Time To Re-invent The Management Education System

Founded in 1949, India’s oldest business school XLRI has been working with the belief that management students should have a strong understanding of the society, industry and its trends, both in the country and at the global level, as they are the future leaders. It is perhaps India’s first B-school to have Managerial Ethics and Sustainable Development as compulsory courses for students. XLRI Director E. ABRAHAM, S.J., answers posers from BW Businessworld’s PRIYA SARAF on issues pertaining to B-school education in the country.

- Priya Saraf

Why should students choose your school?

XLRI, founded in 1949 and India’s oldest business school, has imparted world-class management education with an avowed emphasis on shaping business leaders who are responsible and ethical in their workplace and contribute their mite in creating a sustainable future.

Over the last 60 years, we have helped create a distinct niche for our institution not only through shaping career paths of students, adopting relevant pedagogy, consistent top rankings, international accreditations, high-quality teaching faculty and a good value for money, but also through our vision and imparting values. It has been our firm intent to be an institution of excellence nurturing responsible global leaders for the greater common good. XLRI is perhaps India’s first management school to have Managerial Ethics and Sustainable Development as compulsory courses for all the students. With a view to sensitise the students to the challenges of rural India a three-day village exposure visit at the beginning of all flagship programmes is compulsory. Thereafter, as a part of their learning regimen projects are undertaken by students to help alleviate the challenges of the villagers and semi-urban population in and around the institute.

XLRI is a signatory of PRME — Principles for Responsible Management Education. PRME are inspired by internationally accepted values such as the principles of the United Nations Global Compact.

An AIMA vision document says that India should be the second best global hub after the US for B-school education by 2025. Is it doable?

I guess with the Indian economy maturing and getting bigger foreign students will get attracted to Indian B-schools. While 2025 appears a bit too ambitious, it is certainly doable with institutions committed to providing the right management education to students and helping them become future business leaders.