MBA Admissions 2018-19: IILM B-School Begins Admission Process

Every year, up to 120 smart, dynamic and aspirational students get to enroll themselves at IILM, a PGDM college in Delhi NCR unlike any other. With the MBA admissions now open for the next batch which will last from 2018 to 2020, we take a look at the entire process in detail, and why IILM can be the perfect stepping stone to a successful entrepreneurial career.

Choosing IILM:

Before opting to participate in the admission process, one must decide the ideal college for MBA. In IILM, though, you will discover a college and an experiential PGDM programme that tailors itself to your strengths and interests. Backed by a globally benchmarked curriculum inspired by Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wharton Business School, and IIM-A, our PGDM involves business simulations and case studies at its core. This is testified by over 9000 well-placed alumni throughout our 25-year history.

The 4-week global study programme is also a key differentiator which enables students to get adequate and critical global exposure in business studies and environment across various countries in Europe, Asia, and North America.

The backbone of the entire course, though, is the mentoring programme which pairs individuals with a permanent mentor according to his or her interests. The full-time and visiting faculty with vast industrial and teaching experience also plays a huge role in churning out world-class entrepreneurs of tomorrow. A robust placement cell and the mandatory 3-month long internship develop critical skills in students and provide them with a fantastic platform to bag the job of their dreams.

Finally, the spacious and world-class campuses with all the best amenities located at Gurgaon and Greater Noida provide the perfect environment for learning and fun to one and all.

With so much on the plate, an MBA at IILM is one absolutely worth it.

Getting admission:

Eligibility criteria-

If you have completed graduation in any field with a minimum of 50% marks, or are appearing in the final year of your graduation from AICTE/UGC/AIU recognized universities, you are eligible to apply for our PGDM course.

Valid competitive scores:

Scores will only be counted from either of the following examinations for MBA: CAT/XAT/ATMA/MAT/CMAT/GMAT

Procedure:

The process is divided into three tasks- online application, interview, and selection.

First, you must fill and submit the online application form along with all the relevant documents. Normally, within 24 hours, a reply is issued to the applicant.

  • Thereafter, shortlisted candidates undergo interaction and interview with faculty members. In case you are unable to attend the interview due to location problems, a Skype interview can also be arranged.
  • Once selected, the candidate will have to deposit the required fees before the classes commence in July. Students can also avail the Merit-cum-Means scholarship which varied depending upon marks in graduation, CAT percentile, MAT score, and other socio-economic factors.

Once you clear it all, you can proudly proclaim to be a student of the best college in India for MBA that is more a course in business experience, driving innovation, real-world problem-solving and critical international exposure– IILM.

Are you ready to begin your entrepreneurial journey with us?

Book Review : The Geography Of Transport Systems

Book Review
THE GEOGRAPHY OF TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

By
Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Claude Comtois and Brian Slack
Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group) (2016)

Mobility is fundamental to the socio-economic development of a geography. Transportation has become such an integral part of our daily lives that we as consumers are not able to clearly see transportation as a separate function. Various corporates are heavily dependent on efficient logistics to grab a comfortable portion of the market. Acknowledging this importance of transportation systems, the authors Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Claude Comtois and Brian Slack have worked on this book – The Geography of Transport Systems – to address various areas of concern that the managers and policy makers related to transportation face at present.

Divided into ten chapters, the book focusses on Transport Geography which is defined as a sub-discipline of geography concerned with movements of freight, people and information.

In the first part the authors present a new angle to look at transportations systems. They opine that transportation must be understood as having a spatial network structure and having close relation to commercial geography. In the next section, the authors talk about the necessity and the challenges related to various modes of transportation. The focus of this section is on inter-modal transportation which falls in line with the spatial network concept talked about in the first part. The chapters towards the end of the book describe the relation of transportation with economy, energy & environment and policy. The last chapter focuses on methods of analysisin transport geography.

The beauty of the book is that all the basic concepts of logistics and transportation viz. various modes, network models like hub and spoke, cross-dock, etc. have been covered. However, they have been presented and discussed in a non-traditional way, that links these concepts to the subject of transport geography. The authors mention that transportation is of no value unless it transforms the geographical attributes of freight, people or information, from an origin to destination, conferring on them an added value in the process.

