The Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by the IIMs as an entry criteria for management education in India, has over the last 8 years grown from a test used by the 6 IIMs to one that has about 150 Institutes affiliated to it. Over 240,000 candidates take the CAT. There are other such common tests-at least seven common tests - that are conducted by other Institutes which also have affiliates, some overlapping multiple common tests.
Let me make a proposal that will bring relief to the candidates and also enlarge the market for these test agencies. Imagine a situation where instead of 7 different “common” admission tests, we have one truly common test that is offered 7 different times in the year! If these 7 testing agencies cooperate, we can convert these 7 CATs into one big TIGER – The Integrated Graduate Entrance Rating.
This TIGER test can be under the purview of one professionally managed organization that can be co-owned by these 7 agencies. Actually, it can be owned by all the Institutes that contribute to it in terms of candidates; thus the revenues and surplus can be apportioned in the ratio of candidate applicants to those Institutes.
The Other CATs
The XAT exam conducted by XLRI has about 150,000 candidates taking the test for consideration by about 40 affiliated Institutes. The SNAP exam conducted by the Symbiosis Society has about 120,000 candidates who may apply to the 17 affiliated Symbiosis Institutes. Then, you have the MAT which has about 100 affiliated Institutes through whom about 100,000 candidates apply.
The ATMA exam conducted by the Association of Indian Management Schools has about 20,000 candidates. The JMET conducted by the IIT for the 7 affiliated schools has about 50,000 candidates. The NMET conducted by the Narsee Monjee NMIMS University draws about 60,000 candidates. There are also the Common Entrance Tests – CETs- that are conducted by different state government agencies, and these scores are accepted by various third tier schools.
A typical management school applicant ends up appearing for at least 3 of these 7 national common admission tests which are conducted from November through March, the normal admission season. There are conflicting schedules which prevent the students from appearing for all these 7 tests; more over the costs are high.
These tests are invariably held only in about 30 cities and towns; thus the candidates have to spend time and money travelling from their hometown to appear for these tests. A candidate, on an average, spends about Rs.4,000 as the fee for these exams in addition to the amount spent on coaching classes and travel/stay for the test. Each of these tests allows only one appearance in the year (except MAT which has 4 seasons) and hence if that date is not convenient for the candidate, he loses one full year.
These testing agencies charge anywhere between Rs.800 to about Rs.1800 for the test; thus the CAT gets a revenue of Rs.45 crores; the XAT makes Rs. 12 crores; Symbiosis makes about Rs.12 crores; MAT about Rs.10 crores; ATMA about Rs.2 crores; JMET about Rs.5 crores and the NMET about Rs.6 crores.
The total revenue for these 7 agencies is estimated to be about Rs.90 crores with a total candidate strength of about 300,000 unique test takers and a total of about 7.4 lakh tests being delivered. At these levels, India is the largest market in the world for management education entrance exams.
The GMAT pales in comparison with just 265,000 total tests delivered in 2009. The GMAT however is the one and only common exam that is accepted by about 2,000 Universities in North America and around the world. At a fee of $250, the total revenue is $66 million or 300 crores.
While the Indian market size is almost 3 times that of the GMAT worldwide in terms of tests, in revenue terms India is only one-third of the GMAT. I will argue that it is not just because of the higher fee or the $ effect. It may also have something to do with the fact that our testing agencies are probably less customer centric in their approach.
The 7 different testing agencies have effectively fragmented the market with the possibility of cannibalization ; as a result, test takers face challenges and take these exams in a less than ideal environment.
Here are some of the challenges in the current system:
a. Each of these tests is offered only once in the year (except for MAT). Therefore a candidate who misses that one date is out of the race for one full year. GMAT is offered on demand.
b. Since these tests are offered only in about 30 cities in India, candidates spend a lot more resources to take the test. GMAT, a foreign test catering to far fewer candidates, is offered in 15 cities in India!
c. These tests are not standardized, and not very scientifically designed. Candidates spend on an average about Rs.20,000 in preparing for these tests with coaching Institutes claiming to have mastered these tests. The MBA coaching industry is a Rs.400 crore market. GMAT is a standardized aptitude test.
d. The scores of the Indian tests are not, therefore, valid for use across different batches of students. The IIM-CAT has recently said that their scores are valid for 2 years. So, candidates appear in subsequent years to get recent scores that are accepted by Institutes. GMAT scores are valid for 5 years since it is a standardized test whose reliability and validity has been proved.
The TIGER can Roar:
Once this is done, the TIGER test can be offered at least 7 times in the year thus making it easier for candidates to take or retake the test. Thus, the pool of 3 lakh unique candidates this year will result in about 9 lakh tests being delivered in the year.
The test fee can be easily raised to Rs.2000; this will actually be less than what the candidates pay now for the 3 tests that they take spending about Rs.4000. Thus, the total revenue for the TIGER test agency will be about Rs.180 crores; double the current levels.
This is easily borne by facts. Before the SNAP common test was designed by the Symbiosis Society, each of the then existing 11 institutes had their own entrance test and candidates had to make a choice; these 11 exams were cannibalizing themselves. On my suggestion, the common SNAP exam was devised. The number of applications went higher and the total revenue to the Society increased multifold. What’s more, candidates benefitted immensely in the process!
