'Employers now hire for skills, not seat time'

Rekha Sethi, director general of All India Management Association (AIMA), the apex body for management in India, in an email conversation with Aeshwarya Tiwari talks about AIMA's role in management education, MAT exam, online and distance education, curricula aligned with NEP and more. Edited excerpts from the conversation:

- Aeshwarya Tiwari

Q. How is AIMA evolving to meet the changing needs of students and the industry?

A. The economy and the business are changing fast and unpredictably, and AIMA is adapting its management education and leadership development programmes to keep Indian management ahead of the curve. It has made technology integral to all its management programmes and it continuously adds new specialisation programmes to allow students and executives to acquire the latest knowledge and know-how.

AIMA offers business simulations and games to test and train students and executives in the latest management techniques. In addition, AIMA holds conferences, retreats and overseas visits for executives and business owners to bring them up to speed with the newest business and technology innovations. AIMA ensures that management students and industry leaders are equipped to deal with any ongoing or impending change.

Q. What distinguishes Management Aptitude Test (MAT) from other entrance exams like CAT? How has it evolved to remain relevant?

A. MAT offers exceptional flexibility with multiple attempts and test modes, making it accessible to a wide range of candidates. The exam is conducted four times in a year (February, May, September, and December) and provides candidates multiple opportunities to attempt the test. It is conducted in two test modes: Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Paper-Based Test (PBT).