B-school trends come and go, but one that seems to have legs is the creation of specialized MBA programs, particularly by second-tier schools. The schools find them useful for attracting students and cementing their brand identities at a time when competition among schools for the best students is intense. In recent years, they’ve becoming increasingly common (BusinessWeek.com, 7/19/07) even at high-profile schools. Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management, and the Wharton School now offer specialized MBAs, majors, or dual degree programs in areas like real estate, sports management, biosciences, electronic commerce, and health care.

But is a specialized program always a good choice for an MBA student?

Not necessarily. While established programs have placement records on par with those of their general MBAs, many newer programs have not yet established the kind of recruiting relationships that guarantee students high-paying jobs at graduation. And graduates always run the risk of getting hamstrung by their specialties later in their careers, when an industry downturn forces them to look outside their specialties for opportunities.
Chart Your Own Path

Some who have gone through the specialized programs say they are best for those with a firm idea of their future goals, and who are keen to chart their own path. “I knew what I wanted to do,” said Carrie Stern Rathod, who received her MBA from Wisconsin’s Brand ‐ Product Management Center in 2005 and now works for Procter & Gamble (PG), which recruits regularly from the program. “There’s a range of people for whom this program is ideal. If you have an entrepreneurial bent but are not sure you’re ready to take the leap yet, the program might be right.” But, she added, “I think it would be tough if you wanted to go into consulting or something like that.”

For students who aren’t comfortable breaking away from the pack or seeking out professional contacts in unconventional ways, a specialized MBA might not be the best choice. This is especially true at less well-known schools, where big companies often don’t recruit. Students in these programs agree that making industry connections can require a lot of initiative from the student. “If you have a very specific company in mind, you might need to be a trailblazer in making relationships with those companies,” says Rathod.

More : businessweek.com

A report has suggested that it is likely that British students considering taking MBA courses in the UK will find it increasingly hard to find loans to cover the cost of their post-graduate studies.

According to a report in the Financial Times, the appeal of MBA courses in the US had recently been increasing among British students, thanks to the weak dollar.

However, the paper has now learnt that the credit crunch has dramatically reduced the number of student loans available for those considering such post-graduate courses.

It pointed to research carried out by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators that showed that 50 lenders have suspended their post-graduate student loan deals.

“The cost of loan repayment is particularly high for students from outside the US who apply for loans from US institutions,” the paper explained.

“This is because credit references are not required and also the lenders find it harder to track down students on graduation if they return to their home countries.”

As a result, a British student looking for a post-graduate student loan in the US can expect to have to pay interest of around seven per cent.

With US MBA courses typically costing around $150,000 (£75,000) to complete, the rising price of loans could put many British students off, even though they know they will be able to secure high-paying jobs after graduation.

Source : gaapweb.com

There were 22 MBA Vietnamese graduates and eight BA Vietnamese graduates in these first classes receiving the degrees of the University of Bolton. The degrees are recognized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Deborah Clarke, British consul general in HCMC, said there would be plenty of opportunities for Vietnamese graduates as Vietnam’s economic success and integration into the global economy is fuelling demand for well-educated managers who are able to operate in a global market-place.

She added education is one of the five key pillars of the UK’s relationship with Vietnam and that the collaborative partnership between the two universities will help to create a critical mass of skilled professionals with an international outlook in Vietnam as well as further strengthen educational links between the UK and Vietnam and promote understanding between the two countries.

Working in partnership with HCMC University of Banking, the University of Bolton has delivered the programs in HCMC since 2006. The programs include Bachelor of Accounting, Bachelor of Business Administration, and transfer program for Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration.

An enrolment seminar for these programs will be held at 8:30 a.m. on July 19 at Kim Do Hotel, 133 Nguyen Hue Boulevard, District 1, HCMC. For details, contact the Center for International Cooperation of the HCMC University of Banking (2nd floor, 39 Ham Nghi Boulevard, District 1, tel: (08) 821 4660, ext: 101).

