undergraduate degree, entrepreneurship courses, iilm

Pros of Taking a Gap Year between School and College

IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Undergraduate Business School, IILM University15 JanuaryRudrajoy Banerjeeentrepreneurship courses, IILM, IILM Collage, undergraduate degree

Planning to take a break after high school? Well, a gap year is an option that more and more students are taking up these days. And the announcement that first daughter Malia Obama would be taking a gap year before starting her college last year, has made many students consider about delaying their entry into college. Gap years are a great way to explore the world of possibilities and learn about new things, such as various entrepreneurship courses, international programs, and the like.

Here we have listed the pros of hitting the pause button before entering the undergraduate degree life:

Taking a gap year

Recharges your mind: The final year in school is often exhaustive, thanks to the regular tests, extra-curricular activities, college visits and applications that one has to do during this time. Students experience burn out and entering college with that stress is no fun. A gap year will give your mind and body a much-needed break so that you enter college fully charged to take up new challenges.

Prepares you for college: Despite all the assumptions that people have regarding ‘gap year’, the fact is that taking a year off between school and college actually helps one learn a lot of new things that would have otherwise not been possible. It gives students the maturity that is required to make the most of the college life. You may gain practical experience in a field that interests you, know about your strengths and interests, which in turn help you selecting a course and college of your choice.

Makes you more flexible: Gap year challenges you in a different way, unlike academic and extracurricular challenges that you have in high school. You may plan a trip to the mountains, indulge in outdoor adventure activities to get the adrenaline flowing. The new challenges will make you more flexible and prepared for transition – a very useful skill in today’s time.

Help gain work experience: Gaining some work experience is also a good option to consider after completing school. It will not only help you save money for college but also gain professional experience and a clarity on what you actually wish to study in college.

Book Review – Intercultural Communication for Global Business – How leaders communicate for success by Elizabeth A. Tuleja (2017)

Uncategorized10 JanuaryGeeta GogiaBook Review, Communication for Global Business, Elizabeth A. Tuleja, IILM Blog

Communication, undeniably, is essential for any business to thrive. Especially in today’s context, when most of the organisations are located in various corners of the world, communication holds an all the more important role as people from different cultures come on a common platform to work together and therefore, ensuring effective exchange of ideas and information among people of diverse backgrounds becomes not only an important but a critical function of the leaders in order to drive success. Elizabeth A. Tuleja’s Intercultural Communication for Global Business – How leaders communicate for success offers a brilliant tool to those who wish to understand various dimensions of inter-culture at play, and importance of intercultural communication, consequently highlighting how to learn and hone communication skills. The book offers an exhaustive account of how the changing world is making intercultural communication imperative to the achievement of business objectives.

Tuleja interestingly draws historical references from classic works of Hall, Hofstede, Trompenaars and Kluckhohn among others to show the importance of intercultural communication in a business set-up and states that today culture and business are interwoven to an extent that “we have reached a point of no return with the cultural imperative – it is unavoidable, it demands our attention, it is an obligation, and it is a necessity if we are to survive.” And therefore, we must learn how to interact with people with higher levels of sensitivity and openness. Though the book acknowledges the plurality of definitions of culture as it is a wide, abstract and complex concept, the author also highlights that peoples’ values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours may be defined as the building blocks of culture.
Communication in a business environment requires us to comprehend human nature, social behaviour, and mental behaviour, and use communication to interact with others thereby making the four sciences, namely anthropology, sociology, psychology and communication the “four legs” when we “think of the field of management as being the seat of a chair”.

Intriguingly, the author makes the readers reflect upon who they are and better understand various aspects of their identity by focussing on their relationships, jobs, status and how these things define them because according to her, the people with whom we relate and network shape our self-image. Further, she suggests that recognising the different cultures of our own country can be the starting point to understand difference.

The author presents the Value Orientations Model developed by the anthropologists, Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck. According to them, world views may be imperceptible forces which influence our life and profession. In this context, to gain an understanding of people of different cultures, it is essential to understand their view of the world. The Value Orientations Method, therefore, serves as a tool to understand core cultural differences related to five fundamental orientations of the human beings, namely Time Sense, Activity, Social Relations, People and Nature and Human Nature. An understanding of these five aspects facilitates better understanding of the organization.

The author concludes by emphasising that certain norms of global leadership are universal. However, the manner in which they are carried out depends on the context and the situation in different cultures. Hence, people across various civilisations and organisations have distinct criteria for evaluating success of leaders.

Tuleja presents a series of case studies to show how organisations have set-up themselves in various corners of the world and gained prosperity by working with mixed cultures. Simultaneously, the book also offers an account of certain challenges encountered by some organisations while trying to work in cross cultural groups. The various case studies include experiences of Wal-Mart, Nike, Cheerios Commercial, McDonalds, Starbucks among others.

All in all, the book is a must for students and teachers of management, employees and leaders working in various organisations.