The TIGER test can also then be offered in more cities and towns in India. About 50 cities account for about 85% of the test candidates. Since candidates will save on the travel costs, they will not mind paying Rs. 2000 for the test which is marginally higher than the current fee.
The TIGER test agency, with revenues of about Rs.180 crores, can then afford to spend on making this test a very strong standardized, scientific, and valid test. Once the test is made standardized, it can effectively compete with the GMAT worldwide. The Chinese form the third largest group, after the Americans and Indians, of GMAT test takers.
Given the revenue levels, the TIGER organization can establish its own permanent testing centers across these 50 cities with its own WAN, thus bringing centralized control of online test delivery on a private dedicated network which will be secure. The cost of setting up this infrastructure will not be more than Rs.200 crores. This infrastructure can then be used by other tests – either educational such as the AIEEE, JEE, GATE, or for recruitment such as the DRDO, Railways, or the Banking tests. This will result in additional revenues for the TIGER setup.
The obvious question is whether these CATs will voluntarily see merit in converting themselves into a TIGER. I would argue that if they do not come together into an industry self-regulated institution, the Government will step in. We saw such attempts earlier during the BJP regime when the then HRD Minister Dr. Joshi came very close to establishing one under the Ministry. While Mr. Sibal may assert that the IIMs are autonomous and may leave the CAT alone, perhaps because under the current problematic situation everyone wants to pass the buck, it is very likely that the same Government may step in later to control the affairs of the educational institutions. So, it is in the interests of these Institutions to strengthen themselves by coming together. It will also establish the superiority of India in the international market place.
The author, Dr. Sankaran Raghunathan, is the Dean of the National Management School. This article appeared in the Hindu BusinessLine on Monday Dec. 14, 2009 at
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/mentor/2009/12/14/stories/2009121450871100.htm
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Crash Proof CAT
This is the article that I wrote and which was published in The Hindu BusinessLine on Monday November 30, 2009. Comments are most welcome.
Link: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/mentor/2009/11/30/stories/2009113050380700.htm
**************************************************
I followed the TV news yesterday and read the newspapers this morning about the problems in the online delivery of the CAT exam; the indictment is very clear. Technology is to be blamed. Here is a wonderful example of a great idea that has failed to see the light of day and everyone has found a convenient scapegoat – technology!! I am reminded of the justifications provided by the Charlton Heston types in the gun lobby who said, “guns do not kill people – people do”.
Technology does not kill ideas, managers do!! As someone who pioneered the online entrance exam in this country about a decade ago, who initially failed to successfully conduct the XLRI exam online but then succeeded in delivering similar exams for several educational institutions, I can humbly say that there was nothing wrong with the technology then and nothing wrong with it now. I successfully delivered online admission applications and online tests for institutions when technology was less advanced and the internet infrastructure fragile. Today, the technology has advanced, the internet is more robust and available, and software architecture for concurrent use of many thousands of users is well known. Therefore, I am sorry to see that technology is being blamed for the issues faced by the CAT exam. I can emphatically say that it is the ambitious expectations of people who switch over to technology; it is the decision making and implementation approach of managers; it is the process of outsourcing, where we need to look for answers.
Delivering an online test for about 300,000 candidates (and even that, across multiple days and sessions) is not rocket science these days. The Directors of the top management schools should be aware of this. But then the CAT committee is made up of academicians from across 7 different institutes who have least interest in these kinds of implementation issues. The first thing to focus on is the structure of the CAT as an institution. It should be run by professional managers who are held accountable for an activity that generates upto Rs.50 crores annually on an annuity basis with very little marketing. All that they need to do is implement the project right and this revenue can multiply many times over.
The second issue is the technology adoption process. CAT went overboard with their demands on how the online CAT should be delivered with biometric identity systems, online video and audio screening, etc. which have loaded the system with unnecessary frills that take the attention away from the task of secure, online delivery of exams where the candidates have a pleasant experience. In the traditional paper-and pencil test, there is no such video/audio screening; there is no such biometric identity capture, so why demand that in an online exam? Why can’t we build the process of online exams step by step and increase the technology component gradually? By adopting an all-or-none attitude, we have not gradually matured in technology adoption and assimilation.
The third issue is the award of the contract of the online test delivery to an agency which has limited experience in India with such large scale exam delivery – either manual or online. But then I cannot blame the CAT committee members for being representative of most government agencies who wholesale buy anything that is foreign, especially American. When there are multiple local Indian companies which have successfully conducted online tests in the last decade in India, and who have the technology and the necessary infrastructure, it was a serious mistake on the part of the CAT to select an agency that does not have its own infrastructure in India that it can control.
Finally, I would argue that the successful delivery of a test of this magnitude requires infrastructure that is under a unitary command rather than the current approach of commissioning several independent centers whose infrastructure is not meant for such test delivery purposes.
Trouble started brewing as early as August when the online application system did not work as it should have. Early warning signs were not heeded. During the last few years, the CAT results which were delivered online invariably had problems. Clearly, the CAT committee has not taken these issues seriously.
