The Myths about PGDM Colleges

 Post Graduate Diploma in Management or PGDM is usually a two year full time course ideal for fresh graduates, working professionals, or those wanting to get back to studies after a break to kick-start a new career. There is a lot of confusion hovering around the discrepancy between Masters of Business Administration or MBA and Post Graduate Diploma in Management or PGDM. Well, the main difference between the two is that MBA is a degree and PGDM is a diploma. The institutes and management colleges, which offer PGDM courses, are autonomous bodies that are not affiliated with universities. They have different types of accreditation but they are stand alone institutes that do not require any permission to update their syllabus and faculty from time to time.

Here are some common myths about PGDM courses:

1. PGDM courses not have as much value as MBA degrees: Now this one is absolutely untrue. Some of the most renowned colleges in India offer PGDM courses. Depending on the course you choose and the institute you get into, a PGDM can be extremely rewarding for your career.

2. PGDM is not valid for further, higher education: A PGDM done from an accredited university is valid and accepted in all international universities. So, you need not worry at all about your diploma not being recognized if you do decide to work or study abroad.

3. An International university will make the student take another exam with just PGDM: Nope, you are safe here. Even if the international university is unaware of the diploma concept, all you need to do is obtain a AIU – a certificate known as Association of Indian Universities. This additional certificate will ensure a secure admission in international institute of your choice.

4. You cannot obtain a student loan for PGDM: You can very well apply for and be eligible for a student loan for PGDM as long as you do your paperwork properly; which would be the case with any type of loan.

5. You cannot get a government job with a PGDM: Wrong again. As long as you are the right match for the available position, you can get a government job on your diploma.

So there you have it. As long as you have verified the authenticity of the institute, you are good. Now, let’s look at some of the benefits of doing PGDM:

1. PGDM is offered by autonomous institutes, which have liberty to change and update their curriculum as per industry standards without waiting around for approvals.

2. PGDM can offer amazing infrastructure facilities, state-of-the-art classrooms and top level faculty. In short, PGDM from the right institute will ensure amazing exposure to the industry of your choice in a word class environment.

3. PGDM may offer courses in industry verticals, which may be impossible to find in degree colleges. So you can actually specialize in a niche of your choice and get the right environment and syllabus for it.

As a student, you must always keep your options open and gather as much background information as possible. PGDM courses will help you launch your career in the corporate world in the industry of your choice. In this highly competitive world, it is very important to be passionate about your work; arming yourself with the right knowledge for your passion area is like icing on a rich chocolate cake.

5 simple techniques to motivate your teens.

Teenagers are a hard batch to understand and an even harder batch to control. However most parents do not realise that the key to motivating your teens is encouragement. It is and has always been the key to good positive motivation. Here. we will show you five sure-fire techniques to motivate your teen.

1. Compliments

People do better when they feel better and it’s only natural that a compliment goes a long way. So if your teen has just won a sporting event at school or stood third in a drama event, compliment him/her and reward them. This will ensure that they are positively motivated to do better. An healthy exercise is to have regular weekly family meetings. it down with your family for at least an hour every week and talk about positive family moments. Talk to your teens about the week gone by. Compliment them on their successes and advice or hear their problems out. During the week, look for ways to let your kids know how unique they are, what you appreciate about them, how adorable they were as little kids. Tell them stories about what they used to do when they were younger.

2. Humor

Parents, do you know teenagers respond to humor better than lectures and nagging. Here’s an example of how a parent used humor to defuse a situation.

Peter was a father of three teens who used betting and guessing games to motivate the children and add humor to a situation. When Peter noticed the chores weren't getting done as agreed, he'd say, "Someone forgot to do something they agreed to. I'll give a dollar to the first person who guesses what it is." The teens ran around the house trying to find out who the culprit was so they could win a dollar.

Simple things like this can set your kids on the right part. All it takes is a bit of positivity and the right enforcement.

3. Collateral

Collateral works really well with teens. If they want to borrow something of yours then they have to give you something valuable of theirs in return. When they return what they borrowed you give them back what's theirs. Good collateral must be something that your teens value like an ipod, make up kit, jewelry etc.

4. Let's make a deal

Another technique that works well in motivating teens is the proposition. Make deals with your kids so you can get them to do their work without too much fuss. For instance you could make a deal with your teen to give him a day of unlimited gaming if he cleans up his room. Such kind of positive encouragement goes a long way in keeping your teens motivated.

5 . Get involved

Probably the most simple tip but still the most overlooked one. If you want to help your kid it's important to get involved. What this means is that the parent and the teen must arrive at some sort of a breakthrough when it comes to expectation and goal management . Talk to your teen and ask him/her to share their goals and issues. Then you talk about your goals and issues. If your goals and your teens goals are far apart, brainstorm and come up with the best possible option. Both you and your teen can then agree on an option you can both live with and carry on from there.

