How B-Schools Play A Crucial Role In Providing A Job Skilled Focussed Education

Prof. Vidhu Gaur Sep 14, 2020

The business landscape of today is in constant flux, as it is continually disrupted by rapid change. We are seeing business fundamentals undergoing paradigm shifts, aided by fast-paced technological developments. Consequently, the causal effects of such a change can be observed through the newly evolving demands of employers, employees’ expectations, the nature of jobs, and the skills required in a system that is experiencing churn. 

It is evident from the GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey 2019, that out of 11 skills listed, problem-solving (57 per cent) and working with others (50 per cent) were the most important skills for recruiters. While companies based out of Asia Pacific are on the lookout for data analysis and interpretation skills during recruitment, it indicates that smaller companies give more importance to abilities such as written communication, managing the self, coachability & self-reflection, and listening. Furthermore, recruiters acknowledge that most B-schools prepare graduates specifically for quantitative tasks, oral communication and presentations. 

Source: GMAC corporate recruiters survey 2019

To accommodate these changing needs of the industry and students, management education has undergone a major transformation over the past few years. The B-schools have continuously reinvented themselves over time, to equip students with relevant knowledge, and to prepare them for newly arising challenges in the job market. 

Ways in which B-Schools make a student industry ready:

Committees at B-schools prepare the students for the corporate world. The way committees function is based on the structure of any corporate organization i.e. with a defined hierarchy, roles, and responsibilities. This gives aspirants insights into the nuances of a work environment.

Institutions try to facilitate opportunities where the students can develop pertinent aptitudes like taking the initiative, collaborating with colleagues, organization of work, and so forth. These abilities come in handy when students have to transition smoothly into a corporate workplace.

B-schools make a conscious effort in creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus, encouraging practical applications by providing specialization courses in entrepreneurship. They push students to explore networking opportunities with startups, to inculcate leadership skills, and the ability to take calculated risks.

B-schools are now focusing on ‘mixed learning’ as a concept, which is a blend of physical/in-person and online teaching pedagogies. The course content is usually made available on online learning management modules, while content for understudies, i.e. assignments and notes for classes can be accessed at end of the week, or right after the conclusion of on-campus lectures. Eventually, B-schools will offer education via mixed or half-n-half learning alternatives to working professionals, housewives, single guardians, or even individuals who seek post-work training while simultaneously striking a work-life balance.

Internships and Live Projects have always been part of B-schools’ curricula, inducted in a bid to help students gain practical know-how in a professional environment. Students get exposure in the field of their choice, and it also helps them build critical networking connections along with the coveted work experience.

Assignments and Group Projects, along with an academically intensive course structure forces students to confront a tough environment, thereby familiarizing them with high-stakes work culture, synonymous with the corporate world. This will prepare them to handle work stresses better, including aspects like meeting deadlines for assignments and multitasking.

Corporate Guest Lectures arranged by B-schools provide opportunities for students to acquire in-depth knowledge on specific subjects. A guest speaker offers a new perspective on certain issues and students can learn about real-life experiences. Students get to link classroom teaching with the guest lecture, which in turn helps them with better retention abilities.

As expected, about two out of three recruiters (65 per cent) agreed, and one out of four (21 per cent) strongly agreed when asked about their level of agreement with the statement ‘Business school graduates are well prepared to be successful in my company.’ Just one in 10 disagreed (12 per cent) and about two per cent strongly disagreed.

 Source: GMAC corporate recruiters survey 2019

The Future

Ten years down the line, businesses will leap-frog current developments and advance further technologically, operating in an uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment. Businesses of the future will expect B-schools to churn out students with skill sets that can meet the demands of that time. Hence, it is time B-schools make a seismic shift in terms of their curriculum and pedagogies to facilitate new-age learning and prepare students for the jobs of the future.