Having said all this, it would be inappropriate if I did not propose some thoughts for how the CAT test can be successfully delivered online, and, at a much lower cost than the whopping $40 million reported in the media.
1. CAT has the opportunity to be much bigger than the GMAT and thus has the opportunity to become an international test and earn foreign exchange and make the country proud. So, given this prospect, the CAT organization should be made a permanent institution with full time professional managers who are held accountable to the community of more than 150 business schools; not just the 7 IIMs. The leaders of the affiliated schools should demand this of the CAT.
2. The CAT Institution should be made an independent organization, independent of the IIMs, and one in which all the affiliated business schools should all have a stake. This also means that they are involved in the governance and the sharing of the surplus revenues.
3. Once the CAT committee decided to deliver the test on multiple days, why was it not offered over 30 days instead of just the 10 days? This would put less pressure on the infrastructure and field managers and enable buffers to set right things. For a test with about 300,000 test takers, with 30 days and 2 sessions a day, the CAT can be delivered in 60 sessions with not more than 5,000 computers across the country.
4. The CAT exam could be delivered around the year rather than just once a year. Since the CAT exam score is now valid for 2 years, there is no reason why the exam should not be offered round the year just like the GMAT. It will not only benefit the students but also the Institution since now a test taker may take the CAT exam multiple times in a year, and this can possibly raise the revenues. My estimate is that the CAT revenue can easily, and at the very least, be in the range of Rs.60 crores annually.
5. The CAT online delivery infrastructure should NOT be an outsourced resource and more so, to the myriad engineering colleges around the country. It should be a dedicated uniform infrastructure controlled by a single entity. This is not impossible. For a capacity of 3 lakh tests to be delivered in a 30-day period, the total investment needed will be to the tune of Rs.50 crores. This can be shared among the 150+ business schools. The annual running cost will be less than Rs.30 crores, thus netting a good surplus that can be used for the improvement of the test content so that the CAT exam can become a standardized test.
6. This dedicated infrastructure can then be used for similar online tests that are conducted by XAT (XLRI), SNAP (Symbiosis), NMET (Narsee Monjee), IIT-JEE and GATE among others. These agencies can contribute about Rs.30 crores annually in revenues to the CAT organisation.
7. Once the CAT exam is delivered online across 60 sessions, with just 5,000 computers, the number of computers per center will be just 50 across 100 centers. Managing a center with 50 computers is much less taxing. Managing the entire dedicated network of 5,000 computers on a uniform infrastructure is much easier than managing a disparate outsourced network.
8. Once the infrastructure is dedicated, then all these 100 centers can be networked into a dedicated wide area network that can be better and more securely managed.
9. These 100+ centers can be spread across about 50 cities and towns around the country. The top 7 cities that typically have about 50% of the candidates are Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. Delhi, accounting for about 20% of the demand, would need about 1000 computers spread around 20 centers across the national capital region. These 50 cities cover about 85% of the candidates who apply for CAT. Once the tests are delivered across 50 cities, the test goes closer to where the candidates live. This way, technology delivers clear benefits. Candidates save time, money and effort; more importantly, there is no fatigue factor when a test is given.
10. The current CAT is actually a computer based test rather than an Online Test where the test is delivered over the net. While this CBT worked earlier, given the new technologies and the bandwidth speed available at a much lower cost, the fully online test is a better architecture to adopt. This is also much more secure especially in a dedicated WAN.
11. The software needed for the online application, online test and the online result delivery can be sourced from existing Indian vendors who have proven technology in the local environment. The architecture has to be critically examined for the scale needed. Every year a parallel review of the architecture based on new information can be conducted and new features added incrementally.
12. Finally, an event of this scale needs to be insured such that, if a disruption were to happen, candidates who have spent the money and become disappointed, can at least be reimbursed for their expenses.
The Dean of Sastra University suggested that the CAT exam should be nationalized. I believe that instead of moving it from the frying pan into the fire, we should free the CAT and privatise it. More importantly, instead of nationalizing it, I argue that we should internationalize the CAT.
As the demand for management education grows in this country, going by the demographic trends, it is my estimate that about 10 lakh candidates will apply for the CAT exam by the year 2012. In addition, if CAT goes international, there is a huge market in China that can clearly make CAT humungous. Therefore, it is absolutely important that CAT gets its act together immediately. The business school community should demand that this be done.
***********************************
Sankaran Raghunathan
Dean
Link: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/mentor/2009/11/30/stories/2009113050380700.htm
**************************************************
I followed the TV news yesterday and read the newspapers this morning about the problems in the online delivery of the CAT exam; the indictment is very clear. Technology is to be blamed. Here is a wonderful example of a great idea that has failed to see the light of day and everyone has found a convenient scapegoat – technology!! I am reminded of the justifications provided by the Charlton Heston types in the gun lobby who said, “guns do not kill people – people do”.
