Students' corner

Dear Students,

LAST WEEK WE ASKED: Do you think the international firms may reduce their exposure in Indian B-schools this placement season? 

BEST RESPONSE

Exposure by international firms in Indian B-schools in placement season depends on the current state of the economy, the batch size, the college overall profile including that of students, the state of economy in IT and finance sector as they are major recruiters at B-schools. Moreover, many colleges either have opened new campus or increased batch size, thus resulting in a huge intake of students resulting in the placement problem. Thus because of above mentioned reason exposure by international firms in Indian B-schools may take a hit in placement season.

- Nilaya Mitash Shanker, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee.

 OTHER RESPONSES:

At a time when the global economy is growing at a little over 3 per cent, the Indian economy is growing at close to 5 and a half per cent. Further as global firms seek to aggressively enter into the Indian markets, the Indian B-school graduates provide the companies with a better understanding of the local market conditions. Also hiring Indian B-school graduates is cost effective for companies as compared to hiring those from developed economies. On the contrary, international firms might increase their exposure to Indian B-schools this season.

- Keshavan Narasimhan, SDM Institute of Management Development, Mysore.

 With the existing global unemployment rate increasing day by day, companies shutting shop every other day in economically important geographies like Europe and US, the international firms have pretty limited to offer in terms of job opportunities. In such a scenario, they would rather try to meet the ever looming unemployment rates in the continents that they are present in rather than exploring talent in countries like India. This coupled with an uncertain economic, political and legal environment in India would anyway keep them at bay in terms of investing in India thereby reducing their exposure in Indian B-schools.

- Amol Mahale, The Institute of Cost Accountants of India, Mumbai.

 The winds coming from Indian political system bring a sense of coolness in the minds of global and national firms about the political stability of India. As the Europe and America are facing problem in their home country, BRIC nations are now becoming a hot cake for investment out of which India is a pre-dominant player. In order to grab these opportunities, international firms would require intellectual man power which can be source through Indian B–schools. Hence there will be a high degree of exposure by international firms in these placement season.

- Harsh Mehta, St. Kabir Institute of Professional Studies, Ahmedabad.

 It is unlikely that India has become a land of opportunities and is closely related with future growth and expansion. International firm will have exposure such as familiarities with innovations, strategies to work in more professional environment. Every student want a international firm exposure as it enhances their ability to function in a world where the difference between culture and geographies are reducing.

- Kishore Iyengar, St. Kabir Institute of Professional Studies, Ahmedabad.

 With the global economy stranded at the doorsteps of yet another economic slowdown and the international firms looking down the barrel in terms of their profitability and expansion projects leading to a dearth of job opportunities in the wake of severe inflation and ineffective Government policies, there seems to be a big possibility of the international firms keeping a low profile in Indian B-schools this placement season. Also, the Indian students are not as keen to join MNC’s as they were earlier due to many reasons including rationalization of the salary gap between MNC’s and domestic companies.

- Anmol Gupta, Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), Bangalore.

 Your responses should reach us at edu@business-standard.com  by Monday evening every week. Please ensure that your responses do not exceed 100 words. Avoid attachments and email your full name, institute's name, batch and complete mailing address. The student who gives the 'Best Response' will be awarded Rs 500.

 THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Do you think IIMs should move beyond management studies to cover other disciplines?