More : english.vietnamnet.vn

The recruitment company Adecco has started cooperating with Copenhagen Business School (CBS) which is to result in the MBA students remaining in Denmark after their graduation, writes Børsen Business Daily.

“According to CBS many of the MBA students would like to work in Denmark. However, the tendency is that a majority returns to their own countries because it is difficult for them to be integrated on the labour market. Therefore it is important that we do everything we can to integrate them during their student period so that afterwards companies will be prepared to take them on,” says Adecco’s Marketing Director Nikolaj Henum.

This is to happen through coaching and career consultancy during their education.

“We cannot guarantee anything but we will do our utmost to find work for the 35 students,” he says, emphasising that Adecco has a strong network within Danish business life and will therefore have a good entry for the students to the labour market.

When the first MBA group in the alliance will finish in August, Adecco will start to get the students in contact with the companies. Their profiles will be placed on Adecco.dk just as they will get in contact with relevant companies. Moreover, a special entry will be launched with a database of the 35 MBA students.

More : copcap.com

Pune, Jan 5: Scene I: A Balasubramanian, high-profile director of the prestigious Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS), Pune, which is regarded as one of the best private business schools in the country, and flaunts a 100 — Position record percent Suspended after a student complains about what he agacés. He is a director and revolt finally recedes.

Scene II: The season is the placement. The Institute can not be without head and authorities to make a choice. Enter Mudholkar Ranjeet, 24, graduated in computer science and a student SIMS von’96 the classroom. A year after his separation from service graduation Mudholkar chucks his work with the Birla AMC Capital Limited, New Delhi and agrees with The Sims as director.

Gasp you like, roll their eyes and I wonder what went wrong. Thus, the child is soon rubbing shoulders with the management gurus and the top brass in the sector? Is he a genius or a boy, he is … SIMS is abuzz.

His courses are at a whisper in Art Gallery Mudholkar appointment, the rules we have not yet been violated because he was the unanimous choice of the symbiosis for the body, but some students and teachers are perplexed.

Indeed, Mudholkar academic record is not just World Class, sources say he was “ one of the best students .”“ One of his succès”touted round that Ratan Tata to participate in a seminar in Mumbai.

Few are under discussion. No student or teacher publicly criticized the new director. Indeed, the subject is taboo and there is a watchful eye on each eye, each time you question. “ Yes, it is a Go-Getter. It has big names on campus. Yes, it is in order, OK.”Mudholkar, but it is a “ type-of-Service”zu his alma mater. “ In fact, I am strongly with SIMS. Money plays no role,”he said. He prefers to call the discipline itself a soldier SIMS and said it is already in the momentum of things “.”

Paul Wellings, the vice chancellor of the Lancaster University, United Kingdom was recently in the Capital on a brief visit. During his visit a memorandum-of-understanding was signed between the Lancaster University and Jawaharlal Nehru University for conducting joint research in social sciences, says a press release.

Apart from this, Lancaster University has recently entered into partnerships to offer joint-degree programmes with Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and collaborative degrees and joint research agreement in life sciences with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). In addition, an agreement has been formulated for research cooperation with Lancaster INFOLAB21 and Computer and Communications Research, Institute of Technology, Mumbai.

Management conclave

The GLA Institute of Technology and Management, Mathura recently organised a management conclave `Managing change and transformation in India Inc in global perspective,’ says a press note. The conclave was inaugurated by A Kalanidhi, former vice chancellor, Anna University and advisor, Sterling Infocom Ltd; Alok Aggarwal, executive director, Polar Industries and Ganeshi Lal Aggarwal. The event began with a `Saraswati vandana’, which was followed by the presentation of the conclave theme by Alok Aggarwal, in which he stressed on the need to be fully abreast with the corporate sector and the importance of affordability, acceptability and availability in the same. In a highly motivating lecture, Kalanidhi expressed his simple yet profound ideas, on the occasion. Mementos were presented to distinguished speakers and a cash reward of Rs 10,000 was announced for the MBA topper of the institute.

