B-schools struggle to get admissions

The situation is worse at tier-III B-schools, which are around 1,000 in number out of a total of 4,000 business schools in the country. They are currently struggling in terms of admissions

Mumbai: THANKS to Covid, business schools in the country are finding it difficult to have new batch of students so as to begin the forthcoming academic sessions. While for tier-I and tier-II business schools, it continues to be usual, it is the B-schools falling under tier-III that are feeling the pinch the most.

The situation is worse with tier-III B-schools which are around 1,000 in number out of a total of 4,000 business schools in the country. They are struggling in terms of admissions.

"We at Chetana's have adopted new methods to emphasise project-based learning in the post-pandemic period and were supported by our corporate partners and alumni, who played impactful roles in driving placements positively this year, providing meaningful guidance as well as opportunities that enabled us to be at par with last year's placement records," said Madhumita Patil, CEO, Chetana Group of Management Schools, Mumbai.

Close to eight and a half lakh admissions happen every year in the business schools. "Now the B-schools are divided into three tiers; tier-I, II and III. The problems of admissions, faculty not receiving their salary, is limited to the tier III B-schools that are new institutions, not focused much on placement," Srinivas Chunduru, co-founder, YUGMA (Vans Skilling & Advisory) told Bizz Buzz. The idea of YUGMA is to genuinely bridge the gap between corporate and campus.

"Admissions this time have not been a problem. We have around 90-95 per cent admissions, which is not an issue. Placements however have been a problem slightly, he said. Earlier around 60-70 per cent of students in one way or the other would surely get placed, today that number is more towards 40-50 per cent," he said.

And even the students that get placed, some companies are delaying the job offers. I would say that there has been a clear drop of 20 per cent, he added.

Chandrahauns Chavan - professor and former Director- Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, said, "While at JBIMS I have seen the placements as good as in the last many years, I see lower tier colleges continue to have challenges. I strongly feel that the institutes should make the students invest more time on multiple live projects, formal mentorship and sharper certifications that are meant to help them expand their industry awareness and not just fill up the CV. This way they will be career ready."

"The year gone by, having its own challenges, saw a greater intensity in placement focus and preparedness at the Indira Group of Institutes, Pune, which has close to 1,000 management students." says Shantanu Sensharma, Founder, Ozone Education Consultants and advisor for employability to Indira Group of Colleges.

Most of the students from top 20-25 MBA colleges are placed, he added.

"The struggle, in my view, is at the next tier-II colleges, let's say top 50 to 200 colleges. Earlier, placements would be around 70 per cent and now it has come down to 40-50 per cent in these colleges," opined Srinivas Chunduru of YUGMA.