This one-year diploma programme will commence from January 2008. RAI will provide scholarships and internships to the students while IGNOU will develop the course curriculum, conduct the exam and provide diploma.
Speaking to MBAUniverse.com Mr N V Narsimham, Director, School of Management Studies of IGNOU said, “Retail sector is growing at faster rate but we lack trained manpower for this sector. This new course will help the industry by producing retail-ready professionals.”
This diploma programme will be a practice and job oriented programme where students will learn through distant learning mode and also get opportunity to earn experience in leading retail shops. Mr Narsimham said, “The unique feature of this programme is that all the students who join the course will be guaranteed an internship of a minimum of six months with established retail company like Shopper Stop. During this period each student will be paid a stipend of minimum Rs 3,000.”
Candidate who have completed ‘Plus 2 (XII)’can be directly admitted based on merit as well as candidates directly sponsored by the retail industry who fulfill the qualification of 'plus 2'. IGNOU informed MBAUniverse.com that total fees of this programme has been kept low at Rs 6, 500.
Distance education pioneer IGNOU was established by an Act of Parliament in 1985. Today it serves the educational needs of about 1.5 million students in Indiathrough 11 Schools of Studies. School of Management Studies of IGNOU started its operations in 1987, with the launch of Diploma in Management as the pilot programme of the University. The School of Management Studies today offers nine programmes in Management.
Retailers Association of India (rai) is nodal organized of modern retailers in India. It has adopted the agenda of developing retail industry ready manpower by tying up with several B-schools in past.
