BIMTECH launches PGDM in Bhubaneswar with 45 students; appoints Dr Prithvi Yadav as director

BIMTECH Greater Noida has launched a new campus in Bhubaneswar and the institute has already started its first batch of management programme with batch strength of 45 students. The institute has also got its first director in reputed academician Dr Prithvi Yadav who has taught at many top B-school including IIM Indore and IIFM Bhopal.

MBAUniverse.com spoke to BIMTECH, Greater Noida Director Dr H Chaturvedi on the vision for the new campus, future plans and other aspects related to academic rigor at the institute. In this interview, Dr Chaturvedi also speaks on the challenges that the new institute faced and how it got a modest number of students to start its first batch with.

Interview:

Q: What is the Vision for BIMTECH Bhubaneswar?
A:BIMTECH Bhubaneswar is led by the same philosophy and vision as of BIMTECH Greater Noida. Our philosophy and vision is guided by our founding institution Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata. We have a very distinguished record of academic integrity, social values and aspiration for excellence coming from the Academy and BIMTECH Greater Noida.

While the Bhubaneswar campus is new, our legacy is decades old in education and more than a century old in social and economic development. Keeping in mind the socio-economic context of Eastern India, BIMTECH, Bhubaneswar will strive for grooming ethical leaders and entrepreneurs who can achieve sustainable growth in business with inclusion.

Q: How has been the beginning of the new campus so far?
A: We have invested a lot of passion, time, effort and funds in creating a great infrastructure. It is a great feeling that we are having one of the best B-school infrastructures in the country. It will be a grand visual as soon we complete the full construction. Some part of it is still under development. Our academic approach and global presence is already in tune with the global community, as BIMTECH Bhubaneswar gets the experience and learning of the Greater Noida. We have already begun the march towards fulfilling our vision.

Q: What was the key marketing & admission strategy adopted for Admissions 2013 at Bhubaneswar campus?
A: The successful launch of the first batch was crucial. We launched our PGDM programme and we knew that the national academic community would be watching us. We had crafted a very simple plan which included print, digital and social media marketing plan. While we wanted to make a good size batch, we were not ready to compromise on the quality which was key to build our credentials in business education.

We were sure that the first batch would not be a big size, and wanted to make a diversified profile. We have succeeded in our thought process.
Indeed, we faced a lot of challenges in attracting bright students to our new campus, as compared with our Greater Noida campus. But, in the end, students and parents were convinced of the basic tenets of the quality coming from our present campus.

Q: How many students have been admitted at the time of writing this response?
A: We started our session on August 1 with 45 students. We closed our admissions irrespective of further interest by few very strong candidates. The decision was in view of promoting academic excellence. The first batch of students are with background of engineering, commerce, management, arts and some of them have work experience also. The students in the class of 2013 come from 11 states of India. We hope to further diversify it in our next batches.

Q: What are the key activities lined up for the Bhubaneswar campus in 2013-14?
A: We are starting from scratch to establish the academic systems, administrative structure, network with academic fraternity and industry and relationship with other important stakeholders. This is a long term process. However, for the immediate objectives, we are planning out panel discussion, workshop, conference, faculty development programme and seminars. We will announce them as we go forward.

Q: You have recently appointed a new Director for the campus. Please share some details.
A: Yes, we have Dr Prithvi Yadav as the Director of BIMTECH Bhubaneswar. He is a highly reputed academic of Decision Science area and has been a professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Indore; Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal; ICAR, Government of India and also served at GHS-IMR.

I think it was important that we chose a right leader for the new institution and our selection committee continued its operations till we invited Dr Yadav. There is complete alignment in the values and working of both institutions and we hope to reach our potential in a short period of time.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more news and updates from B-schools in India.