According to authors, transportation plays a major role in international trade as well as at local urban level. It is associated with adding the maximum value in terms of time and location; whether it is passengers or goods that are being transported. The authors analyse urban logistics or city logistics using the concept of Urban Sprawl. This is defined as the spread of city buildings and houses into an area that was earlier a countryside or a less densely populated area.

A unique feature of the book is that it has a separate dedicated chapter on addressing the environmental concerns arising out of transportation. The authors mention that environmental impacts of transportation can be classified as direct, indirect and cumulative impacts. To understand the link between transportation and the environment, the managers must look at the main environmental dimensions of transportation – causes, activities, outputs and end-results of transport systems.

Transportation is a value-adding activity and to do so, it consumes energy just like any other commercial activity does. It accounts for 25 per cent of the world’s energy demand and 61.5 per cent of all the oil used each year. It is important therefore, that technological development in transportation must not only focus on economic and service level performance but also at minimizing fuel consumption and reducing the negative impact of transportation on the environment. This will help in making transportation truly sustainable.

The book clearly distinguishes policy from planning. Policy involves making strategies while planning involves implementation. The outcome of policy and planning is creation of suitable transportation infrastructure, by both public and private agencies. However, the challenge is that policies and plans are continuously changing as they address key changes in society and contemporary issues.

An essential feature of the book is the large number of case studies. Since the authors explain the concepts from new perspectives of transport-geography and sustainability, the inclusion of cases to demonstrate this was imperative and extremely useful. Each chapter has about three case studies incorporated.

This book is a suitable read by practicing managers and academicians who actively engage in research and consulting. However, it is not recommended as a text book for beginners or students in their management course, as to understand the perspectives present in the book, a basic and simple understanding of logistics and transportation is desired. It can definitely be picked up as a reference book.

Ms. Pragya Arya
Assistant Professor – Operations
IILM Institute of Higher Education
Lodhi Road, New Delhi

4 Key Career Benefits from MBA Programs

MBA is often said to be the preferred Master’s education for those looking to work in the corporate world. A degree that grooms you personally and professionally to stay ahead in the rat race, an MBA from a reputed institute can put you miles ahead of your peers at your workplace. Its multidisciplinary approach is instrumental in training the candidates to identify key business opportunities and convert them to avail benefits. With sharpening of the minds and broadening your scope of knowledge, MBA helps you realize your true potential.

The degree’s benefits in the professional field are multi-fold. Here’s why an MBA will give you the edge at work:

You identify your core competencies:

The MBA curriculum is designed in such a way that you identify your core competencies and build on them throughout your time at the business school. You also learn to work on weaknesses to the point they don’t affect your work at all. This is done with the help of case studies, group studies and projects, industrial visits and more. You are groomed to quickly adapt to a dynamic environment ensuring your ability.

You network right: 

One of the biggest advantages of high-quality education at a leading PGDM college in Delhi NCR and other cities is that you meet a great set of peers who can help you grow and who can be a valuable asset in the future, be it for partnerships or job prospects. By interacting with your peers you also learn how to conduct yourself in a social situation and interact in a group, and understand the true essence of teamwork. You thrive in an environment with like-minded yet diverse individuals to form beneficial personal and professional bonds that last a lifetime.

bBA specialization, top 10 BBA colleges in India

You understand cultural shifts:

The multidisciplinary aspect of the course gives you a stronger foothold in understanding the cultural shifts. Whether you’re looking to switch streams, using an MBA as a stepping stone to another field, or are getting into entrepreneurship, you will realize that the course has honed your critical reasoning ability. Coupled with your core knowledge of the market and applicable strategy, you become a force to reckon with. The skills embodied help you understand the various complexities of the economy and how you can tackle them.

You become Indispensable:

In highly competitive markets like India, an MBA adds a big value to your profile. Companies also prefer MBA managers who can lead teams, hold strong in tough situations and offer new perspectives to resolve ongoing issues. It adds a layer of job security such that even if the company or the firm doesn’t work out for you, you can turn the tide to work in your favor.

