Arul R. B. Krishna, IPS, Deputy Commissioner Traffic, L&O will be the Chief Guest for the commencement of the 2016-18 PGDM Class at SCMS

Management aspirants from all over the country, who have enrolled for the PGDM 2016 – 18 at SCMS Cochin School of Business will commence their much-awaited Management journey on 19^th of July. The institute welcomes students with dreams in their eyes and prepares them for the challenges of the industry. It creates the ideal platform for their future careers and entrepreneurial journeys. And it all begins with the orientation program, which will give them a fair idea of the academic rigor and exciting journey that is in store for them.

The Inauguration function that will be held at 10.30 am on the day will be attended by the who’s who of the industry and academia. Arul R. B.Krishna, IPS, Deputy Commissioner Traffic, L&O. will be the Chief Guest for the event while Mr. Anilkumar G. Head (Human Resources), Apollo Tyres Limited, Perambra will be the Guest of Honor.

Students will have the opportunity to listen from Dr. Filomina P. George, Director, SCMS Cochin School of Business as she will extend the Welcome Speech. It’s a name the students are going to hear a lot of during their two year stint as SCMS Cochin. Presidential address by Mr. P.C.Pillai, Group Director and speeches by Mr. Anil kumar G and Dr. Arul R. B. Krishna will be further value addition to the Inauguration function. Prof. K. J. Paulose will offer the Vote of Thanks to the dignitaries.

Since the function is also an opportunity for the students to get acquainted with the facilities and infrastructure at the institute, the talks will be followed by a presentation for future managers and their parents. New students of SCMS Cochin will also look forward to bonding with their batch mates with whom they would be making memories during their two years’ stint at the institute. They could also get familiar with their faculty members and seniors, who they will rely on immensely as their program commences.

SCMS Cochin draws students from different backgrounds including Engineering, IT, Arts and Commerce and it does its best to bring the candidates on an equal footing. That’s what the Foundation program that will begin from 20^th July and go on till early September is for. The institute has planned a Personality Development Program (PDP) with a reputed name in the industry, during this period. Thus from Day 1 will begin the journey of students who will be molded into well-rounded professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders of tomorrow.

 

SCMS’ PGDM Class of 2014- 2016 witnessed a strong placement season with recruiters from multiple sectors with multiple profiles to offer

Placement Report 2016: Placement season at SCMS Cochin School of Business had got off to a strong start and ended with astounding energy. Average compensation, maximum salary, number of recruiters and profile of recruiters showed healthy trends for the latest graduating PGDM Class of 2016. A total of 50 companies across Banking, Insurance, Consultancy, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Retail, Telecommunications, Travel & Tourism, Pharmamade offers to the students, covering about 85% of the eligible batch.

The average CTC based on packages offered so far is Rs. 5 lakhs p.a. with the highest offer being Rs. 7 lakhs p.a. Some of the leading companies out of the 50 that have recruited already are Deloitte, Indian Oil Adani Gas Pvt. Ltd., Speridian Technologies, Tufropes Pvt. Ltd., Colgate Palmolive, Idea Cellular, TCS, Asian Paints, Godrej & Boyce, GIC Housing Finance, South Indian Bank, Exide Industries, Abbott Healthcare, Somany Ceramics, Infoedge India Ltd., Maxeed Telecom Utility Services, Gemni Software Solutions, Agape Diagnostics, Ujjivan Financial Services, to name a few.

SCMS has a track record of providing placements to all the eligible students, ever since it was started in 1992. In the academic year 2014-15, 56 major corporate houses hired from campus. With its entrepreneurial culture and variety of programs, SCMS strives to offer the industry the best talent. The school ensures students get the kind of job they desire and have the benefit to sit for companies of their choice that the school brings.

Studying the hiring trends for the year 2015 and 2016, George Joseph, Placement Coordinator, SCMS Cochin School of Business rightly pointed out- “Markets seem to have opened up and good corporates are in search of good talent. At the same time, recruiters remain very choosy with regard to their commitment and recruiting attitude. Newer companies have visited campus this year with compensation offer going up substantially well.”