IILM-Undergraduate-Business-Schools-Three-Week-Global-Study-Programme

IILM UBS Three Week Global Study Programme – ISM Stuttgart, Germany

Campus Life, Global Study, IILM Undergraduate Business School10 JanuaryNidhi PiplaniGermany- Stuttgart, Global Study Program, Global Study Program at IILM, IILM Undergraduate Business School’s, Three Week Global Study Programme

Going beyond boundaries…
IILM Undergraduate Business School’s Three Week Global Study Programme

“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow”- Anonymous

To be a globally responsible leader, you need firsthand experience learning about cultures, organizations, and business practices around the world. IILM Undergraduate Business School’s International exposure is designed to strengthen students knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience to create economic and social value wherever they go.

The three weeks global study programme helps students examine diverse aspects of interacting with other cultures and innovative methods of learning. This global study programme is an integral part of the academic program, and helps students progress toward completing their degree, while helping them define their view of the world. Our students are entrepreneurial, confident, socially driven and capable of fulfilling leadership roles in a global context.
This academic year our students were taken to the following universities for this programme :

• International School of Management , Germany – Stuttgart Campus
• International School of Management , Germany – Dortmund Campus
• Seneca College , Canada

Summer at International School of Management , Germany- Stuttgart Campus

Stuttgart and its surrounding area from one of the largest commercial capitals in Europe. The campus is just a few minutes on foot from south of the city centre and is easy to reach using public transport. Ms. Vanessa Schmidt Garaj , International Officer at ISM Stuttgart campus coordinated the entire programme and ensured the transition was smooth for the students and faculty. She was one stop guide for all queries pertaining to academics , German culture , places and society.

Students studied two modules- Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Strategic Management was delivered by Professor Björn Röeber and Professor Qeis Kamran delivered Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The teaching methodology included lectures and case discussions. Both professors were highly interactive. They engaged the students through group discussions on the various cases.

Students also had the opportunity to visit three Companies. Students visited Porsche Museum, Bosch and Daimler. It is noteworthy to mention that the Germany is renowned for its automobile industry and students were enthralled to visit the headquarters of the automobile giants.

Overall, the students enjoyed their experience learning about the Germany Education system, exploring opportunities for business and discovering new ideas which they can implement back home.

10 Lessons From My Time At IILM

IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM University08 JanuaryRudrajoy Banerjeeentrepreneurship courses, IILM, top business schools in India

It has been a long journey – from being accepted into one of the top business schools in India to taking flight into the world of corporate administration. My time at IILM, however, has been worth every moment.

Today as I sit down to compile the top 10 takeaways, the most important lessons I have garnered from my time at IILM, I realize that these are not merely components of entrepreneurship courses but are life lessons that I shall carry with me.

Follow your passion:

Leadership is the ability to share your vision, your enthusiasm for your team, guiding it to success. It is only when you are passionate about your own goals can you hope to inspire others; and only with this dedication to your dreams can you leave a lasting impact.

People are precious:

One of the greatest lessons I learned at IILM is that it is people that we work for and work with. Placing the people ahead of our goals and challenges will make work a very fulfilling experience and the success worthwhile.

You can make a difference:

One single person, a lone voice, one revolutionary idea, a moment of brilliance – that’s all it takes to change the way things have always been. Being different is a result of courage, though. Cultivate that courage.

Step out of your comfort zone:

Staying with our feet firmly planted on the ground may sound practical but that is not the way to achieve any breakthroughs. Only aiming high, taking risks, pushing ourselves to go beyond your comfort zone, and trying creative solutions to challenges shall help us achieve the success we seek.

Great execution is as important as a great idea:

Working on creative solutions, customizing products and processes, breakthrough ideas – none of them are worth much unless we dedicate ourselves to flawless execution. Focus and pay attention to details.

Seek diversity:

Birds of a feather may flock together but it is only diversity that will provide a team, an organization with the skill sets that are required to get a rounded perspective of any situation and to work on an effective solution to any challenge.

Work on your empathy:

At business school, there is a great deal of emphasis on developing soft skills. At IILM, however, we learned to take people-centric management further by working on our empathy factor. This alone will give us a win-win outlook.

Never stop learning:

This in itself is the greatest learning. Make “Stay Foolish, Stay Hungry” your mantra but also stay open to learning that comes from unexpected quarters. Knowledge is not a function of qualification or even experience. Appreciate the critic and the skeptic for their ability to show you your weaknesses.

Take nothing for granted:

Getting caught up in the dynamics of the corporate world, in our work, in designing and sustaining creative enterprises, we often overlook the need to be prepared for exigencies. Effective handling of crisis situations is just as important as administering business solutions.

Think big:

Through my time at IILM, my mentors and peers helped me look at the larger picture. Clichéd as it may sound, our business enterprises must fit into the global scheme of development. Thinking big alone will help us achieve phenomenal success.

5 Insights From My First Year At IILM

IILM Institute for Higher Education, IILM Stories, IILM University05 JanuaryRudrajoy BanerjeeIILM, Top B schools in India, undergraduate college

Business school – a long cherished dream for many. When I received my acceptance letter from IILM, nearly a year ago, it was with a bit of trepidation and a lot of anticipation that I packed my bags. The learning would be deeply insightful and the experience very different from undergraduate college, I was told.