MBA may be a strenuous course that pushes your limits to the point you struggle to catch your regular eight hours of sleep. But what you make of your time here at IILM can truly change the course of your career and set you off to new heights of success.

Active Learning: Innovative Teaching Methods of IILM UBS

The very essence of education lies in the evolution of teaching methods to incorporate meaningful learning. By meaningful learning, we mean education that caters to solving real-world problems. If IILM UBS has the tag of being one of the best business schools in India, then a lot of it is down to the innovative and relevant teaching methods that nurture hundreds of entrepreneurs and corporate leaders every year.

The integrated and experiential learning-based curriculum with a focus on global teaching methodologies is what sets IILM UBS apart from other BBA colleges. At a deeper level, IILM UBS understands that education lies much beyond simply books. The mantra that is followed by mentors and teachers is simple:

‘Preach and they forget; show and they might remember; involve and they will understand.’

Real-world case studies, simulations, and projects:

At IILM UBS, case studies are an integral part of the pedagogy. Through real-world case studies sourced from reputed organizations, students are encouraged to develop new perspectives and ideas in order to stimulate innovative and out-of-the-box thinking. Simulations provide students a chance to step into the shoes of real-life entrepreneurs and solve actual management problems, allowing students the perfect platform to utilize their concepts and learning. Through group discussions, students learn through feedback and benefit from shared learning.

Guest lectures and seminars by foreign faculty:

IILM UBS brings global experience, knowledge, and expertise through extended guest lectures which also include renowned foreign faculties. Live case studies, seminars, and interactions with successful entrepreneurs enable students to learn from vital experiences and discover their source of entrepreneurial inspiration. Students are also encouraged to take up group projects and develop ground-breaking business plans, thus learning teamwork as a crucial skill.

Guest lectures and seminars by foreign faculty

Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDCs):

If you have taken a BBA admission at IILM UBS with an entrepreneurial idea in mind, then rest assured that the Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) will help you scale the idea right from inception to development. This is where experiential learning comes into play – if you’re into BBA to be an entrepreneur, why not begin the journey in college? EDC helps students realize their start-up dreams by workshops, and discussions provide students with invaluable networking opportunities, exposure to the start-up ecosystem, entrepreneurial mindset development training, leadership training, and so much more.

 Global Study Programme:

Education nowadays means going global, developing inter-cultural competencies, experiencing international learning, and understanding the global market. This is where IILM UBS’ Global Study Programme comes in handy as it provides students with two weeks of exposure at partner institutions and universities in Europe, Asia or North America after the completion of every year.

Such innovative learning methods paired with specialized mentoring, excellent internship opportunities and world-class infrastructure help nurture the best entrepreneurs of tomorrow at IILM UBS.

Family Business Expansion: BBA Degree Overview

In an economy as booming as India’s, a lot has been attributed to the rise of entrepreneurship in the country. Be it your small-scale businesses to large MNCs, everyone has played their role. Family businesses too are extremely popular in India, with many young ones aspiring to join the same when they complete their education. A BBA degree may just be the boost they need.

BBA at IILM UBS is about making the most of that degree to contribute your family business’ expansion in multiple ways. A look at the BBA course details will tell you how the course is designed to introduce multiple disciplines to a person and help them identify their forte. The holistic approach to business education at the college can help you nail your role as the next leader of your business.

Delving into the know-how:

A BBA introduces you to the various aspects of the business. From understanding strategy to marketing, financial and legal knowledge, this degree forms the perfect stepping stone into understanding how your market works. Well-equipped with the basics of every field, you are more in command of your next step. It helps you understand how the sync between two different segments of your business can affect your top line business goals.

Widening your scope of thinking:

Among the best advantages of studying at one of the top 10 business schools in India are the exposure to a good faculty and high-quality peers with goals similar to yours. Interacting with a diverse set of people exposes you to different viewpoints of approaching anything. You get an insight into their worlds and it also helps you understand how they think and feel; this can help you sharpen your interpersonal skills.

Nurturing your strengths:

Every person comes with their own soft-skill sets which are honed in the baccalaureate years.  While you can gain knowledge of everything that governs how a company functions, you’ll be able to identify which fields have your core interest – be it logistics, marketing, finance, strategy, product or more. You can concentrate and build on that knowledge, and even specialize in it. The support you get from peers as you develop is going to be phenomenal making you more confident when you step into your family’s venture.