Technology does not kill ideas, managers do!! As someone who pioneered the online entrance exam in this country about a decade ago, who initially failed to successfully conduct the XLRI exam online but then succeeded in delivering similar exams for several educational institutions, I can humbly say that there was nothing wrong with the technology then and nothing wrong with it now. I successfully delivered online admission applications and online tests for institutions when technology was less advanced and the internet infrastructure fragile. Today, the technology has advanced, the internet is more robust and available, and software architecture for concurrent use of many thousands of users is well known. Therefore, I am sorry to see that technology is being blamed for the issues faced by the CAT exam. I can emphatically say that it is the ambitious expectations of people who switch over to technology; it is the decision making and implementation approach of managers; it is the process of outsourcing, where we need to look for answers.
Delivering an online test for about 300,000 candidates (and even that, across multiple days and sessions) is not rocket science these days. The Directors of the top management schools should be aware of this. But then the CAT committee is made up of academicians from across 7 different institutes who have least interest in these kinds of implementation issues. The first thing to focus on is the structure of the CAT as an institution. It should be run by professional managers who are held accountable for an activity that generates upto Rs.50 crores annually on an annuity basis with very little marketing. All that they need to do is implement the project right and this revenue can multiply many times over.
The second issue is the technology adoption process. CAT went overboard with their demands on how the online CAT should be delivered with biometric identity systems, online video and audio screening, etc. which have loaded the system with unnecessary frills that take the attention away from the task of secure, online delivery of exams where the candidates have a pleasant experience. In the traditional paper-and pencil test, there is no such video/audio screening; there is no such biometric identity capture, so why demand that in an online exam? Why can’t we build the process of online exams step by step and increase the technology component gradually? By adopting an all-or-none attitude, we have not gradually matured in technology adoption and assimilation.
The third issue is the award of the contract of the online test delivery to an agency which has limited experience in India with such large scale exam delivery – either manual or online. But then I cannot blame the CAT committee members for being representative of most government agencies who wholesale buy anything that is foreign, especially American. When there are multiple local Indian companies which have successfully conducted online tests in the last decade in India, and who have the technology and the necessary infrastructure, it was a serious mistake on the part of the CAT to select an agency that does not have its own infrastructure in India that it can control.
Finally, I would argue that the successful delivery of a test of this magnitude requires infrastructure that is under a unitary command rather than the current approach of commissioning several independent centers whose infrastructure is not meant for such test delivery purposes.
Trouble started brewing as early as August when the online application system did not work as it should have. Early warning signs were not heeded. During the last few years, the CAT results which were delivered online invariably had problems. Clearly, the CAT committee has not taken these issues seriously.
Having said all this, it would be inappropriate if I did not propose some thoughts for how the CAT test can be successfully delivered online, and, at a much lower cost than the whopping $40 million reported in the media.
1. CAT has the opportunity to be much bigger than the GMAT and thus has the opportunity to become an international test and earn foreign exchange and make the country proud. So, given this prospect, the CAT organization should be made a permanent institution with full time professional managers who are held accountable to the community of more than 150 business schools; not just the 7 IIMs. The leaders of the affiliated schools should demand this of the CAT.
2. The CAT Institution should be made an independent organization, independent of the IIMs, and one in which all the affiliated business schools should all have a stake. This also means that they are involved in the governance and the sharing of the surplus revenues.
3. Once the CAT committee decided to deliver the test on multiple days, why was it not offered over 30 days instead of just the 10 days? This would put less pressure on the infrastructure and field managers and enable buffers to set right things. For a test with about 300,000 test takers, with 30 days and 2 sessions a day, the CAT can be delivered in 60 sessions with not more than 5,000 computers across the country.
4. The CAT exam could be delivered around the year rather than just once a year. Since the CAT exam score is now valid for 2 years, there is no reason why the exam should not be offered round the year just like the GMAT. It will not only benefit the students but also the Institution since now a test taker may take the CAT exam multiple times in a year, and this can possibly raise the revenues. My estimate is that the CAT revenue can easily, and at the very least, be in the range of Rs.60 crores annually.
5. The CAT online delivery infrastructure should NOT be an outsourced resource and more so, to the myriad engineering colleges around the country. It should be a dedicated uniform infrastructure controlled by a single entity. This is not impossible. For a capacity of 3 lakh tests to be delivered in a 30-day period, the total investment needed will be to the tune of Rs.50 crores. This can be shared among the 150+ business schools. The annual running cost will be less than Rs.30 crores, thus netting a good surplus that can be used for the improvement of the test content so that the CAT exam can become a standardized test.
6. This dedicated infrastructure can then be used for similar online tests that are conducted by XAT (XLRI), SNAP (Symbiosis), NMET (Narsee Monjee), IIT-JEE and GATE among others. These agencies can contribute about Rs.30 crores annually in revenues to the CAT organisation.
7. Once the CAT exam is delivered online across 60 sessions, with just 5,000 computers, the number of computers per center will be just 50 across 100 centers. Managing a center with 50 computers is much less taxing. Managing the entire dedicated network of 5,000 computers on a uniform infrastructure is much easier than managing a disparate outsourced network.
8. Once the infrastructure is dedicated, then all these 100 centers can be networked into a dedicated wide area network that can be better and more securely managed.
