AIMS Institute, Director of MBA: Dr. Kalpana Venugopal Interview

Dr. Kalpana is the Director of MBA programme at AIMS Institutes. She holds an MBA from Bangalore University, and PhD in Management (OB & HR) from the very prestigious Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh, UP, India, which is one among Top-6 universities in India, offering PhD degrees. She is also a recognized Ph.D. Guide of Mysore University and is also considered for evaluating Ph.D. Thesis in leading universities. Dr. Kalpana has around two decades of rich experience in academics in teaching, training, consulting, and research. She is currently the Program Director - MBA at AIMS Institutes, Bangalore. She is also part of the board of studies, board of examiners, editorial boards, selection panel members, etc. at various leading institutes and universities. She has been invited as a resource person for conducting FDPs at various institutes and universities in India and abroad and has been part of many panel discussions on current, recent, and relevant topics. She has authored chapters in Internationally acclaimed Text Books, published research papers in National and International journals, including Scopus Indexed Journals, and has also Presented papers in National and International conferences. She is the recipient of the Professional Excellence Award & Outstanding Teaching Excellence Award too. Both with teaching and research, she has upgraded her knowledge and has carried out HR consultancies in India and abroad. She keeps designing training programs and courses for HR specialization students on current, relevant, and recent trends in HR. She is an active member of the Curriculum development and review committee (CDRC), Core Committee, and Academic Advisory Board at AIMS Institutes. Dr. Kalpana has assiduously ensured adherence to quality in the teaching-learning process in the MBA Program in collaboration with the IQAC at AIMS. She has also been active in initiating Alumni FGDs and bringing alumni to address students and be their professional mentors. She is actively involved in Research and has been guiding students on various research projects & papers.

What is the latest program that you are offering in your institute/ department that will help students outperform and stand apart from the crowd?

Since 2022, AIMS School of Business (AIMS Institutes) has introduced several new specializations like Business Analytics, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Health Care Management, Start-ups & SME Management; Banking, Insurance & Financial Services; in addition to Marketing, Finance & HRM. Students also have the option of choosing dual specializations. This is under the feedback on current industry 4.0 trends received from our advisory board consisting of industry experts and alumni of our business school. Courses in new specializations are conducted by Professors of Practice who are from the corporate and bring valuable industry experience in the field. The highly relevant specialization programs in MBA conducted by industry specialists give a distinct differentiating factor to MBA graduates at AIMS School of Business, when they present themselves to prospect employers from the industry.

What are the factors that make this program the best for the students to opt for?

Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at AIMS institutes was set up in 1998 with the broad objective to impart professional education and training in various aspects of modern management. This MBA course takes into account the process of preparing a student to master the art of solving business problems. As a globally and nationally accredited institution (IACBE Accredited and NAAC-accredited ‘A’ grade with 3.25 on 4), our aim is to provide students with the best opportunities to develop conceptual & analytical skills during their course of study. AIMS Institutes fosters an attitude essential for the aspirant’s growth and ultimate development into competent, skilled and effective managers. MBA Program at AIMS School of Business transforms students into professionals with applied skills in their area(s) of specialization with critical thinking, analytical ability, communication and leadership skills. Factors that make them into valuable resources. Corporate industry in an emerging market like India from Small & Medium to Large scale, need such resources who have problem solving capability and show commitment to meet their goals. A student enrolled in to MBA program at AIMS School of Business who attains the required managerial capabilities and an unwavering commitment to achieve goals, enjoys various career options that become available on graduation.

What will you say are the “best practices” in the course you’re offering?

