10% of applicants make it to IIM-A's 2nd PG batch

Even as the first batch of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A)'s Post Graduate Programme for Executives (PGPx) goes through the pre-placement presentation grind, the institute has just finalised its second batch.

The batch of 2007-08 to begin in April this year will consist of 80 participants, an addition of 20 over that of last year.

This year the institute received over 800 applicants worldwide whereas last year there were around 700 applicants. The GMAT cut off score of 699.5 was on a par with last year's cut off of 699.13 and the batch boasts of average work experience of 10 years with around three years of international work experience which is quite similar to the profile of the students last year.

The average age of participants is 33.25 as compared to last year's average of 31.

Once again there are five women participants this year along with eight international participants of which three are foreign citizens and five are permanent residents abroad. Some 26 students this year reside abroad and are from some five countries as compared to 25 students from ten countries last year.

In all, 52 students, making up 65 per cent of the batch have international exposure in terms of work and studies compared to 50 students, i.e. 83.33 per cent who were armed with the same last year.

The programme created a lot of buzz last year on account of the diverse industry backgrounds of its students last year and the institute, while identifying it as an important part of the selection process has selected professionals ranging from those from the travel industry to energy/power, FMCGs, financial services, government services, IT & IT services, management consultancy, manufacturing, media, projectsonstruction, shipping to telecom.

"The batch of 2007-08 is made of participants with vast experience and are as dynamic and eager to lap up new challenges as much as its predecessor batch if not more. The quality of students selected in this batch would easily rate among the best in the world, " said G Raghuram, chairperson, PGPx.

He also added that the course curriculum will be reviewed in the next few days where new innovative modules will be added.

Last year the batch had high profile guest lecturers from Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar to CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, a trend which the institute is not sure if it will be carried at this point for the second batch.