Dr. Filomina P. George, Director, SCMS Cochin School of Business highlighted- “We at SCMS endeavour to prepare our students to take up the emerging challenges and groom them towards excellence as they pass through the portals of this institution. Recruiters appreciate this quality about our graduates.” With its transparent system of posting job profiles and matching students with recruiters, SCMS Cochin continues to strive to maximise opportunities for its student.

Over the years, SCMS Cochin students have gone on to occupy leadership positions in reputable corporates both in India and abroad, which is a testament to the quality of its programs.

 

SCMS Cochin to host a FDP on Management Consultancy from 26-27th Aug, 2016

July 6, 2016, Cochin: Consultancy Development Unit of SCMS Cochin will host a Faculty Development Programme (FDP) that will sensitize management professionals, in academia and industry to focus on management consultancies and opportunities it offers them. The two day FDP will be held on 26^th and 27^th August and has been organized under “Building Capacities for Consultancy Development & Knowledge Management with Partner Institution (KMPI)” programme of Consultancy Development Centre (CDC).

Management Consultancy is all about helping organizations improve business. It includes organizational change management assistance, development of skills, capacity building, process studies and analysis, technology implementation and other services. Unfortunately consulting as professional activity in management institutes isn’t explored the way it should be. The FDP will try to address that by emphasizing on the role of management consultancy services and the scope it has to offer.

Helmed by experienced professionals, the FDP will be ideal for faculty members from B-Schools, consulting firms, government departments, consultants and Corporates companies from different industry sectors. Modern, engaging training pedagogy will keep things interesting for participants as they get an overview of consulting and find out more about its process life cycle. The programme will also focus on consultant-client relationships besides ethics and professionalism in consulting.

Marketing of consulting services, proposal preparation and costing of consulting services, securing, planning and delivery of consultant assignment will be some of the other topics covered during the programme. B School representatives will benefit from the session based around consultancy in Management Institutes covering skill gaps. There will also be a segment on “Consultancy as a Professional activity of faculty members in Management Institutions” to look forward to.

Who should attend the FDP? The FDP is designed for faculty members from B-Schools, Department of Management Studies, Consulting firms, Government Departments, Consultants and Corporates / Industries.

Thus the FDP has something for all participants with their own requirements and focus. They will not only go home richer in knowledge and experience but with participation certificates from CDC, New Delhi and the institute too.

To download registration form for the event, click: http://www.scms.edu.in/FDP-16.html

 

“First we are taught how to follow and then we are shown how to lead,” says latest graduate Asheeta Prabhu who just joined Deloitte as a Tax Consultant

Asheeta Prabhu, a recent graduate of PGDM Class of 2016 of SCMS Cochin School of Business, believes that the biggest advantage she got from her institute was the leadership skills she developed. It helped the PGDM Batch 23 student throughout her stint at the institute and during the all-important placement process as well. The anxious, bumbling girl who came to SCMS Cochin School of Business with hopes for a career in the corporate world has been rewarded with a placement with Deloitte. Here she describes her journey from classrooms to one of the leading corporate brands in the world.

Two years ago

Asheeta remembers her first day at the institute vividly and reminds us that it’s where the journey began for her. “There was a lot of anxiety and tension all around; we were meeting new faces but had no idea what MBA life had in store for us, she says, looking back. “I had decided to go with the flow and give it my best shot every step of the way. That attitude has helped me immensely because I have been able to make the most of the opportunities the institute offered me. And it indeed offers a lot! You just need to know how to make the most of the opportunities presented.”

She believes that one of the crucial learning opportunities during her stint at the institute has been understanding the value of time. It has not only made her punctual but also well organized to take on different responsibilities and deliver on them. “We have had tight schedules all through these two years. Earlier we would have one week’s time to study for the exams, now it’s just one day along with 5-6 assignments. We have been made to pick up the skill of coping with pressure very well –  this is a skill that will come handy forever” she says with a smile.

The leader in Asheeta shines through

According to Asheeta, what sets SCMS Cochin’s Management students apart from the rest is the fact that they are trained to be Leaders from day one. “We learn how to follow and then we are taught how to lead,” says Asheeta while thinking of her journey. “I will rely on these leadership skills in my work life. I know I can be a leader in individual situations but at the same time function well in a team environment. This will help me in my career, which I can’t wait to start now,” she says enthusiastically.