Accolades for Aptech

Adding yet another feather to its cap, Aptech has been named among `India’s Biggest Newsmakers’ in the second annual Business Today - Cirrus Review of CEOs and Companies that got the best press coverage in 2004, as per a press release.

A global learning organisation, Aptech Ltd is playing a key role in helping individuals, organisations and nations adapt to the changing requirements of a knowledge-driven world. It has acted as a catalyst to change by encouraging the sharing of knowledge through intelligent training and education solutions. Aptech’s recent forays include learning services - e-learning and consultancy, ATTEST - testing and certification and Aptech Higher Education Services.

IMT courses

The Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad invites applications for courses through the distance-learning mode. The courses are affiliated to the Vidyasagar University, West Bengal. The courses are: Master’s in Business Administration (MBA); Master’s in Human Resource Management (MHRM); Master’s in Marketing Management (MMM) and Master’s in Supply Chain Management (MSCM). The eligibility is a graduation or appearing in the final year.

In addition, it invites applications for one-year specialised diplomas in business administration, marketing management, personnel management, financial management, export management and material management. The eligibility for these courses is a 10+2 with a five-year experience or graduation, or a three-year diploma in engineering from the board of technical education, after a 10+2.

The forms and prospectus are available on payment of Rs 700 in cash. Contact the Advanced Management Institute, 67 (Basement), Hargovind Enclave, Opposite Railway Reservation Centre, Karkardooma, Delhi-92. The deadline is March 6, 2005. E-mail:imtdelhi9@yahoo.com.

Paramedical courses

The Nice Academy of Paramedical Sciences affiliated to Ch Charan Singh University, Meerut, under IDE invites applications for programmes, namely, hospital management; radio imaging technology and medical laboratory technology, wherein, the duration of the degree courses is three years and diploma and certificate course is one-year. In addition, it offers a physiotherapy programme, where the duration for the degree course is four years and diploma and certificate course is a one-year.

St. John’s University conferred 2,146 undergraduate degrees at three graduation ceremonies held over the weekend.

The Rev. Donald J. Harrington, president of the university, gave the keynote address at all ceremonies for the 122d commencement exercises.

Addressing the students at the campus in Jamaica, Queens, yesterday, Father Harrington told the students that “the quality of life in society rests upon the quality of education in our grammar and high schools and in our colleges and universities.”

Referring to the rioting in Los Angeles, he said, “Regardless of how we interpret the events of the past month, regardless of where we seek to place the blame, I submit to you that an essential part of any solution must be the renewal of the educational system of our land.” Industry, Health, Banking

At the first ceremony, held in Alumni Hall in the morning, an honorary doctor of commercial science degree was awarded to Michael E. Maher, an alumnus of the university who is chairman of Maher Terminals Inc. in New Jersey, one of the largest independent container terminal operators.

Sister Irene Kraus, president of the Daughters of Charity National Health System in St. Louis, received an honorary doctor of letters degree.

In the ceremony held in the afternoon, also in Alumni Hall, an honorary doctor of commercial science degree was awarded to Richard T. Greene, president of Carver Federal Savings Bank, one of the largest black-owned financial institutions in the nation.

Edward Mercado, director of the Office of Civil Rights for the Department of Health and Human Services, received an honorary doctor of laws degree.

On Saturday, a commencement ceremony was held on the Grymes Hill campus of the university in Staten Island. An honorary doctor of civil law degree was awarded to Josephine L. Gambino, president and senior member of the New York Civil Service Commission. Cornell University

Cornell University’s 124th commencement took place yesterday in a cold rain with temperatures in the 30’s, prompting the university’s president, Frank H. T. Rhodes, to cut short his prepared remarks to the 5,900 graduates. University officials said it was the first time in 17 years that it had rained on commencement.