Staying tuned to the latest trends:

Every business needs to adapt to the changing times and trends that are more dynamic than they ever were before. A degree such as a BBA keeps you updated with the latest tools and marketing mediums, enables you to think beyond the traditional business intelligence, and makes you confident in predicting trends. This can, in turn, assist you in making changes to your business that ensures its strong standing in the market.

BBA degree empowers you with a strong foundation in business knowledge and equips you with soft skills that make you fit in easily in a family-run business. Step into IILM UBS to stand out as a leader for tomorrow.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE AT A BUSINESS SCHOOL

After going through rigorous preparation and numerous exams, you’re finally accepted to your dream B-school.  Just as you spent plenty of time strategizing how to get admitted into the top management college, the same way it’s time for you to put together a plan to get the most out of your business school experience. The decisions and choices made during this time will impact your future substantially. If you’re wondering how you can prepare for what comes next, we’ve got you covered:

Remember your attributes as a student:

As you interact with your peers, you may realize that some of them are phenomenally accomplished, however, don’t let this intimidate you. Don’t forget that you too were accepted to this class for a reason. The school knows your potential and sees you as an asset, so focus on that.

Make friends with people of all backgrounds:

Most students gravitate towards peers who are from similar backgrounds but instead try interacting with people outside of your comfort zone to further enrich your experience.

Get involved in extra-curricular activities:

To reap the full benefits of the B-school experience, it’s important you get involved with activities outside the classroom. Besides, you will learn as much from these extra-curricular activities as you will from your studies. Additionally, this will also help you in networking with people from various courses.

Take time to explore academic options:

After the PGDM admission, don’t only stick to the conventional classes, explore a few other options, as you may never know what you may discover and like. Attend diverse corporate presentations, choose new subjects or interview with companies you wouldn’t otherwise.

Learn from your summer internships:

You may find many students working full time with their summer internship employer after graduation. If you didn’t have a great experience at your summer internship, remember, it is still worthwhile to have learned from the experience.

Stay connected to your classmates:

Do keep in mind that your classmates form your priceless network. Whether you like them or not, it is important to stay in touch with this professional network.

Always remember that you’re about to embark on a transformative experience, which you would want to take tremendous advantage of. This includes making the most out of the college faculty members to utilizing college resources to the fullest.

How IILM UBS is fostering a Mindset of Entrepreneurial Thinking & Creativity

Entrepreneurial thinking refers to one’s ability to see the world differently and find innovative solutions to a given problem. This is a pre-requisite in the fast-paced business world of today. From budding family business owners to those looking to fuel a startup vision, tomorrow’s businessmen and women must possess the skills required to identify market opportunities and find creative ways to leverage these opportunities.

With a BBA in entrepreneurship, you’ll be exposed to a myriad of experiences that’ll help you develop the skills required to start and manage a business. You will have the chance to explore new learning opportunities, develop your business strengths and overcome your weaknesses. Given the wide variety of responsibilities connected with running a business, the BBA curriculum focuses on holistic learning – from marketing and innovation studies to technical business processes. The end goal is to shape well-rounded entrepreneurs capable of managing and scaling successful businesses.

The central benefit of pursuing an entrepreneurship course at one of the top business schools in India is that you will be equipped with a host of promising career opportunities, including consulting, family business management, startups and corporate jobs. With training in entrepreneurial know-how, not only will you learn how to start a new business from scratch but you will also understand how to restructure, reorganize and expand an existing business. Additionally, greater creativity and problem-solving skills fostered at IILM UBS will give you that much needed push to fuel your startup dream. This is of special importance for students looking to find direction in terms of career goals. Student mentors play a critical role in helping you identify your core point of interest and assess its feasibility in the current market situation. Greater support is provided via Annual Entrepreneurship Conferences and the Entrepreneurship Development Center quarterly innovation weeks.

The 3-year BBA course is designed keeping in mind the special needs of budding business owners, with equal emphasis on imparting practical and theoretical knowledge. With extensive case studies, role-plays etc., you will undergo overall personality development and up-skilling preparing you for jobs in healthcare, retail, service industries, financial services, banking, startups as well as non-profit organisations.