The number game

Asheeta has done her specialization in Finance and is happy that she has bagged a placement in keeping with her interests and skills. She will be working with Deloitte as a Tax Consultant, and is thrilled about her profile. “I will be dealing with clients in the U.S. and it’s a huge responsibility. But I see it as an opportunity to shine and showcase my talents. I will do that from day 1, so in few years’ time I manage to establish myself as a competent manager in Finance,” she says. And given her confidence and focus, you would put good money on her accomplishing just that.

 

Anubhav Agarwal made the journey from North to South in order to learn Management from a very diverse PGDM classroom

Anubhav Agarwal was in for pleasant surprises when he made the long journey from New Delhi to SCMS Cochin to pursue his management aspirations. “I was nervous having covered all that distance to do Management. But as I reached campus, I was instantly made to feel at home and comfortable at the institute,” he says. “It has given me so much right from day one – I will always cherish this special bond we have.” The bond seems to have been cemented with his placement with Deloitte. And now, the new graduate is on cloud nine.

Learning to adapt from day 1

Anubhav believes that one of the important attributes for all managers to have is an ability to adapt to different situations and environments. He had to do that at SCMS Cochin as he was the only student from North India. “Thankfully I was assigned a mentor who immediately took me under his wings. I was also well accepted by the students here and that made things easier for me. I had done my BBA and am from a Science background, so Accounts was a bit tricky for me. I managed to adjust well and I see that as an accomplishment at my B School,” he says proudly.

From anchoring, to choreography to singing… a journey of variety

Anubhav talks about the academic rigour and the interesting teaching pedagogy that helped him not only understand management concepts but their practical applications as well. However, he appreciates the fact that SCMS Cochin also encouraged the extracurricular talents in him too. “I have always been a singer, but my stage skills improved at the institute,” he shares. “I was the choreographer and anchor of the core team for Parivartana and it was a huge learning experience for me.”

Not only did it help Anubhav gain confidence, but it also helped him understand a thing or two about organizing events. Overall, he admits that the IMLP sessions helped him take things to a higher level. “These sessions were designed to boost our presentation skills but they did a lot more than that. My communication skills have improved to a large extent, and that’s something I am quite happy about because it’s crucial for my career,” he adds thoughtfully.

Welcome to the corporate world

With his improved communication skills, Anubhav, who specialized in HR, managed to impress his recruiters. It bagged him a job with Deloitte in their HR team. “I have been offered the role of an analyst in their talent acquisition team. It’s an ideal fit for my career goals and I am eager to prove myself as a professional. I will also learn a lot along the way and build on the experiences that SCMS Cochin have given me till date.” His words are filled with hope and anticipation for a glorious career.

 

Karthika Sivan talks about the tangible and intangible benefits of the PDGM programme at SCMS Cochin School of Business

As we sit down to talk with Karthika Sivan, student of SCMS Cochin PGDM Batch 23 (Class 2014-2016), about her placement with the prestigious Aditya Birla Pantaloons, we realize that her mind has wandered off to her first day at the institute. She is filled with emotions as she says, “There was a lot of anticipation in the air. We knew that we had come to a place, which was going to shape our future. We were nervous but filled with hope.” And two years later, their hopes and decision of joining the institute have paid off.

The tangible and the intangible benefits

Karthika asserts that it’s practically impossible to account for all the important takeaways from SCMS Cochin School of Business. According to her, a lot of it is an inherent part of learning at the institute and the benefits will be explored in many ways in the future. “If I have to count the few important ones, then I would say that I have learned the importance of time; I have become more disciplined and also flexible enough to handle various situations in different environments,” she states.

Karthika also admits that she was lacking in confidence when she joined SCMS. But things seem to have changed drastically for her as she has come into her own during her time at the institute. “I would be so unsure of what I should be saying. But today I can go on any stage and make my point. It is something I am quite proud of because it’s a huge transformation. I am also more organized in life, which should do me well in my career,” she says with a smile.