Five big MBA admission trends in 2014.

2014, has kicked off with a lot of surprises for B-Schools. Last year, the UGC had revoked the governing rights of the AICTE which governs B-Schools in India on account of a Supreme Court verdict. This decision created a lot of problems as students were unaware as to the authority governing B-Schools. Recently the UGC clarified that B-Schools will be under the purview of the AICTE as before. While one issue was resolved another arose in the form of a study done by a MBA website which revealed that MBA aspirants feel, admission process to management colleges are cumbersome. The aspirants sought reduction in tuition fee, better public disclosure on placement track record and normalization process in the CAT qualifying scores. While this has highlighted a number of issues regarding B-Schools, business goes on as usual. This year, the admission process will be more streamlined and there are some trends we see catching on in 2014.

1.  WAT - The new yardstick

Writing ability test has been playing an important role in the second round of MBA admissions. Most of the IIMs and top B-Schools have substituted GD with the Writing Ability Test in a post CAT scenario. IIM A, IIM B, IIM C only use WAT for PI Round. The six new IIMs, namely IIM Ranchi, Raipur, Rohtak, Trichy, Udaipur and Kashipur, have started conducting a common admission process since the academic year 2011-13 and have substituted Group Discussion(GD) by written ability test (WAT). What this means is that writing ability has now become very important. The ability to express yourself through the written word is an important skill, but one which isn’t developed completely in school and college. Nevertheless regular practice should make you proficient in this regard.

2. Work Experience becoming more important

If you are a working professional, you stand a better chance to get an admission in a top B-School. IIMA awards 5-7% out of its 30 percent weightage, IIMB 10; IIMC 8; IIML 4; IIM Kashipur 5 and IIM Kozhikode provides 8 percent weightages respectively to candidates having post degree work experience.

3.  Woman candidates are the new rage

Probably one of the most interesting developments in recent times is the effect woman empowerment is having on top B-Schools. If you’re a female candidate you stand to get bonus points to get into your dream B-School. Top three IIMs A, B, C earlier didn’t provide any weightage to gender diversity but now old as well as new IIMs have begun assigning some points to fair sex. IIML awards 10; IIMC 3; IIMA and B have devised a formula to entertain more girl candidates out of their total weightage points; IIM Kashipur awards 7 points; IIM Rohtak and Raipur 20; other top ranked institutes have also started following suit. Women candidates have all the reason to smile on this count.

4. B-School no more engineers domain

MBA aspirants from other than engineering background used to have apprehensions before registering for CAT and XAT as getting admission in IIMs and XLRI was considered easy for the candidates with engineering background. But now the scene has changed. To encourage candidates from other streams the admission criteria in IIMs has changed with some points awarded to applicants from other disciplines. IIML awards 2 marks; IIM Rohtak 20; IIM Raipur 10 (Out of 30 awarded to female and non engineers).

5. Fading appeal of GD

Group discussions used to be held in the second round of MBA admissions in top colleges. However most top B-Schools have replaced it with WAT. However a few institutes still conduct the GD. IIM Lucknow, IIM Shillong, IIM Kozhikode all still conduct Group Discussion although the weightage is getting reduced year on year.

A Basic Overview about a Post Graduate Diploma in Management

When students today are looking for post graduate courses of study to add value to their career prospects, one of the most popular options has to be an MBA or a Master's in Business Administration. Management colleges abound and they offer students a whole host of courses ranging from finance to mass communication and marketing. Another such option that people often think about in lieu of an MBA is a Post Graduate Diploma in Management or a PGDM.

PGDM which is also known as a professional management program or course, is often given the short end of the stick since people assume that the word 'diploma' in the name won't carry as much weight as a degree. However contrary to popular belief, this course is also one that lasts for 2 years and carries immense weight when it comes to your career, when they are recognised by the AICTE or the All India Council for Technical Education. Institutes that are recognised by this body will offer comprehensive post graduate diploma in management programs. 

Post graduate diplomas in management are an alternative to an MBA, since they are usually offered by institutes or schools that are aren't affiliated with a particular university. This does not mean they are less than stellar; in fact you will find premier management colleges all across the country that have PGDM course offerings. Usually colleges that offer MBA courses are part of a university and have to follow a set curriculum, rules and guidelines as prescribed by that university. Whereas those that aren't have the autonomy to set their own curriculum and design a course that is more flexible, as long as it comes within the boundaries drawn by the AICTE. 

