Take up smart manager certificate course

Pervin Malhotra

Q.My classmates and I are graduating from a Tier-2 B-school in Haryana where the teaching is predominantly theoretical. The placements are not great so far. Is there anything we can do to hone our practical skills and prepare ourselves better for the world of work? — Arunmay tripathi

A.You need much more than theoretical knowledge to enhance your professional career. Today’s complex and competitive workplace demands people with practical business and people management skills apart from their core domain knowledge, who can hit the road running from Day-One.

The CII Education Council has launched a four–month Smart Manager Certificate Programme to equip students with practical competencies for professional careers. The self-paced programme is open to students of all AICTE affiliated colleges. Besides arming future managers with the skills related to emerging technologies such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning from a business perspective, participants will acquire core business acumen and leadership skills that every employer seeks today. Digital training curated by CXO’s and academics will provide a level playing field for students across the country. The training will be imparted via Android, iOS and web apps, combined with live interactive sessions in collaboration with a training partner. Regular interactive assignments will test the student’s application of concepts. 

Earn a PhD for better growth

Q. After doing my MTech from a college in Chennai, I’m now in two minds about pursuing a PhD at IIT. When it comes to placement, I’m still not getting a challenging core sector job. I love studying but am not sure what the RoI on spending so many years doing a PhD will be. 

— avneesh nigam

A. As per recent reports, the growing number of research labs of global technology firms in India has dramatically changed the profile of higher education programmes being pursued at the IITs. As many as 50 per cent of the students in the IITs today are pursuing MTech and PhD programmes. About 20 years ago, 80-90 per cent used to do BTech.

Today, Intel, Qualcomm, Samsung, Microsoft, Google — all hire PhDs in computer science & electrical engineering while giants like GE hire mechanical engineers. Virtually every MNC has its R&D centre in India — Apple, Cisco, Huawei, they all hire PhDs.

While most of these companies would outsource software development earlier, they now do core research here. And they pay handsomely as well. Master’s, too, is regarded as a value-add over the undergrad programme. So those with MTech have significantly more opportunities.

Moreover, with a prestigious IIT tag, you can also consider a career in academics. There are lots of opportunities now in teaching for those with PhDs. Institutions are always looking for quality faculty. This holds for the IITs themselves, as well as the IIITs, NITs, others.

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