Business savvy: IBA students in a classroom and (top) the campus

All that Abhishek Aggarwal remembers of his two years at the Indian Business Academy (IBA) is slogging. “We studied 56 subjects in two years. The curriculum is packed with assignments, presentations and practicals,” says the former MBA student. But Aggarwal has no complaints. “My aim was to learn and I did just that,” he says.

Rakesh Bhaskar, senior relationship manager at IBA, agrees that the institute focuses on learning. “IBA’s curriculum is driven according to the needs of the corporates. In fact, we build our students’ competencies through rigorous training,” claims Bhaskar. This, he adds, is the reason for the success IBA has achieved in a relatively short span of five years.

Set up in 2001, IBA has been ranked in Category ‘A’ Level 1 by Business India in 2005 and managed the 78th position in the Cosmode Survey/Business World, the same year. “Our placement record also reflects the institute’s success,” says Bhaskar. IBA has two institutes in India — one in Bangalore and the second established earlier this year — in Greater Noida on the outskirts of Delhi.

Congenial atmosphere

IBA’s Bangalore campus is located on the outskirts of the city and is spread across a 12-acre area. It is also fully Wi-fi enabled. “The IBA campus is a quiet and naturally refreshing place. The facilities blend in with the natural surroundings of coconut and teak trees,” says Bhaskar.

“The campus is cut off from the city and is so peaceful that it helps students in building themselves academically and personally,” says Sudeepta Banerjee, a second year student at IBA.

IBA’s flagship programme is the postgraduate programme in management (PGPM). “This is a two-year residential programme with dual specialisation in marketing, finance, human resource, IT, e-biz, international business and operations,” says Bhaskar. The institute also offers a postgraduate programme in retail management (PGPRM). “The course curriculum is modified at regular intervals following industry feedback. Course updates are a fixed agenda for discussion at IBA’s half-yearly governing council meetings,” adds Bhaskar.

Hip facilities

Infrastructure facilities include auditorium style classrooms, executive training centres, hostel blocks, a fully-equipped gymnasium, indoor and outdoor sports facilities as well as a coffee shop. “Students can get books and access online data and journals at our well-stocked library,” adds Bhaskar.

Banerjee says the strength of IBA is its faculty. “They act as our mentors and we can approach them for both academic as well as personal issues,” she says.

IBA offers a wide range of co-curricular activities to students. “The institute has clubs catering to every interest and they organise panel discussions, case study competitions, role plays, workshops and interactions with prominent people from various fields,” says Bhaskar.

There’s the OM Club for the operations branch, Navigator for finance, Spandan is the HR Club and Cosmos, the business quiz club. The institute conducts Art of Living classes to enable the spiritual development of students.

IBA follows a rigorous admission procedure, says Bhaskar. “The selection procedure comprises an aptitude test, group discussion, essay writing, psychometric tests and a personal interview,” he says. Candidates with a bachelors degree in any discipline, with a minimum 50 per cent aggregate marks, can apply.

For placements, IBA has set up a team called the Corporate Relations and Delivery Team (CRDT). “The CRDT helps build the institute’s relationship with various firms. It also helps develop soft skills in students through mentoring, conducting mock interviews and organising networking events through workshops, seminars and guest lectures,” says Bhaskar. He claims that IBA records 100 per cent placements every year.

Vital Statistics

WHAT IS IT? A business school.

WHO’S THE BOSS? Manish Jain is the CEO.

HOW CHEAP IS IT? The fee for the two-year postgraduate programme for management (PGPM) is Rs 4.56 lakh.

HOW ABOUT JOBS? The institute claims to have 100 per cent placement.

WHERE TO STAY? There is hostel facility for both boys and girls.

WHERE IS IT? Lakshmipura, Thataguni Post, Kanakapura Main Road, Bangalore 560 062. Phone: 080-2843 5931/32/33/34. Website: http://www.ibainternational.org/

Varuna Verma

OLD MEMORIES

Anant Sagar, assistant manager, business controls and operations, IBM India, recalls his IBA days

The first thing you notice about IBA is the surroundings. The serene and green campus provided the ideal setting for studies. The enthusiasm of the faculty was infectious. And there was no feeling of formality between the students and the faculty. In fact, we could approach them at any hour of the night or the day. At times, they even came down to our hostel room to help us study. The close interaction with the faculty helped build a lasting bond with the institute. IBA’s management course was stressful. A 16-hour day was normal — with eight hours being devoted to classes and another eight spent on completing assignments and in club activities. But the hectic schedule prepared us to face the stress of corporate life. Now, when I encounter difficult situations in my work life, I know how to handle it.

As told to Varuna Verma