Is Welingkar Institute of Management good?

As someone who was part of Welingkar's PGDM program (2013 batch), I can share my insights about the institute. Let's go over some pros and cons and what you can expect overall.

If you're aiming for a solid business school, there are a few essentials you should look for: exposure, internships and placements, infrastructure (like buildings and tech), courses, faculty, reputation, the balance between tuition and salary, alumni network, rankings, and other facilities.

Welingkar follows a trimester system, splitting their PGDM courses into six trimesters over two years.

1. Exposure

Gaining exposure is crucial for any MBA student. As an aspiring manager, you need an environment that challenges your thinking. You'll meet a diverse group of students with different backgrounds and ideas. Both your peers and professors will push you intellectually. The competitive atmosphere will encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and improve.

Welingkar offers an excellent outbound program shortly after you join, which involves fun and educational activities outside the city. It's a pity more colleges don't offer this kind of experience. The college also hosts guest lectures from industry leaders, providing valuable insights into the corporate world. There are also programs to help you develop soft skills, which are essential for standing out as a management graduate. If you take these seriously, you'll see noticeable growth by the end of the program.

2. Internships & Final Placements

When choosing a b-school, internships and final placements are critical. Classroom learning is one thing, but practical experience is another. It's up to the college to provide enough opportunities for internships and job placements.

There are plenty of discussions online about the offers and packages students receive at Welingkar, both domestic and international, and I can confirm they're accurate. However, like many schools, Welingkar faces challenges in placing every student due to large batch sizes. Sometimes, opportunities don't match the number of students, and those who aren't placed early on might struggle to find quality placements later. This is common in many b-schools with large intakes.

During my time, several students had to secure internships or placements independently, either because they didn't get one through the campus or wanted to work in a specific field. Personally, I landed a great job through campus placements. If you apply yourself during those two years, you can find a good position. Ultimately, focus on nailing that one offer with a company you desire, as that's all you need.

3. Infrastructure (Physical + IT + Library)

Is infrastructure a big deal? Yes and no.

No, if you're not interested in anything beyond getting a job or if you're at a place like JBIMS, where infrastructure isn't a priority.

Yes, if you want to make the most of your investment in the college, participate in competitions, or need resources for case studies. Welingkar offers a Wi-Fi-enabled campus, study rooms, excellent IT facilities, a well-stocked library, and even a gym. There are numerous case studies available for analysis as well.

In terms of physical infrastructure, it often comes down to mindset. When the environment is well-maintained and lively, it can positively impact your mood and motivation...

My experience at Welingkar Institute of Management for the PGDM course has been quite enriching. The curriculum is well-structured, focusing on both practical and theoretical aspects, which prepares us for the corporate world. The faculty members are knowledgeable and bring a lot of real-world context into our classes. However, the campus life could be better, as it often feels too focused on academics without much balance in extracurricular activities. The placement opportunities are decent, but the competition is high, so you need to stay proactive. Overall, it’s a good institute for management education.

As a current first-year student at Welingkar Institute of Management, I'd advise against enrolling here. It's not worth the financial investment from your parents. Avoid their PGDM and other programs that promise high packages; it's mostly just advertising, and unfortunately, I fell for it too.

While the college is good at marketing itself externally, internally it's a different story. They often take admissions through hefty donations, despite previous controversies with the principal. This highlights how corrupt the system is, despite their constant talk about values like truth and obedience. The staff and security aren't helpful, and it feels like you're paying a lot just to listen to nonsense. The faculty is somewhat approachable, but the actual teaching is lacking. Most lectures are dull and you'll likely doze off, as the faculty, though qualified, struggle to effectively engage students.

Regarding placements, the time allocated for them has drastically reduced from 7 days to just 1.5 days this year. The college blamed the market for fewer summer internships, suggesting students find opportunities independently. If we were to find internships ourselves, why pay 11 lakhs? Many of us even debated whether to pay the next fee installment but had to eventually.

In my experience, and that of most of my friends, Welingkar isn't worth spending two years of your life. We've felt let down and don't want the same for others. Consider other colleges, as Welingkar can be quite disappointing, even leading to feelings of depression when expectations aren't met.

Choose wisely and avoid falling into the Welingkar trap. Save yourself by opting for a different institution.

Welingkar Institute of Management is quite good, especially for the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) program. The curriculum is comprehensive, mixing theory with practical knowledge, which helps us apply concepts in real-world scenarios. The faculty is well-qualified, and many have industry experience, adding value to our learning.

The college has decent internship opportunities, though the placement ratio could be better, with about 90% placement reported for some batches but with varying average packages. Overall, it’s a good choice for management studies.

I’m currently enrolled in the PGDM program at Welingkar, and I’d say it’s a solid choice. The curriculum is designed with real-world applications in mind, allowing us to engage with relevant topics like marketing and operations in depth. The faculty is experienced, and they often use case studies to enhance our understanding.

However, the internship opportunities can be competitive, and securing a good placement can be challenging due to the high number of students. That said, many companies do visit the campus for placements, so it's not all bad.