Many national surveys show that only about half of the MBA graduates in India are employable Paradoxically, there is a shortage of talent in India. The industry has to invest significant resources to make the other half industry ready. To help mitigate this problem, the Sindhi Institute of Management run by the Sindhi Seva Samithi is helping the middle class get a well-rounded MBA education, and hit the ground running in the industry. Below is an excerpt from an interaction with Silicon India Education Magazine, wherein CMA Professor D. Gopinath outlines the efforts of the Sindhi Institute of Management in producing employable MBAs.

Tell us about the key points about the Sindhi Institute of Management that you want to bring out to the readers of this article.
Sindhi Institute of Management started its AICTE-approved MBA program affiliated with the Bengaluru City University. Since 2018, the institute distinguishes itself by running an MBA program with strong industry connections. During the two years of the program, the students have multiple opportunities to interact with industry practitioners, listen to industry experts and learn through internships. There are many faculty and other staff who have industry experience. This ensures that the MBA program is industry-oriented. This results in the students graduating not only with sound academic knowledge but also with a good understanding of the expectations of the industry. This paves the way to a smooth placement at the end of the course.

What is the USP or what differentiates you actually from other Institute’s providing similar programs?
Not many colleges have a real connection with the industry. We have speakers who work in the industry come and talk to our students. The students get a true insight into the industry. In addition, our Board of Governors and our IQAC (Internal Quality Assurance Cell) team have many members who have industry experience. So, the students have a real opportunity to pick up on this experience and get industry-ready.

What is the admission process & the eligibility criteria required to join this program?
The Sindhi Institute of Management is an AICTE-approved institution and follows a standard admissions process. The aspiring student needs to have a score of at least 50 percent in their degree course and have a

qualifying score in one of the tests like CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT, or KMAT. The undergraduate degree can be in any field such as BBA, or BCOM. Half of the MBA class is admitted using the above criteria. The other half of the class is admitted via government quota. To get admission through the government quota, the aspiring student must have at least 50 percent in an undergraduate degree course and have a qualifying score on the PGCET test.

Can you enlighten us on the mission & vision followed by the Sindhi Institute of Management?
Our mission is to ensure that every student who graduates is a knowledge center, ready to practice in the industry. The MBA program strives to produce graduates who are well adjusted to society. There is a significant focus on the behavior of the students, their attitude, and behavior towards their family, friends, and society in general. The students are taught human values. The hope is that if every student can uplift their family, this would contribute to nation building. The program ensures that the students understand the importance of human values and human rights. They are taught the constitution, their rights, and responsibilities. All the students are taught how to behave in their personal and professional lives. If they have issues, they can take the help of a grievance assessment cell. After graduation, they should bring this humane perspective into all their actions.

How are the placement programs helping students?
The MBA program provides training on a variety of subjects, in addition to the MBA courses. When the students are in the fourth semester, they are provided additional training to go through placement. This includes training in resume writing, dressing for the interviews, and communication skills. The students also go through mock interviews. This constitutes about 40 hours of additional training every semester and is included as part of the timetable. In addition, the students get an opportunity to earn two certifications each semester in specialized topics such as Analytics, HR, Marketing, Six Sigma, IFRS, and GST. The topics are chosen in consultation with industry experts to ensure that the skills imparted to students are in line with industry needs. The additional training is provided as part of the MBA program with no additional fees. This rigor in additional training has resulted in 65 to 70 percent of the students being placed at the end of the course.

Do you have any partnerships with other companies or training institutes?
Yes, definitely. We have several industry partners and a lot of engagement from the industry. The programs and the people who teach are dynamic. We sit with the industry folks and determine what roles are required and the areas of demand that particular year. For example, if the need is MIS rather than analytics that year, we drop analytics and teach MIS. This is to make sure that the students are not handicapped when they come up for placement. The students don't pay extra for this benefit. This training is included as part of a package. As our institute is run by the Sindhi Seva Samithi, our fees are not very high as compared to many other private colleges.

What is your roadmap for the institution's new growth phase?
We have a vision of improving the placement percentage from 65 to 75 percent over the next year. The institute caters to aspirants from the middle class with fees being in the lower end, in the range of Rs.4 - 4.5 lakhs. Almost half of our students come from rural backgrounds and lack confidence and communication skills. Also, many students join the program with the sole aim of getting a degree. We have to work to change their attitude. This means the institute has to work harder to improve the communication skills of the students and make them industry-ready. Things are improving. All the efforts of the faculty have been yielding good results with six students scoring FCD(First Class with Distinction) exemplary. The goal is to ensure that every graduate can contribute to nation-building. I believe the students should enjoy their two-year term and sit in the classroom without fear. Coming to class should not feel like an ordeal; the students should want to come to class. They should be able to speak freely and learn.