9. These 100+ centers can be spread across about 50 cities and towns around the country. The top 7 cities that typically have about 50% of the candidates are Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. Delhi, accounting for about 20% of the demand, would need about 1000 computers spread around 20 centers across the national capital region. These 50 cities cover about 85% of the candidates who apply for CAT. Once the tests are delivered across 50 cities, the test goes closer to where the candidates live. This way, technology delivers clear benefits. Candidates save time, money and effort; more importantly, there is no fatigue factor when a test is given.
10. The current CAT is actually a computer based test rather than an Online Test where the test is delivered over the net. While this CBT worked earlier, given the new technologies and the bandwidth speed available at a much lower cost, the fully online test is a better architecture to adopt. This is also much more secure especially in a dedicated WAN.
11. The software needed for the online application, online test and the online result delivery can be sourced from existing Indian vendors who have proven technology in the local environment. The architecture has to be critically examined for the scale needed. Every year a parallel review of the architecture based on new information can be conducted and new features added incrementally.
12. Finally, an event of this scale needs to be insured such that, if a disruption were to happen, candidates who have spent the money and become disappointed, can at least be reimbursed for their expenses.
The Dean of Sastra University suggested that the CAT exam should be nationalized. I believe that instead of moving it from the frying pan into the fire, we should free the CAT and privatise it. More importantly, instead of nationalizing it, I argue that we should internationalize the CAT.
As the demand for management education grows in this country, going by the demographic trends, it is my estimate that about 10 lakh candidates will apply for the CAT exam by the year 2012. In addition, if CAT goes international, there is a huge market in China that can clearly make CAT humungous. Therefore, it is absolutely important that CAT gets its act together immediately. The business school community should demand that this be done.
***********************************
Sankaran Raghunathan
Dean
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The first term is well on its way
The first batch of students started the program on Vijayadasami Day on Sept 28, 2009. After a week of orientation classes and activities, the first class started on October 5th. It is now more than a month and the batch has now gone through 3 courses - Legal Environment by Prof. Raman, Managerial Economics by Prof. Fritz and Management by Prof. White - and has had one Leadership Interaction visit to the campus by Justice Chandru of the Madras High Court and another one with a visit to Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance to have an interactive session with their CFO Ramkumar.
Students stay at the School's student housing complex at Sholianganallur in fully furnished apartments. They commute to the School campus at the STPI complex daily while we wait to occupy our own campus in Navallur by the end of November.
It is not all work and no play!! The students had their first shot at golf at the AKDR Golf Village last week. While some used the club to drive the ball; some drove the club itself!!
Overall, the group is cohesive. The students are working hard and hopefully playing right.
Dean's office
Students stay at the School's student housing complex at Sholianganallur in fully furnished apartments. They commute to the School campus at the STPI complex daily while we wait to occupy our own campus in Navallur by the end of November.
It is not all work and no play!! The students had their first shot at golf at the AKDR Golf Village last week. While some used the club to drive the ball; some drove the club itself!!
Overall, the group is cohesive. The students are working hard and hopefully playing right.
Dean's office
Monday, August 3, 2009
Making NMS affordable
I am glad to announce that it is very affordable to go to NMS for world class management education. We have finalized an arrangement with a financial institution that would enable our students to pay only Rs.15,000 per month for the kind of education that elsewhere would cost a whole lot. Instead of paying our regular fee of Rs.9.6 lakhs directly to the School, students can apply to this financial institution for an education loan. This company would approve the candidate for the loan which would involve
a. students making amonthly payment of only Rs.15,000 for 72 months.
b. students should show a family income of Rs.30,000 per month net
c. the collateral security for the loan is only Rs.4 lakhs
The company would then make the payment to the School directly.
Thus, with a family income of just about Rs.4 lakhs, students can now have the opportunity of getting a great management education taught by American professors. Even the IIMs charge more than Rs.10 lakhs for their MBA program. The ISB charges more than Rs.17 lakhs. Students at NMS can enjoy the same or better quality of education at a fee level that is much less than what these institutes charge.
For more details, contact the Admissions office at 91-44-4269-5714.
Admissions Office
a. students making amonthly payment of only Rs.15,000 for 72 months.
b. students should show a family income of Rs.30,000 per month net
c. the collateral security for the loan is only Rs.4 lakhs
The company would then make the payment to the School directly.
Thus, with a family income of just about Rs.4 lakhs, students can now have the opportunity of getting a great management education taught by American professors. Even the IIMs charge more than Rs.10 lakhs for their MBA program. The ISB charges more than Rs.17 lakhs. Students at NMS can enjoy the same or better quality of education at a fee level that is much less than what these institutes charge.
For more details, contact the Admissions office at 91-44-4269-5714.
Admissions Office
Monday, July 13, 2009
Educational Loans from Credila
The School has finalized an agreement with Credila for educational loans for our students. Credila (www.credila.com) is a private financial institution specifically focussed on providing educational loans. The advantage of having Credila is that they will pre-qualify students for the educational loan even before the offer of admission is made to the student. So, now applicants can apply online to Credila and find out if they are eligible for an education loan; their decision time is just 7 days. Applicants need not wait till they get an admission letter from the School to apply for the loan. Education loans are available even for candidates for the Executive MBA program. Please contact the Office of Financial Assistance at the School for more details on applying for the loan.