Each of the graduates of Cornell’s 11 schools and colleges at the ceremony, which was still held outdoors on the campus in Ithaca, N.Y., was given a red rose. Mr. Rhodes used the occasion to remind them to “take time to smell the roses.”

Sanjay Rishi, forty-something top-flight finance director, under the direction of American Express Global Services Centre in Asia over the past two years. The son of an officer of the Indian Air Force, in Amritsar, he was born and grew up with her two sisters in New Delhi. He went to school in Mussoorie and Delhi.

After his graduation from St. Stephen’s, it registered at the Faculty of Management Studies, where he met his future wife Vibha Paul Rishi, now Pepsi’s high-profile Chief Marketing in India. Rishi started in Asia for colors. His career, click on “Fast-Track, if it is done by American Express during the year 1985.

Rishi and his wife live in Gurgaon Vibha Varun with children (14) and Sanjana (12), animals and Labrador and German Shepherd Nugget Prince Andrew aka Andy.

Are you a spender or savings?

A donor, without question. Through good and bad times, I have always tried my best to consumer spending. I think it will help the economy.

How much money do you have in your wallet?

If people of my business to read this article, I think a lot of money, this is not true. For example, right now, I have Rs 323 and fifty paise in my wallet. The three rupees and paise coins are - they badly when I rest.

Do you have any credit cards?

I take the American Express staff (Gold) Card and American Express Corporate Card. I helped launch both.

Have you ever really hard?

As qu’enfant, I’ve never really had enough money to buy goodies in the school canteen. But it did not matter, and this is an important issue through philosophy, I life: It is never enough, or it is appropriate depending on your perspective. I prefer the latter. I have my parents for that value.

The first four or five years of my life work has been quite tense and I had a girlfriend (now my wife) to promote! For some time, she was in Mumbai and I was in Nagpur. Our parents were in Delhi. Scrounged me, until I had enough to go meet the weekend, and beat my savings expensive restaurant or two. It has borne fruit and taught me the pay-off, that financial discipline.

I remember an extended weekend, I drove to the reservation of Bombay electronics and slept on the floor of the train. I have the station Dadar, and it was raining bucket of water. I’m hanging in turn a PG hollow and completely soaked, his mother for opening the door: she was also visited by his daughter in the same weekend! Planning is everything …

As always, you professionals are faced with the problem of deciding whether or not to join higher education or remotely via the campus mode. They asked the settings in different perspectives.

As an engineer, you have decided, in the field of materials management, which is encouraging. As fresh diploma, you need to examine the program at regular intervals with the Indian Institute of Materials Management (IIMM)

It could be graduation diploma in regular Materials Management (GDMM), which is managed by the Human Resource Development Ministry for the purpose of obtaining staff to senior posts and services in the central government. At the end of the program, you can exercise, as an MBA (Material Management) as a regular / student correspondence lateral entry into the system, which lasts one year. Under this plan, you’ll be able to make a mark. MP Bhoj Open University is recognized by the UGC, IAU (Association of Indian Universities) and AICTE and, therefore, there is no discomfort in monitoring the course by IIMM. In Bangalore, you can contact the Indian Institute of Materials Management, 304, 3rd Floor, Mittal Towers, No. 6, MG Road, Bangalore-560 001 Tel: 25327251/25327252.

The secret of success for students is to start preparations early, particularly for competitive examinations. They must develop the habit of reading books, which are always one’s best friends and help to develop language and knowledge, V. Iraianbu, Commissioner for Disciplinary Proceedings, told students at the fifth `annual day’ celebrations of the Madurai Sivakasi Nadars Pioneer Meenakshi Women’s College, Poovanthi, on March 11.

He said South Indian students started preparations for IAS examinations only after graduation whereas those in the north began from school. The Principal, K. V. Kokila, presented the annual report.