Who should opt for a management course?

Have you recently graduated from a reputed college? Are you wondering what should be your next career move? Are you contemplating going to a management college in Mumbai? Mumbai is definitely a thriving city where there are multiple opportunities for people from all walks of life. Finishing a course from a renowned management institute in Mumbai can be greatly rewarding not just from the knowledge point of view but also from long term success in the job world. But are you the right candidate for a post graduate course in management? Read on to find out:

Taking up a job immediately after graduation is a good idea. Most students are eager to start working and earning as soon as they finish college. Years of exams, books and assignments; the last thing on your mind may be another degree, which will take two years to complete. Hold that thought and temptation. Doing a management course will help you make wiser career choices in the long run. A college graduate may not attract the right job profile and pay package; but a management graduate may be in a better position to negotiate a salary and job profile. So if investing more time in your career is the only reason you don’t want to do a management course, then it is time to rethink some things.

If you managed to get a great internship in a reputed organization immediately after graduation, then kudos to you. An internship gives you the opportunity to work in an organization’s different department and get an overall gist of what exactly to expect when you take up a full time job. Once you have done an internship for three or six months, you can enrol in a management college. This way you have an overview of what kind of work do you see yourself doing day and day out and what kind of management course will come in handy for that. The internship plus management combo should work well for you.

If you have decided to join a family business but are wondering how to bring more organization skills to the table, then doing a management course is your best bet. Whether it is getting respect from people who have worked with the previous generations in your family, or starting a new department in your family company; a good management course will give you the right exposure to handle all kind of business situations. If you dive head first in to the family business without any managerial experience, you may feel overwhelmed and confused. Arming yourself with a degree will definitely help you in everything from expansion to human resource management.

Let’s say you took up a great job as soon as you graduated. Now you have couple of years’ of work experience, but you are finding it harder and harder to raise the bar as far as taking your promotion and paycheque to the next level are concerned? It may be time to get some academic accreditation. Having worked outside for a few years will definitely help you understand the career path you want to choose. You may have been lucky from the beginning and found the right industry, or you may want to completely switch it up. Once you have made up your mind, you can choose the right management course and have more options to choose from.

While choosing a management college in Mumbai, remember to opt one that has the right accreditation and syllabus.

Part Time MBA- A Boon for Working Couples

If you have recently tied the knot, then you know of all the extra pressure that comes with starting a new life. Things like setting up a new home, managing the new expenses, working around each other’s busy schedules and managing your finances can be all very overwhelming if not planned well. Now if you have been married for a long time and are used to you and your spouse bringing in a fixed income, then your finances will be in order. But what if one of you decides to become a student again, go back to school and get a degree? This sudden change in thought may have either come from a willingness to change your career, keep your options open or deciding after years of contemplation to actually take on a post graduate course. Your decision is no longer just about you; you need to think about how it will affect your family’s day to day life. You do, however, have the option to learn and earn at the same time. Part Time MBA may just be your answer.

With Part Time MBA, you can finally get that degree you always wanted. But learning and earning at the same time and being a spouse and having a home to look after can make your life super hectic and frustrating. It is very important to plan things, especially if there are kids in the picture. Remember that you have willingly laid out your plate and put everything on it. So just getting overwhelmed by it is not going to help you enjoy your family life, have good work days and get the most of your management course. Here are some quick tips to balance all areas of your life while pursuing a Part Time MBA.

·      Divide the chores at home. You will need maximum support and help from your spouse. So make sure you explain your schedule to them and express freely as to where all you will need help around the house.

·      Talk to your employer. After understanding your syllabus in detail, make sure to get your employer on board with your study schedule. You want to hold on to your job during the whole time, so be sincere and honest at your workplace and do not take on things, which you may fail to deliver due to other commitments.

·      Take time off. With so many things on your plate, taking on a hobby or finding any time to just sit and relax may look impossible. But make sure to set aside some down time instead of it always being about planning, routines, assignments and work commitments. If you are not having fun, you may just snap and give up at some point.

·      This goes without saying but choose the right course. There is a reason that after so long, you are choosing to back to studies. Make sure to choose the right college and course; one that will actually help you earn more money and get more job satisfaction when you are through.

·      Do not explain your decision to everyone. You may get lots of conflicting opinions about becoming a student again, but in the end only you know what is right for you so do not be afraid to go after your dreams.

Part Time MBA can be just as extensive and worth it if done from the right institute.  If you are sacrificing family time and reducing work hours, so that you can get a degree then make sure to be fully committed to your course.

International Education: Fostering the future leaders of the global village: Part II

In part one of our two part series on International schools/education in the country, we took a look at the system of international schooling, understood the nuances of what sets an international school apart and the advantages of this type of curriculum in the changing international eco-system. This part takes a closer look at the attitude of parents, students and teachers towards this new form of education and the rising number of schools that offer international schools in the country, from the point of view of them being just a fad or whether this means something new and more promising for Indian students and the future of education in the subcontinent.

Attitudes towards International Education:

As is evident from the unheard of response to the international standard of education being offered in today’s educational ecosystem, that parents are looking on this trend in a favourable light. When asked about why they opted to send their children to an ‘International School’, Mr & Mrs Sethi, parents of 7 year old Rati said, “We wanted our daughter to have every competitive advantage in the modern, tech savvy world. With its emphasis on global languages, current and updated syllabus and the fact that her education can be continued without a break in any other school offering the same curriculum, international schooling is the most vital advantage, that will serve Rati well in the long run!’