Office of Financial Assistance
Office of Financial Assistance
Student Housing with recreational facilities is getting ready
Student housing is getting ready near the School campus. The Housing facility is located 3.5 kms from the School campus on the same road. Each unit has three bedrooms, living and dining rooms, kitchen and fully furnished. Students can either stay in a double occupany room or opt for single occupany. Married students can also stay with the family in the facility. Recreational facilities such as swimming pool, tennis court, gymnasium with steam room, a mini theatre, outdoor amphitheatre, indoor games such as table tennis and billiards, are some of the facilities that are available. The cost to a student for housing including a meal plan is Rs.120,000 for a program year for 2009-10.
With the kind of facilities provided for students, NMS will rank among some of the top schools for infrastructure.
Office of Student Housing.
With the kind of facilities provided for students, NMS will rank among some of the top schools for infrastructure.
Office of Student Housing.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
New Campus on the IT Corridor in Chennai
A new campus has been finalized on the IT Corridor in Chennai. The School is coming up in "Alpha City", a 600,000 sq.ft. complex with 3 blocks - Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. The School will initially occupy the 6 floor in the Beta block. The campus is 18 kms from Madhya Kailash intersection near Adyar on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (aka Rajiv Gandhi Salai or IT Corridor); this is a 6 lane divided toll road. The campus has Polaris as its immediate neighbor on the South, Cognizant across the road to the East, HCL a block away to the North. The Siruseri IT Park with 2000 acres full of large IT companies such as TCS, Cognizant, Hexaware is only 2 kms to the South.
Here is the link to the google maps showing the location of the school:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101628031879235589365.00046d60a640784f57734&ll=12.8433,80.225467&spn=0.00262,0.003439&t=h&z=18
The interior work in the building is underway and we hope to occupy the new campus on Sept 15, 2009. The first batch of students will start their classes on Sept 28th in this new campus. Photographs will be available on our website soon.
Here is the link to the google maps showing the location of the school:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101628031879235589365.00046d60a640784f57734&ll=12.8433,80.225467&spn=0.00262,0.003439&t=h&z=18
The interior work in the building is underway and we hope to occupy the new campus on Sept 15, 2009. The first batch of students will start their classes on Sept 28th in this new campus. Photographs will be available on our website soon.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Educational Loan from Corporation Bank
We are glad to announce that the Corporation Bank has informed us that they will process applications for educational loans from candidates who get admitted into the National Management School. Applications for these loans will be evaluated on the merits of those applications and based on how they fulfill the criteria set out by Corporation Bank. Our website will have more details on the application process for these loans.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
HDFC approves NMS for educational loans to its students
HDFC has approved the National Management School for extending educational loans to its students. Students who are admitted to NMS can apply to HDFC for educational loans and their application will be considered on its own merit. The criteria for eligibility for such loans is mentioned in our website at www.nms.edu.in
Admissions Office
Admissions Office
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Assessment Process for the first batch has commenced
We started the assessment process for the first batch of students. This involves a phone interview with the Dean of the School, Dr. Sankaran Raghunathan. The interviews were scheduled between April 15th thru 19th and the Dean spent at least 30 minutes on the phone with each of the candidates shortlisted to know more about the candidates and to understand their application profile better. Based on this, the next step in the assessment process is now set to begin on April 27. Candidates have been asked to write a note on themselves; about 5 questions have been asked of them and a detailed essay is expected. These essays will help the assessment team to know about each candidate. Candidates will go through a detailed process of assessment for about 3 hours in the forenoon session of the assessment day, followed by a thorough interview for about 30 minutes with a panel of interviewers. The whole assessment exercise is being handled by a group of senior HR leaders in the industry.
We expect to complete the assessment exercise and be able to make the offer of admission by April 30, 2009.
Admissions Office
We expect to complete the assessment exercise and be able to make the offer of admission by April 30, 2009.
Admissions Office
Monday, April 6, 2009
Tuition fees - lessening the burden
Dear Students:
One of the major items of consideration for students is the payment of tuition fees for a good management education. While the total amount of tuition fees is one definite consideration, if the fees can be paid over time rather than upfront, it makes the fee less burdensome.
We at the National Management School felt that we should make a difference in the way management education is delivered in India. This includes the way the tuition fee is collected. Therefore, we have decided that the tuition fees can be paid over 20 monthly installments rather then in 6 installments at the beginning of each term. Thus, our fees can be paid in monthly installments of Rs.50,000 each at the beginning of every month.
Most schools do not like this model since, among other things, it increases the administrative overload. We felt that in the interests of students, we should work out a process to lessen this administrative load while making it easier for students to pay and get good quality education. Therefore, just like you give post-dated cheques to a bank when you get a loan, you can adopt the same procedure with NMS. This makes it easier for both the School and the student alike.
This is one more way in which we bring American Management Education at Indian fees.
Admissions Office
One of the major items of consideration for students is the payment of tuition fees for a good management education. While the total amount of tuition fees is one definite consideration, if the fees can be paid over time rather than upfront, it makes the fee less burdensome.