Given the need of the hour, innovation is placed at a high pedestal in our institute. Not only does it create unmatched value for existing family businesses, it is also especially important for setting up a new venture and expanding it. Additionally, entrepreneurial thinking will allow you to stay ahead of others and maintain a leadership edge in the corporate world.

What are the Benefits of Specialised Mentoring?

Young minds are often given to traverse the depths of aspirations and opportunities to find the right path. Even though strong in will and ambitious in actions, the surmounting problem of a future life can be arduous to tackle alone. One then needs assistance from an expert who understands these goals and can guide you towards your calling. In simple words, students need mentors who can help them achieve their maximum potential. At IILM, we assign a dedicated mentor to each student who helps you through the thick and thin of academics, career, and the future. Mentoring sessions are a part of the entrepreneurship courses at the Undergraduate Business School at IILM. Read on to find out the various benefits of specialized mentoring:

Identifying Priorities:

Primarily, you must learn how to get your priorities straight and manage your time accordingly. With social media creating an eternal distraction in the lives of the young guns, our mentors help in determining the amount of time wasted. Subsequently, they urge the students to make practical plans to reduce the wastage of time. Finally, they help in establishing accountability for the plans to ensure growth and the optimum use of time to achieve the goals.

Managing the Financial Aspect:

Most students come to IILM to pursue the bachelor of business administration degree from different walks of life. Regardless of the family background, every student evaluates his/her financial position at some point in their educational career. More often than not, it leads to unwanted and unnecessary stress. The specialized counseling at UBS, IILM aids in exploring the financial worries, identifying wasteful spending, and helping you look for ways to do well post the completion of the course.

Managing Anxiety:

The elaborate curriculum and industry practices required to be mastered by students may lead to anxiety. You may feel like not being able to cope with the studies. Mentors at IILM lend guidance on how to get rid of irrational fears. Additionally, they help you manage your studies better and rearrange your thoughts towards a positive mindset.

De-stressing:

The business world gets the better of everyone every now and then. Therefore, how you handle stress and channelize your worries are essential. Specialised mentoring sessions are organized to avoid the stress from building up to a point where it becomes overwhelming. Regular sessions beyond school hours ensure that the students don’t over-indulge in unnecessary activities. They make sure that you don’t turn towards depression and ruin your life. By simply indicating triggering points and identifying activities and ways to cope with stress, the mentors introduce mindful ways of coping with the problems of the mind.

Moreover, mentors help the families of the pupils to keep a track of their child’s progress. The sessions emphasize ways for pupils to expand their family business, higher education abroad, starting a new business or finding a respectable job to excel in life and make a name for themselves.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to change the way every industry works. It involves creating machines that can work intelligently like humans. The use of data is increasingly driving major decisions in different industries. This data when fed and used by machines give machines the wisdom to think like humans. Hence there is huge dependency on integrity of data. The need of the hour is data centric technologies and institutions will need to upgrade their curriculum to remain competitive. The key to getting employment in future is to upgrade skills of people and work towards specialization. The necessary skills required for data centric technologies are being identified to align educational institutions.

While changes are being introduced in the companies, one has to find a way to continue sustaining an income until the skills get upgraded.The limitations of humans will no longer be a concern with advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. With the use of Robots, the number of errors will reduce and the speed and quality of work will improve. Many countries that face limitations due to lack of youth in large numbers will no longer be behind in the race towards advancement. Labour intensive work will be automated and humans will take the activities that require critical thinking and analysis. The cost of performance in the long run will reduce though initial years will require huge investment towards automation. As per Mckinsey’s report, by 2055, half of the work activities could be automated. Humans would need to start getting used to working with machines. New skills will need to be acquired and the policies created by the government will have to be innovative to accommodate this major impact in type of employment.