Turning challenges into opportunities

Academic rigour at an institute like SCMS Cochin School of Business is going to bring its set of challenges; however, Karthika feels that she had been equipped by her faculty team to turn them into opportunities. “There were challenges throughout, but they kept things exciting,” she says. “The curriculum brought in pressure and we had to keep up with deadlines. One big challenge was the internship but we grew from that and I think that has been the stepping stone for my career now.”

Up, up and away

Karthika is now raring to go in her new role as a Department Manager with Aditya Birla Pantaloons. She believes her Systems and Operations specialization will be put to good use as she manages the backend operations of the company. “I feel I will also be able to excel in customer relations responsibilities. It’s the perfect platform for my long term career and I am so excited to get started. SCMS Cochin has brought me a long way already, and now it’s up to me to keep going further and higher,” she says with bigger dreams in her eyes.

 

SCMS Cochin School of Business’ 23rd Convocation on 27 April, 2016

SCMS Cochin School of Business is to hold its 23^rd Annual Convocation on 27 April, 2016 at its Cochin campus. For the first time, both PGDM and Executive PGDM batches will have a common convocation ceremony.

The Chief Guests for the Convocation will be Mr. P.H.Kurian, IAS, Principal Secretary (Industries and IT), Govt. of Kerala andMr. Dinesh P.Thampi, Vice President and Delivery Centre Head, TCS.

The ceremony will begin at 10AM sharp with the arrival of the students from both the batches. The procession will begin at 11AM with students proceeding from the ceremony hangers to the Seminar Hall. During the course of the event, awards for Best student (Academics-Gold Medal), – Best Outgoing Student (Overall Performance), Certificates of Merit for the toppers and Certificates for toppers of Executive PGDM will be given out apart from the diplomas to the students.

Commenting on the ceremony, Dr. Filomina George – Director PGDM said “We are confident that we have yet again delivered against our commitment of preparing our students to take up the emerging challenges and groom them towards excellence as they pass through the portals of this institution”.

The Institute looks forward to welcoming the near and dear ones of its graduating class as these graduates prepare for the next stage of their lives and wishes them the best of good fortune.

About SCMS Group of Institutions

SCMS blossomed out of the educational vision of Prathap Foundation for Education and Training in 1976. Established by its visionary chairman Dr. GPC Nayar, SCMS offers a 2 year full time PGDM, Executive PGDM and 3 years part time PGDM course.

Over the years SCMS group has established a network of institutions providing quality education in diverse disciplines like management, engineering, information technology, mass communication, bio technology, architecture, polytechnics and finishing school.

 

SCMS Cochin Among India’s Top B-Schools As Per NIRF

7 April, 2016, Cochin: SCMS Cochin has been ranked among the top-50 management institutes in India by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India in its National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

SCMS has been ranked 50^th at the all India level. The ranking is available at https://www.nirfindia.org/mgmt

The NIRF has been approved by the MHRD and launched by Hon’ble Minister of HRD on 29th September, 2015. This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. The parameters broadly cover “Teaching, Learning and Resources,” “Research and Professional Practices,” “Graduation Outcomes,” “Outreach and Inclusivity,” and “Perception”. Further details of the ranking methodology for ‘Management Institutions’ is available at http://www.nirfindia.org/Docs/Ranking-Framework-for-Managment-Institutions.pdf

Commenting on the release of the rankings, Dr. RadhaThevanoor, Principal, SCMS School of Technology and Management, Cochin, said “We are excited about this particular achievement and recognition and we would like to take the opportunity to mention that SCMS is devoutly committed to develop young minds who are ready to exercise creative leadership in business and take proactive and useful roles in social transformation.”

SCMS has been the trend setter in business education since 1976 and the NIRF ranking is in addition to its numerous certifications, accreditations and approvals, which include AICTE, NAAC, ISO 9001:2008, NBA, and ACBSP.

About SCMS Group

SCMS blossomed out of the educational vision of Prathap Foundation for Education and Training in 1976. Established by its visionary chairman Dr. GPC Nayar, SCMS offers a 2 year full time PGDM, 2 year full time MBA and 3 year part time PGDM course.

Over the years SCMS group has established a network of institutions providing quality education in diverse disciplines like Management, Mass Communication, Information Technology, International Studies, Engineering, Architecture, Commerce , Economics and Polytechnics.

