SPJIMR-PGDM 2013 | Page 25

AN OVERVIEW Theory meets Practice Business schools have an important role in driving economic growth by providing the right talent that is ready to take up managerial roles in industry. Living up to this role demands regular interaction and an overall integration with industry so that the participants are exposed to market dynamics and have the benefit of the latest developments and ideas from the world of business. The PGDM initiatives at industry integration Ÿ help students appreciate business as it operates in the real world and Ÿ promote experiential learning so that theories and models are looked at from the specific context in which they work At the same time, industry integration is a way for us to indicate to industry how MBA education is evolving and if they find our students to be better and more effective, they also identify the reasons thereof. That sets the stage for our students to be frontrunners when it comes to fitting the needs of industry and helps us drive the superior placement records that the PGDM programme is known for. Industry Visits Perspectives from the Shop Floor To provide first-hand and practical information about production operations and techniques used in manufacturing industries and to help students build on their academic knowledge, SPJIMR organises industry visits for students to various manufacturing plants/facilities across India. This takes students right to the heart of the shop floor and provides an opportunity to understand various processes and practices and relate them to theoretical concepts learnt in classes. Apart from traditional manufacturing operations, students also visit modern, IT-driven businesses that are changing the way we do business in India. In 2012, first year PGDM participants visited the manufacturing facilities of the Parle group, Mumbai, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mumbai and Tata Motors Limited, Pune. A visit was also organised to the National Stock Exchange (NSE) headquarters in Mumbai. Workshops Workshops help students gain practical skills, provide an opportunity to discuss ideas with practitioners and help students appreciate the nuances of actual working in a corporate environment. Some of the workshops held in 2012 were: Ÿ Business Plan workshop where the guest speaker was Mr. Sanketh Garimella, an alumnus of Purdue University Ÿ In-Basket Workshop by Mr. Jagmohan Bhanver, chief mentor at People First Ÿ Laboratory on Entrepreneurial Motivation by Dr.Sunil Handa, Professor at IIM Ahmedabad 23