AI has started delivering value in various sectors. Retail sector is using AI robots to check inventory and place orders automatically when the inventory levels are low. With the analysis of big data, retailers are able to predict sales and are able to manage inventory and make profits. Robots can work alongside humans in retailers warehouses and increase productivity. Delivery to customers can be done by drones like Flirtey. Check in and issuing of boarding passes have started without the requirement of human intervention in the airline industry. Manufacturing industry is seeing a drastic change. Optimization of processes across the value chain from refinement in product design to using AI based tools throughout the supply chain is possible.  In healthcare, AI can lead to better diagnosis with the use of big data analysis of patient history, other similar cases and treatment details. The insurance companies can use big data to improve their business model. Routine patient interactions can be done by AI enabled robots which have all the basic information.

Educational institutes will also have to rethink their strategy for sustainability. In Education, there are going to be virtual tutors who can tailor the curriculum for students. The education system will see a dramatic shift as AI will be able to forecast the need of future employers. Institutes are exploring how AI applications can be used to improve retention problems in students. Programs teaching computer applications are using a personal tutor which gives questions to students along with hints as well as increases complexity level of questions based on performance. Big data and analytics can be used to reduce drop-out rates in students. Educational institutes will have to promote adaptive learning and teaching, looking at student data and use personalized and effective teaching methods.Value add work will continue to remain with humans and thus teachers will be expected to mentor and coach students. The primary areas would be creativity, emotional intelligence and communication which maybe beyond machine’s capability. Machines will cater to the routine queries of students can be automated to save time and effort. The technology is pervasive and has also entered grading. A company GradeScope uses machine learning to grade students on the basis of teachers instructions and students handwriting, though it is more for objective type of questions. Thus the focus of the teacher can be on higher level value add areas rather than routine queries, administrative work and basic lecturing.

Several key factors will determine the level of automation and its adoption. The technical feasibility of automating the task at hand for every industry will need to be evaluated. Since automation will take time and investment, the adoption will be dependent on the cost of development and implementation. The economy will struggle with the shift from cheap labour to buying expensive machines and experimenting. Though the economy will benefit because of better quality and speed of work, the acceptance of this change will determine the speed of adoption. Thus the day to day activities are not forecasted to change fast. At the micro level, changes are expected, however at the macro level it will take decades before complete adoption is seen.

BENEFITS OF STUDYING AT IILM UBS

With high-quality academics and impressive study abroad programmes, IILM is ranked amongst the top tier B-schools in the country. It’s been 25 years since the inception of the venerable management institute and through the years, IILM has displayed incessant and consistent efforts to deliver superior quality education to its students. This dedicated commitment has been recognized with a number of accolades that the institute has been honored with year after year. In 2017, EdUniversal ranked IILM as the 11th best business school in India. Keep reading for the IILM BBA course details that set it apart:

Centrally Located Campus:

The central location of the IILM campuses gives students the opportunity to take advantage of the numerous resources and stakeholders available in the vicinity, as well as a chance to network with the influential community present in the national capital. IILM has three strategically located campuses. One campus location at Lodhi Road, the political center of the country, enables students to be aware of the developments in politics as well as business. The second campus in Gurgaon’s Golf Course Road, the industrial hub and nerve center of start-ups, gives students the opportunity to network and learn from established and budding entrepreneurs. The third location in the Knowledge Park of Greater Noida provides a knowledge-sharing platform for the students with universities and large firms located in close proximity.

BBA in Entrepreneurship, undergraduate program

Global Exposure:

The BBA college at IILM offers the Global Study Programme to develop intercultural competence in the students. The Programme includes lectures on Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship, Digital Marketing and Innovation at the partner institutions abroad. The students have the unique opportunity to study at a campus located in North America, Asia or Europe and immerse themselves in the local culture as well as participate in company visits abroad.

Family Business Mentoring:

Many students at IILM either join their family business or start their own business after graduation. At the business school, you are assigned a mentor with whom you have the opportunity to ideate, discuss and incubate your ideas, as well as seek advice for challenges that a family business may face. These mentors are expert faculty members who give students individualized guidance depending on the varied background and interests of the students.

The BBA programme at the institute is quite popular, especially in today’s day and age when the demand for management experts is constantly on the rise. IILM has a vast alumni network of over 9000 students that have been placed in some of the biggest firms in the industry. IILM offers its students numerous benefits and promising future prospects, which is why the institute is the preferred choice for many students.