To be accepted into one of the top B schools in India is an honor and boy, was I ready to take it on!

Now that I have completed a year here, I think it is time to go back and reflect, to understand and assimilate the insights I have gathered over the past few months.

Defining my role:

The first thing that you expect to learn in a business school is how an organization, a business enterprise functions and your role in it. The numerous case studies we tackled, the interactions with pioneering entrepreneurs from across the country, however, taught me to define my role. Not merely in an organization but as a contributor to my immediate environment, to my society, and to the global community at large. “Am I making a difference?” This is the parameter that I shall now evaluate my actions by.

From management to collaboration:

As we stepped into IILM, teeming with our understanding of “management”, notions we had picked up at our undergraduate colleges, unlearning became as important as learning. Understanding the significant role of the collaborative approach in entrepreneurship and business development was an eye-opener. ‘Collaboration’ holds many connotations. It could mean something as simple as team building or something as diverse as bringing together people from across the globe on a common mission.

Address the people:

It is quite easy to get caught up in the mechanics of it all, to lose perspective and above all to ignore the human element. Every solution we design, every demand we meet; every enterprise is ultimately the answer to a human need. This is one key learning that has been emphasized at every step through this year at IILM. And when we speak of the human element, the focus certainly has to be on empathy. Be it a vendor, a stakeholder, a team member, or a client – empathy holds the answer.

Passion for Purpose:

They say how we feel is a true indicator of what is to come into our experience. Even without devolving into the metaphysical, I can state with certainty that my first year in IILM has taught me that we find our purpose only through our passion. It is this very passion for excellence that distinguishes an exemplary leader from a mediocre one.

Problem-solving through focus:

Common sense is uncommon, they say. Persistence, attention to detail, focus, and common sense are the real tools that I have learned to work with, in this yearlong endeavor to design efficient solutions for businesses and communities across the globe.

Armed with these wonderful insights I step into another semester at IILM, eager and hungry to learn more and be better each day.

My Global Study Tour at ISM, Germany

Global Study, IILM Undergraduate Business School, IILM University04 JanuarySurbhi DhasmanaDASA and WILO Tour, Germany, Global Study Program, Global Study Program at IILM, Global Study Tour, Global Study Tour at ISM, Global Study Tour Blog, IILM Blog, IILM Global Study Tour, International School of Management, Prof. Qeis Kamran

My Global Study Tour at ISM, Germany
By – SurbhiDhasmana

IILM Undergraduate Business School offers a view and experience of a big World beyond the Horizon. To be in sync, with the Global vision of providing Economy with Responsible Entrepreneurs in today’s time. IILM gives the first-hand experience about multi-lingual cultures, organizations, and business practices around the world. All this encapsulated in a mandatory 3 weeks Global Study Program at Germany or Canada or Finland, to choose from.

Global Study Programs are also designed to strengthen student’s knowledge, skills and attitudes to create economic and social wealth everywhere. Giving a sense of living in harmony with the environment and becoming self-reliant in the known and unknown circumstances.

One of the options under Global Study Program offered to the students is in association with International School of Management (ISM), Dortmund, Germany.

On the 6th of August 2017, 35 students along with two faculty members, from both Lodhi Road and Gurgaon Campus boarded Lufthansa flight for Frankfurt, Germany to reach ISM. Modules taught consisted of “Advance Strategic Management” and “Entrepreneurship and Innovation”. Each set of Module is designed keeping in mind the fundamental importance of business learning. IILM students are required go through a well-planned and structured format of the conduction of the modules as per ISM curriculum. The teaching methodology applied during the program takes place in the shape of Interactive Classroom Teaching, Numerous Presentations, Harvard Case Study Sessions and much more. The icing on the cake was when Professor Kamran was happy with the students that he provided an additional teaching class on the subject “Design Thinking” which is certainly the next big thing in the industry.

This three weeks program was a blend of high standard teaching, Industrial visits to DASA and WILO, and Cultural interaction. Prof. Qeis Kamran is a person with vivid knowledge and vast experience, teaching students about What could be there rather than What is there. Our student Coordinator, Jana Dargel from ISM was kind enough to make our stay comfortable.

German Culture is about People being hard working, sincere, honest and punctual. They are very helpful, warm and welcoming to the visitors to their Country. During the week ends and spare time, we traveled across Europe. People we came across were very helpful, even when they didn’t know the way they used their Google Map to guide us. Some of the places the students planned and visited on their own, included Berlin, Paris, Praha, Zurich, Amsterdam, Brussels and Spain. It was overall Personal as well as Social skills development 3 weeks program.

To Conclude I would say;

“Thank you IILM for giving me this golden opportunity to learn and experience the world beyond IILM campus and across the Continents. Global Studies by far has been one of my most delightful experiences. From cross-cultural diversity to different business trends and challenges, I learned an essential side of business studies. Faculty and Friends – they all made my Global Study Tour worth cherishing for life.”