We at the National Management School felt that we should make a difference in the way management education is delivered in India. This includes the way the tuition fee is collected. Therefore, we have decided that the tuition fees can be paid over 20 monthly installments rather then in 6 installments at the beginning of each term. Thus, our fees can be paid in monthly installments of Rs.50,000 each at the beginning of every month.
Most schools do not like this model since, among other things, it increases the administrative overload. We felt that in the interests of students, we should work out a process to lessen this administrative load while making it easier for students to pay and get good quality education. Therefore, just like you give post-dated cheques to a bank when you get a loan, you can adopt the same procedure with NMS. This makes it easier for both the School and the student alike.
This is one more way in which we bring American Management Education at Indian fees.
Admissions Office
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Part-time Weekend Program in Management in Chennai
I am glad to announce that the National Management School has decided to offer their Postgraduate Program in Management for working executives in a Part-time Week-end format. Now, working executives in and around Chennai can take this program that is offered in collaboration with the Georgia State University right here in Chennai over the weekend on Saturdays and Sundays in a convenient format; classes are held only for 5 hours on each Saturday and Sunday over a weekend at the Campus in Ambattur, Chennai. Georgia State University's MBA program is rated in the top 10 in the US over the last 13 consecutive years. It is an AACSB accredited program. The Certificate that is offered to our students in this part-time program will be awarded in collaboration with GSU and the Deans of both the schools will co-sign the certificate.
Professors will visit us from the United States and teach this program. The same academic rigor that is applied for the full-time regular program will also be applied for this part-time program.
The last date for application for this part-time program is April 27, 2009. Please visit us at www.nms.edu.in to know more about the program and the curriculum.
The Admissions Office.
Professors will visit us from the United States and teach this program. The same academic rigor that is applied for the full-time regular program will also be applied for this part-time program.
The last date for application for this part-time program is April 27, 2009. Please visit us at www.nms.edu.in to know more about the program and the curriculum.
The Admissions Office.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
American Management Education at Indian Fees
Dear Prospective Student:
One of the decisions that we took early on in the formation of the school is about the fee structure. We felt that in bringing American Management education to India where US based professors will visit India to teach our students, we should not keep the fee level very high. We felt that the fee for the two year program should be kept less than 10 lakhs so that our students can get a bank loan easily. This is important to us since even government institutions such as the IIMs charge more than 11 lakhs for their programs.
You may ask how is it that we are able to keep the fee low even when we have visiting US based professors who not only have to be paid more (in tune with the US salaries) but also have to be paid for their travel to India. This is where we innovated in our business process model. We questioned the assumptions underlying each item of cost to ensure that we keep our costs low and pass on that benefit to students in the form of lower fees.
Our tuition fees for the two year program is Rs.9.6 lakhs including service taxes. In this respect, therefore, we are much lower than most other ranked schools in India.
Dean
One of the decisions that we took early on in the formation of the school is about the fee structure. We felt that in bringing American Management education to India where US based professors will visit India to teach our students, we should not keep the fee level very high. We felt that the fee for the two year program should be kept less than 10 lakhs so that our students can get a bank loan easily. This is important to us since even government institutions such as the IIMs charge more than 11 lakhs for their programs.
You may ask how is it that we are able to keep the fee low even when we have visiting US based professors who not only have to be paid more (in tune with the US salaries) but also have to be paid for their travel to India. This is where we innovated in our business process model. We questioned the assumptions underlying each item of cost to ensure that we keep our costs low and pass on that benefit to students in the form of lower fees.
Our tuition fees for the two year program is Rs.9.6 lakhs including service taxes. In this respect, therefore, we are much lower than most other ranked schools in India.
Dean
Welcome message to applicants
Good students, good professors, good learning environment, and good industry interaction – this is the recipe for good education. Our promise to you, dear Students, is to help you discover yourselves in the two years you are with us. Management education for effective global leadership, and mentoring by professors and industry leaders, are two benefits that you will get in The National Management School (NMS).
We would like to invite you to apply for admission to the National Management School in Chennai. The two year Post Graduate Program in Management is offered in collaboration with the Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta, USA in two formats – the Full time / Regular PGDM program , the Part time PGDM program and Professional PGDM for working executives. This program that is offered by GSU has been ranked among the top 10 programs for the last 13 consecutive years.
The National Management School is founded by eminent professors from various US Universities. More than 60 professors from the US are involved in the School apart from the professors from Georgia State University’s J.Mack Robinson College of Business. Our professors will have the opportunity to own the institution and thus will be committed to the cause of the School. All of them have a doctoral degree from reputed Universities, mostly from the United States. Several of them hold Chair professorships in their Universities. The academic rigor that they bring to the classroom will help refine your thought processes.
We also have several Chief Officers from various large companies involved with the school. These CXOs have committed to spend time with our students mentoring them during the school year. Our students also benefit from the panel of CXOs who lead large organizations, be it in industry, government or society. The interaction with these CXOs happens in various formats, either as part of the curriculum or outside. The industry relevance that the CXOs add to our curriculum will help you to apply theoretical frameworks.
