall learning of all industries. The course content is kept malleable pertaining to the market environment. The college believes in providing education through the medium of experiential learning helping the students grasp the concepts through various case studies and discussions.

7. Any scholarships this year to help prospective students?

The merit scholarships are awarded to the students of the PGDM (Executive) programme on the basis of outstanding cumulative academic performance at the end of the programme.  The amount of scholarship is Rs. 60,000/- for the first rank holder, Rs. 40,000/- for the second rank holder and Rs. 20,000/- for the third rank holder.

Students who have obtained a `D’ or `F’ grade in any course are not eligible for the award of a scholarship.

According to the above clause (number 21.1 in “handbook of information for students”, 2015-16) following students received merit scholarship in the academic year 2016-17.

8. Who are some of the alumni from the course who have made a mark in the corporate world?

Some of the reputed Alumni are:

• Atul Sobti CMD, BHEL Batch – 1986
• Mr Shashank Randev Vice President, VC Circle Network Batch – 2009
• Mr Akhilesh Verma Chief Manager (Outsourcing) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Batch – 2009
• B. K Iyer Chief Executive and Head of International Syndications ICICI Bank Ltd., Singapore Batch – 1985

It is indeed rare to find an amalgamation of global exposure, hands-on experience and industry benchmarked teaching pedagogy. The congruence of knowledge and experience occurs in IMI, New Delhi, where the talent of the students is harnessed to achieve personal and professional milestones.

IMI, New Delhi, embarked on a journey to develop socially sensitive, ethical, value-adding leaders and organizations in 1981, with the vision to be a global management school.

It has since then chartered a path to create the leaders of tomorrow, by becoming the first institution to offer courses designed for executives in 1984. The 15-month Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Management, offered by the institute has mapped out a path ahead for its students,  by enabling them to adapt, create and innovate in its endeavour to create socially sensitive leaders at the helm of organizations.

The illustrious alumni network, international facilitation, AMBA accreditation and teaching pedagogy speak multitudes about the exposure provided in IMI. It’s truly said that the person who leaves campus after the 15-month period course is different from the one who walks in, in terms of both personal and professional growth.

The institution instils a sense of belonging and learning and provides a closer insight into the world of corporate jungle gyms. One gets an opportunity to immerse oneself in the initiatives being undertaken in campus and map out one’s own personal growth trajectory. It definitely helps one take the next big leap and gives one the opportunity to prove and test one’s mettle.

Nothing is more absolute than the knowledge that learning can never exist in silos. The peers play an equally important role in the learning curve of the students. The diversity of the students plays a vital role here.

Learning is the hub at IMI, New Delhi. The erudite faculty is the essence of the learning at IMI and are at the very core of shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Their experience in the field of academia and industry help the participants gain first-hand insights into the industry and its operations. The in-depth knowledge of the faculty about the intricacies of the corporate world is an invaluable asset for the participants.

Nothing is more absolute than the knowledge that learning can never exist in silos. The peers play an equally important role in the learning curve of the students. The diversity of the students plays a vital role here.

The International students constitute more than 50 % of the student base in any batch of the programme and play a crucial role in helping all the students understand and adapt to the different cultures, identities, beliefs, attitudes and customs present in the campus.

These aspects have enabled every outgoing batch of the institution to carry the baton of IMI higher. In its 35 years as a premier B school, IMI, New Delhi, has truly become an International Centre of Excellence with a core focus on building and enriching the learning experience and skills of its students.

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