Outcomes of the MBA Program at AIMS School of Business are designed for students based on latest blooms taxonomy by faculty members conducting courses in the program. Knowledge and Skill Gaps in the syllabus of each course in MBA vis a vis current industry requirement is identified and measures are adopted to address them by the faculty conducting the course every semester. Outcomes are shared with the students along with the lesson plan showing pedagogy, formative and summative assessments for each module in the course. Attainment of Program, Program Specific, Course and Module-wise Outcomes are monitored by the Curriculum Development & Review Committee consisting of academic and industry experts headed by the Dean for Academics. MBA students are provided an opportunity to test their learning in running a business profitably on virtual capstone platform which imitates reality. Students are organized into corporate teams representing the functions they have specialized in to face real market challenges. They have to apply their learning, face challenges and make decisions for investment in capital, R&D, production, hiring resources, logistics, marketing, finance & accounts to succeed against live competition from other teams in the market. Every week there is a feedback and review of performance of each team. Self-assessments and presentations are made to experts for getting suggestions for improvement of performance. After multiple attempts at improvement a final performance report is prepared followed by a comprehensive test on the learning by each student. It is heartening to note that the competitive spirit brings out the best in all the students. The simulation activity gives the students an excellent opportunity to apply their learning and evaluate their analytical as well as decision making skills. In addition to the prescribed syllabus for the MBA program, AIMS Value Added Programs (VAP) enhance the MBA program by offering a diverse range of certification programs beyond the prescribed syllabus. These programs, guided by recommendations from the advisory board and interactions with industry leaders, cover areas such as sustainability, insurance management, entrepreneurship, BFSI, SCM, digital marketing, AI/ ML, advanced Excel, and more. The VAP includes workshops, global online certifications, and training sessions on various topics, including employability skills, cyber security, yoga, and meditation. These additional offerings aim to equip students with practical skills and knowledge, preparing them comprehensively for their professional careers.

What are some valuable insights of the program that you are offering at your institute/ dept.?

At AIMS School of Business, we pride ourselves on our intellectual capital, passion, diligence and expertise of our teaching as well as enthusiasm of our support teams. Each faculty ember comes with a background of extensive professional cum academic experience in their area of specialization. They are staunchly committed to helping the students realize their ambitions. To realize its vision & mission, AIMS School of Business has a well-designed process and digital infrastructure to disseminate academic knowledge and professional skills to the student community in its campus. The academic support focuses on various sources of knowledge acquisition and application through innovative pedagogical mechanisms for delivery of the curriculum, augmentation and training programs, value based programs and interactive sessions as guest lectures, industry visits, workshops and seminars, corporate connect sessions, internships and live projects with corporate houses. The teaching-learning process is student centric and aims to fulfill and nurture the dreams and aspirations of the students. Outcomes based pedagogy is practiced where the learning of each student in every activity is measured the achievement of intended outcomes. This assessment helps identify students who require additional academic support and remedial/ motivational measures are taken.

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How does the program ensure that students are being prepared for the future?

AIMS School of Business is committed to holistically preparing graduating MBA students for the industry. Through a 360-degree learning approach, the institution focuses on both academic and personality development. Students engage in extra and co-curricular activities guided by experts in various fields and initiatives including CAPSIM Simulations, Entrepreneurship Excellence, Advanced Research, Sustainable Development, and more. Collaborations with organizations like NEN and the Wadhwani Foundation support experiential learning, particularly through the IGNITE Program, a 14-week case-study-based initiative. The program, based on real startup founder interactions, takes students through the entrepreneurial journey from idea to funding. Weekly concepts are aligned with case studies, featuring live interactions with founders and masterclasses. The journey is divided into milestones, allowing students to build a final pitch deck by course end. Access to resources, mentorship, and a comprehensive ecosystem at AIMS School of Business ensures students are well-prepared for the future, developing a business sense and practical skills for their startup journey.

How did you train yourself/ faculty to deliver this program to the students?

The academic team at AIMS School of Business focuses on various sources of knowledge acquisition and application through innovative pedagogical mechanisms for delivery of the curriculum, augmentation and training programs, value based programs and interactive sessions as guest lectures, industry visits, workshops and seminars, corporate connect sessions, internships and live projects with corporate houses. The teaching-learning process is student centric and aims to fulfil and nurture the dreams and aspirations of the students. Outcomes based pedagogy is practiced where the learning of each student in every activity is measured the achievement of intended outcomes. This assessment helps identify students who require additional academic support and remedial/motivational measures are taken. The academic delivery is ensured through the Calendar of Events (COE), Course Files and co-curricular activities.

What were the challenges that you faced while inculcating this program in your curriculum?

Challenges faced are mostly are in terms of identifying students and supporting them in terms of either at academic / remedial / motivational levels.

What are the types of projects that the students are working on through this program?

Our students are actively engaged with focus centres in sustainability, entrepreneurship, consulting and research which work with the industry in various forms including market surveys, research projects, etc. and our students are encouraged and made a part of such projects. The student groups take initiatives in seeking and sourcing internship projects with MNCs and MSMEs.