Thus, academic rigor and industry relevance are brought to bear on the curriculum of the School. The curriculum is patterned after the AACSB standards; AACSB is the accrediting body for business schools in the USA. The Certificate is issued by the National Management School in collaboration with the Georgia State University; both the Deans sign the Certificate.
We are seeking to admit students whose aspirations are high and whose achievements demonstrate such aspirations. We are looking for candidates who are in the top percentile based on the CAT exam or the GMAT. However, our admission is based on a complete profile of the applicant. While academic brilliance is important, we believe that active participation in performing arts or sports or demonstrated leadership in activities, adds to a complete profile. We believe that you learn best in a challenging environment where each one of you learns from the other.
This is what the National Management School has to offer.
FLEXIBILITY - 3 admissions seasons–June, October, & January; Full time & Weekend program
FULL financial assistance for those who qualify in the form of a repayment guarantee for the educational loan that you may take
FEES - Reasonable tuition fees of Rs.9.6 lakhs for the two year program
FACULTY - Professors from various well reputed universities across the US
Joint Certification with GSU offering a top-ranked AACSB accredited program
CXOs from various large organizations involved with the School
Heightened interaction with the Industry; natural outcome would be good placements
Good Location - Chennai
Academic discipline, industry experience, and global perspective – this is what we will deliver. You will see these three aspects reflected in our curriculum. Our professors come from international universities; our CXOs come with global experience operating around the world. This helps provide a global perspective in the classroom that is unparalleled. We believe that the quality of students that we admit combined with the eminent professors that we have and the CXOs that are involved would make the National Management School one of the top ranked schools. This is American Management Education at Indian Fees!!
Please visit our website at www.nms.edu.in and apply online for admission. We look forward to interacting with you soon. We believe that your search for a B School ends with the National Management School.
The National Management School:
it’s a Challenge, it’s an Experience, it’s an Opportunity.
COME FEEL IT FOR YOURSELVES!
Sankaran P. Raghunathan
Dean
www.nms.edu.in
info@nms.edu.in
+91-44-4269-5712
We would like to invite you to apply for admission to the National Management School in Chennai. The two year Post Graduate Program in Management is offered in collaboration with the Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta, USA in two formats – the Full time / Regular PGDM program , the Part time PGDM program and Professional PGDM for working executives. This program that is offered by GSU has been ranked among the top 10 programs for the last 13 consecutive years.
The National Management School is founded by eminent professors from various US Universities. More than 60 professors from the US are involved in the School apart from the professors from Georgia State University’s J.Mack Robinson College of Business. Our professors will have the opportunity to own the institution and thus will be committed to the cause of the School. All of them have a doctoral degree from reputed Universities, mostly from the United States. Several of them hold Chair professorships in their Universities. The academic rigor that they bring to the classroom will help refine your thought processes.
We also have several Chief Officers from various large companies involved with the school. These CXOs have committed to spend time with our students mentoring them during the school year. Our students also benefit from the panel of CXOs who lead large organizations, be it in industry, government or society. The interaction with these CXOs happens in various formats, either as part of the curriculum or outside. The industry relevance that the CXOs add to our curriculum will help you to apply theoretical frameworks.
Thus, academic rigor and industry relevance are brought to bear on the curriculum of the School. The curriculum is patterned after the AACSB standards; AACSB is the accrediting body for business schools in the USA. The Certificate is issued by the National Management School in collaboration with the Georgia State University; both the Deans sign the Certificate.
We are seeking to admit students whose aspirations are high and whose achievements demonstrate such aspirations. We are looking for candidates who are in the top percentile based on the CAT exam or the GMAT. However, our admission is based on a complete profile of the applicant. While academic brilliance is important, we believe that active participation in performing arts or sports or demonstrated leadership in activities, adds to a complete profile. We believe that you learn best in a challenging environment where each one of you learns from the other.
This is what the National Management School has to offer.
FLEXIBILITY - 3 admissions seasons–June, October, & January; Full time & Weekend program
FULL financial assistance for those who qualify in the form of a repayment guarantee for the educational loan that you may take
FEES - Reasonable tuition fees of Rs.9.6 lakhs for the two year program
FACULTY - Professors from various well reputed universities across the US
Joint Certification with GSU offering a top-ranked AACSB accredited program
CXOs from various large organizations involved with the School
Heightened interaction with the Industry; natural outcome would be good placements
Good Location - Chennai
Academic discipline, industry experience, and global perspective – this is what we will deliver. You will see these three aspects reflected in our curriculum. Our professors come from international universities; our CXOs come with global experience operating around the world. This helps provide a global perspective in the classroom that is unparalleled. We believe that the quality of students that we admit combined with the eminent professors that we have and the CXOs that are involved would make the National Management School one of the top ranked schools. This is American Management Education at Indian Fees!!
Please visit our website at www.nms.edu.in and apply online for admission. We look forward to interacting with you soon. We believe that your search for a B School ends with the National Management School.
The National Management School:
it’s a Challenge, it’s an Experience, it’s an Opportunity.
COME FEEL IT FOR YOURSELVES!
Sankaran P. Raghunathan
Dean
www.nms.edu.in
info@nms.edu.in
+91-44-4269-5712
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