In business, it’s the early bird that rakes in the moolah. Taking cue from the age-old proverb, two MBA students have turned entrepreneurs even before graduating.

H.R. Sampreet and Saurav Dhiman, second-year students of the Vinod Gupta School of Management at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, have launched their own company, Enfount Business Solutions. Their maiden venture is Bulkdeals.co.in, a Bangalore-based online retail window specialising in institutional and organisational buying of laptops, desktops and other electronic items.

“Across campuses, students form groups to buy computers so retailers give them a discount,” said Sampreet. “But this happens locally and in an unorganised manner,” he explained.

The duo saw a business opportunity in this campus trend and created an online platform that is a one-stop-shop for bulk deals of laptops and desktops of all brands.

“Here, students can register and get great deals directly from the brands,” Sampreet said. “We estimate this to be a Rs 200-400 crore market. The brands, too, were looking for a single window to reach out to the student community. We had the business model and wanted to hit the market early, so we started even before graduating,” he added.

The company is partnering with almost all top brands such as Dell, LG, Hewlett Packard, Lenovo and HCL.

The website had over 1,000 visitors in the first three days of its launch and already has more than 300 members and over 20 registered colleges, including all the IITs.

When asked how they plan to balance studies with running a business, Saurav said: “It is all about time management. Our business requires just two or three hours a day, which we can easily put in.”

More : telegraphindia.com

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 Keokuk, Iowa USA firm announces the opening of a free online degree school search. The Free search is a milestone which owner Keith Londrie II wanted to accomplish in 2008. The search can be accessed at http://best-online-degree-schools.com and is available to any prospective online student.

The website has only been online approximately 2 weeks, and we are up to 201 searches per day and have increased capacity to handle hundreds of thousands of searches per day. Reaching the goal of 200 searches was completed in just 2 weeks. The secondary goal is to reach 100,000 searches by the end of 2008.

Keith Londrie says “With the amount of promotion we are doing for this free search service for online degrees, we should reach the goal of 100,000 searches by the end of 2008″.

The orange search box stands out vividly when you get to the site and look for where to do your search. The database of schools is the largest I have seen. You are virtually guaranteed to find a school that meets your expectations.

Keith Londrie said, “With the price of gasoline going up so much it is important to cut costs anywhere possible. The most logical place to start is with college transportation. Choose to learn online and save money while doing it”.

Source : webwire.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

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

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) action plans, students and their parents and complaints issue showcause notices management of schools and universities that are not tuition reimbursement and keep the certificates original university students wishing to change their school before the academic course begins.

The technical training corps plans direct regulation on institutions refund all fees charged by the student, after deduction of processing fee not exceeding 1000 R

If the student is leaving after his admission to the course and the seat is not occupied by the last day of registration, the establishment is still seen relatively tax deduction of monthly tax and relatively rented the hostel Youth.

There are about 1100 B-100 schools and universities in India.

Last year, AICTE has received complaints from students and parents, against more than 100 schools of management, that there Director approximately 70 per cent of fresh settlements

Do you have a knack for figures? Does the rise and fall of the sensitive index excite you? Would you like to have a say in the country’s future? Check out the wide range of options open to a qualified economist. A report by Debojyoti Ghosh and Rupa Ganguly Economics is the art of trying to satisfy infinite needs with limited resources.

-Albert Camus CONSIDERED a rich subject, the study of economics covers a vast field and requires an analytical brain to grasp its nuances. It is a branch of social science that deals with production, distribution and consumption of goods and services and their management. The subject deals with the process of satisfying unlimited human wants with limited resources. Therefore, in essence, economics is about making choices. It’s about guiding men and society to make the right choice, and manage to live within their means.

What it entails Economists study the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Their work mainly has to do with analysing data and practical applications of economic policy in a particular area. Economists use mathematical models to develop programmes, predicting the nature and length of business cycles, the effects of inflation on the economy, or unemployment.

Assessment of economic conditions nationally and internationally to estimate the economic effects of specific changes in legislation or public policy is also a part of their job. The primary task of economists, however, is to predict the probable consequences of a course of action or policy decision. They may work as advisors with different kinds of employers Begin early Economics could be studied in school, as a sixth subject in ICSE and an additional subject in Madhyamik. It could be taken up as a regular subject at the plus two level. However, if you want to major in economics at the graduation level, you just have to pass 10+2 in any stream. To get a postgraduate degree in the subject, you should have a graduate degree in economics.