An interesting point is raised by Madhurima Chatterjee, mother of 12 year old Rehaan, “I was an army brat, needless to say my family moved about a lot, this meant my education suffered quite a bit simply because of the number of adjustments I had to make, because of changing ‘boards’ of schools and states. The incompatibility of one board with another really did a number on what could have been a promising career for me. Which is why I insisted on admitting my son into an International School. In the likely event of us having to move on account of my husband’s job, at least we know Rehaan is covered on the educational front, not having to deal with the terrible incompatibilities of the Indian Education System.”

Students are challenged and intellectually stimulated in the international education set up. With its emphasis on skill building, rather than just bookish knowledge, international education nurtures liberal attitudes and fosters within the student a hunger for knowledge and curiosity to explore possibilities. Philomena Andrade, a long time teacher says, “Students are like blank slates, who come to school in the pursuit of knowledge, not just to be spoon fed information that will help them pass an examination. Our education system’s overemphasis on rote learning has created several ‘mindless drones’ that are now fast becoming obsolete. Today’s competitive global scenario calls for the open, up to date and dynamic educational curriculum, provided only by an international, open minded set up present in the International Education system.” 

Even students seem to be adapting a whole lot better to the advantages offered by the International Education model, 11 grade student Owais Abdullah has this to say, “My teachers converse with me, treat me like a person with unique skills and value my input. I’m learning global languages, interacting with fellow students from all walks of life and not being forced to ‘complete’ my books, study for set periods of time and attend a million and one tuition classes. I’m glad that I'm being trained to think for myself and not live by the constrainments of theoretical knowledge obtained from a text book!”

Passing fad or a precursor of things to come?

International education may have existed for close to a century all over the world, but it is still in its nascency in India. There is no dearth of such schools in the cities across the country. But is it going to be just a metropolitan fad? An official with the State Department of Education, on condition of anonymity has this to say, “The true test of any educational system is its adoption across all the corners of the country. In India, there is no one major system of education, as every state has its own code or ‘board’. For International Education to be any more than just a metro specific trend, the need of the hour is to set up such schools in the Class II towns and take it to a wider audience.”

It is no fluke occurrence that International schools are so popular in the metros, quite simply put, people seem to be tired of the limitations of the prevalent system of education and are looking for an alternative. An alternative that enables their kids be globally competitive and effective in their lives as professionals and better people. Richard DeSouza, father of Clayton, a grade 4 student says, “I wanted a system of education that would enable my child to be able to communicate with people of different ethnicities and orientations with ease. To be a more efficient citizen of the world and to simply be tolerant of others, with their quirks and eccentricities, and most importantly be a free thinking individual, uncloistered and sequestered by the the blinders of education. Education is meant to liberate and stoke curiosity not stifle it. International education seemed like the perfect way to achieve these goals, and thus far Clayton seems to be excelling.”

It is therefore clear as day, that International education isn’t a passing fad. Even if it never becomes a ‘mainstream’ system of education, it will remain for the enlightened among us an alternate, parallel educational system that will always be the way to go, if disillusioned by the system.

Hallmarks Good Management Colleges Possess

Doing a degree in management is one of the most popular academic options today. What draws students over and over again to a Master's in Business Administration or MBA programs? It is not just the prestige of this degree that makes it such a viable option option today; it is also the comprehensive education, the life lessons, the experience and the preparedness that comes with doing a really good program. Good management colleges today offer their students a well-rounded experience that is more than just a degree you take when you walk out the door!

You may have many reasons for doing an MBA or a management course. For some it is a degree to acquire as the first step towards their career, for others it could be a way to enhance their professional experience by getting an additional incentive or qualification that will push them higher up the rung of their professional ladder. You will find a varied number of management colleges offering full time and part time courses that cover a wide range of academic spheres catering to an ever increasing number of people looking to widen the net where their career prospects are concerned.

So just how do you choose? Not all business and management schools are created the same. A lot of it depends largely on the goals you have and the aim of actually doing an MBA from the same. Firstly, know that truly worthwhile reputed management colleges will have a reputation that precedes them. They are known for their fine and comprehensive courses that truly not only aim to give their students a piece of paper with a degree but an excellent education that will serve them well and serve the purpose. They are educational institutions that have been accredited and recognised by government bodies and being an alumni will actually mean something.

Secondly, an MBA or any professional Masters program is an attractive incentive to many students because it widens their scope for the jobs they want. One of the perks a reputable B school will come with is providing opportunities for their students as far as placements and internships are concerned. These are especially important when it comes to gaining the experience you need to land that dream job once your course is over. Management colleges are also an excellent place to start building a network not just of prestigious alumni that have already passed through but with like minded peers, driving forward ambition and strengthening connections.

Thirdly, it will always serve you well to study at a college that have experienced faculty, a wide variety of programs as well as additional training programs that aim to make you into a better professional. The aim is not just to be an MBA graduate but to be ready and armed with the knowledge and the skills to take on or further yourself in your chosen professional arena.

When looking for best management colleges it is always a good idea to first assess your goals for undertaking a course and then find the best one that fits the bill.