A post graduate diploma in management is often times also more career specific and is often targetted more toward a specified sphere of interest, as opposed an MBA which gives students a more broad approach toward the field. A PGDM can also be a more industry oriented course of study since the colleges offering this diploma have the freedom and flexibility to set their own curriculum and update and refresh it as and when the industry norms change. One good thing about this course is that if you complete one from a reputable and recognised school you will be able to pursue a doctorate if you wish to study further, since it is recognised in most places as a certificate equal to a Master's. 

You will find a variety of post graduate diploma in management courses today. However if you want the most bang for your buck and to compete on a sure footing when it comes to a job hunt or furthering your career prospects, it is essential to find a reputable B school that is well known in the industry. Make sure you research both the institute and the curriculum thoroughly when it comes to deciding between a Post Graduate Diploma in Management and an MBA, and find out what works best for your goals and aspirations.

Postgraduate Diploma in Management

PGDM

These days every graduate is out to get a MBA. In such a scenario, one wonders if such a degree is losing its value in the global business world. Imagine every applicant having the same degree, wouldn’t this be the obvious future situation. Well, unless the MBA is through one of the top management institutes and B schools in the country. If you are thinking on these lines or have for some reason missed your chance at one of the best schools for MBA, the best option may be to get admissions for a Post Graduate Diploma in Management. The post graduate Diploma in Management is held equivalent to a MBA degree in quite a few ways. In fact, there are many students nowadays that go in for a post graduate diploma in management instead of having the chance to get admission at a great B-school for a MBA.

There are some pressing reasons for this shift in the student psyche to consider such a post graduate Diploma over a Masters degree. You may notice that the youth and business aspirants you come across today are more focused on their long-term goal in life and how they might achieve it in the smallest possible span of time. Nobody takes educational decisions lightly. Applicants take into consideration their mental ability, aptitude, willingness to get through the program, capability to pay the fees, etc. before filling the application for admission. In such a set-up, students put knowledge and practical application above all. While MBA gives better knowledge of the business world as a whole, there are many post graduate Diploma in Management degrees that deal with specific sectors of the industry. For example, students wanting a career in e-commerce can opt for a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (e-Business), which is approved by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Travel and tourism has become a large money-grossing industry for countries from all around the world. There was a time when not many people traveled abroad, but these days things are quite the opposite. Each one of us knows at least one person who has taken a holiday outside the country, and at least one person who is in some way related to the tourism industry. Thus, it was high time that a course be designed for students wanting to enter this industry with comprehensive knowledge about its working as well as its future prospects. Today, there are well-known B-schools around the country introducing a Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism Management (PGDTM) program.

If you know what industry you wish to enter, there may be a specific Post Graduate Diploma in Management program more suited to your requirements as compared to a MBA degree. There are many students who prefer doing a MBA and then following it up with a PGDM program.

PGDM Colleges

PGDM colleges (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) from India are known the world over today. You can find students from all over the globe pursuing PGDM or MBA programs in various parts of the country, especially in metropolitans like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. The popularity of such Management programs grew with the inflow of multinational corporate houses, international blue chip companies, MNCs and IT giants and multinational banks into the country. Today, these large industrial sectors are absorbing new management talent at high salaries, which is the dream for any management aspirant. The ultimate goal for any management student is to work hard for such degrees and eventual opportunities of good placements in any corporate scenario.

These days the leading companies that are hiring fresh candidates look for two main things. Firstly, they want professionals that have comprehensive knowledge about the industry and its workings. And secondly, candidates that have the know-how about meeting the ever increasing demands of the international business market and know how to handle the pressure of a competitive corporate world. The PGDM program does just this.

The top PGDM colleges in the country offer precise and effective programs. And to compliment such syllabus are amenities such as, industry internship, live projects, outstanding industry academia interface, global faculty, international placements, sensitization to CSR, etc. These PGDM colleges also offer many other part-time and full time management courses that are designed for professionals and fresh graduates that aspire toward a career in the corporate world.

It is most important to find the best B school if you want to pursue a PGDM program in Mumbai. While there are many B schools and institutes offering Management courses in the city, settling for a low standard college might be the cause of disappointment in terms of placements, career opportunities and interviews at a later date. This is the reason many students take their time and use resources such as the Internet or social contacts to find the right institute or college for their further studies in this respect. Some of the B schools in Mumbai have created a reputation for themselves as the top colleges for such programs. These are colleges that not only impart knowledge to the students, but also hone the skills of the aspirants and make them market ready to meet the demands of the industry they wish to enter.

It may be best to ask around and browse through the websites of some PGDM colleges in Mumbai before making up your mind or preparing for the entrance tests. You could even visit a few colleges and talk to the students to get a better insight into the matter or take this a step further and talk to some of the faculty members. They could be of great help in giving you advice about the direction you need to take. It is wise to do all the research you can, in order to take an informed decision about your future.