 

Learning Teamwork the team-way

First year students of SCMS Cochin were recently given important lessons in teamwork through practical exposure in the form of a three days’ outbound training program. Held between 10^th and 16^th March on a campsite in Coimbatore, the program conducted by LEAP Training Academy involved several activities and tasks that helped students understand the importance of teamwork, which is crucial in their future managerial careers.

Students of Batch 24 were buzzing with energy to be a part of the program that started on a high note in the presence of experienced trainers from the academy. At the onset they were given an overview of what was to come over the course of three days. A campfire evening filled with fun activities followed created the perfect ambience for students to bond and pep themselves up for the tasks ahead.

High Ropes was the first task students were put through and not only did it help them overcome their fear of heights but instilled confidence in them to take on any kind of challenges that come their way. Students also thrived on the motivation they were offered by their team members and completed their tasks with gusto. The next activity held on the day focused on leaders’ roles in conveying their goals properly.

Some of the other important aspects of team work that were dealt with during the activity included effective communication, decision making as a group, and ability to follow orders. Students also learnt how to make the most out of the resources at their disposal, which was an important lesson on its own.

Another challenge for the group came in the form of escape during fire through an electric fence. It was a thrilling activity that took forward the message of significance of decision making, team work and planning. Finally, as students had to use the resources effectively for their last activity they learned the importance of effectiveness of one person communicating and motivating team members.

Overall, the outbound training program created an engaging environment for students who went back with takeaways like importance of being a good listener, communicating goals effectively, micro-planning, leadership and above all, teamwork.

 

A stringent admissions process is to ensure a very quality classroom for rich peer learning

• Filomina George, Director, SCMS Cochin School of Business

Consistent rankings, accolades and placement records have been among many other factors that led to SCMS Cochin’s surfacing out to be one of the sought after Business Schools of Kerala . But beyond that, what works for the B School is the constant evolution in strategies, programs and initiatives that gives its students the cutting edge advantage. Dr. Filomina George, Director of the Management School of SCMS sheds light on them and reveals how rather than harping on its achievements, the B School constantly looks ahead and paves way for the future.

The admission process of PGDM 2016- 2018 batch that is underway is definitely on her mind. The institute has been known for its student diversity and the school does not want to keep any stone unturned to ensure a rich classroom experience for its future batches either. “Our institute is a brand in itself but we need to bring more visibility to it. Even the IIMs reach out to students in different parts of the country and we are definitely doing that this year,” she says.

Prof. Filomina also talks about the importance of stringent admission process, which maintains student quality that leads to an enriching classroom environment. Students from different backgrounds enroll for their program and SCMS Cochin strives to level the playing field. “We start off our program with a 6 weeks foundation course where they can get oriented to us, management education and basic concepts, and the way of life here. They also have mentor programs, which allow them to integrate with fellow students and faculty members,” she adds.

Interesting thing to note is that the institute not only draws students from different parts of the country but faculty members as well. According to Prof. Filomina it is an interesting facet that needs to be talked about because, “They come here to understand the length and breadth of the education system, which our B School seamlessly offers them. The teaching and learning experience for both, students and faculty members is quite dynamic. We have a judicious mix of academically and professionally qualified faculty members, and their experience is further enhanced with us.”

SCMS Cochin has always been an institute that has kept up with the latest in the industry. Now with the emphasis on Skilled In India (Skill development) and getting new entrepreneurs on the scene, the B School has revamped its entrepreneurship course as well. “The three credit full course has gone through a major transformation with a series of people from the corporate world, domain experts, proven entrepreneurs as well as new/budding entrepreneurs sharing experience with students. They thus learn the nuances of starting a business, which is vital to them,” she says.

Prof. Filomina also states that the emphasis at SCMS Cochin is on creating professionals and entrepreneurs, who are socially conscious and responsible. It tries to build that sense of responsibility towards society through different programs. “Through our social outreach program, Parivarthana, we go to schools and educate them on burning issues in our society. We talk to the children about conserving natural resources how to be guarded against drug abuse , cyber crimes etc. and this helps our students grow into well rounded professionals with strong values,” she concludes.