Options abroad The London School of Economics is known the world over as a premiere institute in the field and runs all sorts of courses. A wide variety of funding options is available for overseas students. The LSE itself gives awards to the tune of 1.4 million pounds. There are a number of awards covering teaching and living expenses. Two of these scholarships are given to undergraduate students on the basis of exceptional performance. The third goes to a student who has completed his degree as an external student. Several other schemes, such as the Overseas Research Students (ORS) awards, the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, the Rotary Foundation Scholarships, UNESCO fellowships, the Department for International Development Shared Scholarship Scheme (DIDSSS) etc. are also available. The Indian friends of LSE offer scholarships to Indian students. Teaching expenses could be covered by awards from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, while the Indian friends support the living costs.

Hyderabad: Mere traditional academic knowledge is not enough, it must be up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject, with the skills, the right to employment opportunities emerging issues, “said The Bal V. Mohan, vice-chancellor, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Gunturu.

It was the opening of the workshop on the theme “education and career opportunities for students of trade flows” here Monday.

The workshop was organized by the Society for career Iqra. He said he was wrong to think that like chartered accountancy courses, Company Secretary, costs and works in the accounting was difficult to pass.

Those who, systematic and concerted efforts to succeed, “he added.

M.G. Gopal, secretary governor, briefed the flow of commerce students, and not merely as a leader in finding a job, but rather to providers of job opportunities in exploitation by the company. Banks, financial institutions, insurance companies and investment funds, it offers a multitude of employment opportunities, better suited to students were women, “said Gopal.

Other speakers such as T. Venkatesh, director of the ICFAI Business School, Bangalore, KV Achalpati OR, AVSN Murthy, president, Institute for costs and Works Accountants of India said vocational training in trade flows was the least expensive in comparison to other professional courses.

Previously, Abbas Ali Mohd of Osmania University, welcomed the students.

NIILM Centre for Management Studies, Delhi, the 11 winners in the National Student Games management held on Tuesday.

ICFAI Business School, Mumbai and the Institute of Management Technology, ghaziabad, the first and second runner. On the PSG Institute of Management, nine teams from different regions of the country, competed among themselves for the final Tuesday. The groups were withdrawn from the semi-finals on Monday.

For finalists, play is serious business. With view on the screen of the laptop, they discussed strategies and action plans developed for business nervenaufreibende problems.

Produced by the All India Management Association (AIMA), the games are very popular among students in management, particularly from the southern region. “We have the most number of participants from the southern region - 169 of 263 participants from countries of the South,” said Vikas Gupta, Deputy Director, AIMA. The game, everything revolves around replicate real work situations.

Each group has been Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Each group receives a company and asked to manage. You must make business decisions with consideration of an economy and fluctuations in market conditions. “Simulation game test the real potential of students. You will have the opportunity of their theoretical knowledge,” says SCTyagi, vice-director of AIMA.

The game is not only for students of management. MCM and engineers can participate. For Suvidh Arora Tripti Agarwal and the Institute of Technology Management, ghaziabad, the game is even more demanding. Two of his teammates could not do, and they are moving toward the battle. “This game is all about handling situations. We are dealing here with a problem, and we are confident of handling,” said Suvidh.

“Each phase of the game is a challenge,” said Vishal Agrawal of ICFAI Business School, Mumbai. Vishal and his friend Abhay Jain participate in this game for the second consecutive year. Sumeet Tiwari and Hitesh Bhagchandani same part of the Institute for the first time. According to them the game is a great learning experience.

Mr. and Mrs. James S. Wey of Needham, Mass., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Susan M. Wey, to William Colyer Crum, son of Prof. and Mrs. Colyer Crum of Weston, Mass., and Sunapee, N.H.

A September wedding is planned in Needham. Miss Wey, an engineer at Honeywell Electro-Optics Operations in Lexington, Mass., was graduated cum laude from Wellesley College and next month expects to receive an M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University.

Her father is with the trust department of Hale & Dorr in Boston.

Mr. Crum, who is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College, is a third-year student in the joint J.D.-M.B.A. degree program at the Harvard Law School and the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. His father is James R. Williston Professor of Investment Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.