What is the one aspect of SIBM’s academic curriculum that helps students perform better?
Aastha: The best aspect is getting to choose our specialisation in the first semester and getting an introduction to marketing subjects from the start.
Mandeep: It is very important to know and to focus on one’s specialization from the very beginning and SIBM’s academic curriculum gives us a scope to start building early on our branch.
Rachit: Selecting our specialization in the first semester provides us with ample time to develop basic knowledge about the subjects, which helps during internships and also in learning advanced topics in the final year.
Rupinder: We have a healthy mix of individual and group assignments; there is also a continuous evaluation system which reduces the stress during the final exams.
Tell us the one strategy you’ve followed to be a consistent academic performer.
Aastha: I believe in learning beyond the classroom, from peers, and then relating all these learnings with industry examples.
Mandeep: I’ve learnt that last minute submissions are a bad idea. One needs to start working on assignments early to achieve the best results.
Rachit: Don’t restrict yourself to what is taught in class; try to learn a little extra. Also, get in the habit of peer learning – it’s extremely effective.
Rupinder: In my opinion, there is no substitute for hard work. Students must put their hearts into the work at hand in order to be successful.
In B-schools, people often talk about focusing on competitions. How important do you think academics are in helping with such extra-curricular activities?
Aastha: Academics form the basic building blocks for competitions. What we learn from our curriculum helps us perform better in competitions as we’re applying the same concepts.
Mandeep: What you learn in class is often applied in competitions and thus results in holistic development. You can also expand on what you’ve learnt and apply it in competitions.
Rachit: Undoubtedly, competitions are important in a B-school, but to perform well in them you need to have a strong grasp over the basic concepts of your stream. Competitions test how well you apply what you’ve learned in the class. Thus academics are important not just for competitions but also for when you move to the corporate world.
Rupinder: Academics surely are vital in both knowing how to approach the competitions and winning them. There have been competitions which required a thorough knowledge of labour laws, industrial relations, compensation and benefits and other such academic topics.
Within your specialization, which subjects do you believe are the most important and which require special focus?
Aastha: While all subjects are important, out in the industry, Sales, Marketing Research and Consumer Behaviour help the most in understanding the nuances of work agencies.
Mandeep: Looking at Operations, Basics of Supply Chain Management, Lean and Six Sigma are the most important subjects, as they are upcoming fields.
Rachit: For Finance, one should be thorough with concepts like Time Value of Money, Economics, Financial Management and basics of Financial Accounting.
Rupinder: HR Analytics, which helps in evolving from HRM to Human Capital Management, and Compensation & Benefits are important.