MBA education has come under a lot of criticism for failing to provide hands-on practical training to students. In this context, MBA Internship programs have come under spotlight as their primary objective is to facilitate practical business learning. While most MBA Internships are planned as a short 2-months Summer Internships, JAGSoM Bangalore’s ‘Industry Internship Program’ (IIP) stands out on many counts. For instance, JAGSoM IIP is offered at the end of the MBA course like a ‘capstone’ project and is preceded by intense ‘Career-Tracks’ to prepare students for their chosen ‘roles’.
While conceptually there are many advantages of this IIP model, how is the Student Experience? And does JAGSoM IIP effectively prepare students for the Final Placements? MBAUniverse.com decided to get reviews from JAGSoM students who have recently completed their IIP at Swiggy, JBL/Harman, Indian Bank, and other companies. Their candid feedback reveals what, why and how of this unique Internship program.
But before we talk about Student’s Internship Experience, let’s have a quick overview of JAGSoM and its Industry Internship Program. Jagdish Sheth School of Management (JAGSoM) Bangalore is amongst the first 6 business schools in India to be awarded the AACSB accreditation. It is Globally Ranked in QS Masters Global Ranking for various programs. JAGSoM was ranked at #11 amongst all private business schools of India by MBAUniverse.com Rankings 2024. Read more.
IIP strategically placed as a ‘Capstone Initiative’
Traditionally, most Business Schools have a Summer Internship Program, which happens at the end of the first year. The interviews for the Summer Internship Program are generally held within 3-4 months of student’s joining the MBA program, when most students have little idea about their career goals. JAGSoM has turned the entire Internship Process on its head. Outlining the Internship philosophy, Dr Atish Chattopadhyay, Director, JAGSoM says, “JAGSoM believes that the internship should be post the substantial value-add by the B-School, hence we have the changed the academic calendar itself to strategically place Internships when students are ready for it.”
So, what is a typical ‘Summer Internship’ for most B-schools, and falls between the first and the second year, JAGSoM’s IIP is held at the end of the program in the sixth term, after the student has done their core courses, elective courses required for their Majors, and importantly have prepared for a ‘specific career role’ over the fourth and fifth term. JAGSoM IIP is a long 3-4 months initiative, held between November-February, just before the program ends. “IIP at JAGSoM is a capstone intervention and not just a mid-term intervention,” says Dr Chattopadhyay.
A critical factor that differentiates JAGSoM’s internship program from others is the that it prepares students for specific roles, through ‘Role-Defined Career Tracks’. Role defined career tracks is an intervention that prepare a student to match their aspiration with opportunity. It prepares students for a ‘Role’ in terms of their career goals based on one’s strength. This is different from traditional B-Schools which prepare students for ‘function’ like Marketing, Finance, and not specific industry ‘roles’. The median stipend recorded for the current batch IIP 2024 is Rs 71,550 while the average stipend for the batch stood at Rs 89,350. The highest stipend of Rs 250,000. Read this article to know more.
So, while theoretically there are many advantages of IIP model, how is the real Student Experience?
And the crucial question remains: how does Career Track and IIP help students prepare for final placements?
JAGSoM Students Share Career Track and Industry Internship Experience
MBAUniverse.com sought to gather insights directly from JAGSoM students who are pursing internships at notable organizations such as Swiggy, JBL, Indian Bank, and others. Seven students working in diverse organizations responded to our questionnaire. Click on their names below to visit their LinkedIn profiles.
|
JAGSoM Student
|
Program
|
Career Track Enrolled
|
Target Role
|
Internship Company
|
|
PGDM Finance
Batch 2022-24
|
Capital Markets
|
Equity Research Analyst
|
Infomerics Ratings and Valuations
|
|
|
PGDM Analytics and Digital Business
Batch 2022-24
|
Business Analytics
|
Data Scientist and Data Analyst
|
Neostats Analytics Solutions
|
|
|
PGDM- Marketing Batch 2022-24
|
MarTech
|
Brand Management and Customer Experience
|
Harman International, owners of JBL brand.
|
|
|
PGDM Banking & Finance Batch 2022-24
|
Banking
|
Credit Analyst
|
Indian Bank
|
|
|
PGDM HR
Batch 2022-24
|
HR - Digital Transformation
|
HR Generalist and HRBP Roles
|
Swiggy
|
|
|
|
PGDM-Finance
Batch 2022-24
|
FinTech
|
Risk Analyst role
|
Alpha Aces Advisory
|
|
PGDM Marketing
Batch 2022-24
|
Sales and Service
|
Customer Relationship Manager
|
Kewunee Labway India
|
So, the stage is set! Let’s hear it directly from the students about their Internship Experiences…
Which Career Track did you choose, and why?
We started by asking students about their chosen career tracks and the reasons for the same. Here is how the students responded.
Aniket Balaji Basatwar: Capital Markets Career Track, which allowed me to immerse myself in the complex and fascinating world of equity, debt, and derivative markets.
Anshuman Singh: Business Analytics Career Track, diving into the analytical methodologies and tools that drive data-driven decision-making in today’s business landscape.
Bhavya Mehta: MarTech Career Track, blending the innovative realms of marketing and technology to drive digital marketing strategies.
Kamaleshwar G: Banking Career Track, focusing on the intricate world of banking and finance, which allowed me to delve deep into the operational, strategic, and technological facets of the banking sector.
Kritika Rajliwal: HR - Digital Transformation Career Track, an innovative track blending traditional HR practices with the latest digital technologies.
Nandini Mehta: As a participant in JAGSoM's FinTech Career Track, I immersed myself in the intersection of finance and technology, exploring innovative solutions and digital advancements shaping the financial sector's future.
Swati Roy: My journey at JAGSoM was anchored in the Sales and Service track, focusing on the strategic aspects of sales and the importance of exceptional service delivery.
Did you prepare for a specific ‘Role’ during the Career Track program? Why…
We next asked students to share which specific role did they prepare for during the career track program. It is fascinating to see how they prepared hard for roles that are in-demand in the industry today.
Aniket Balaji Basatwar: I focused on the role of an Equity Research Analyst. My finance background fuelled my fascination with market trends and valuation techniques. This role promised a deep dive into analyzing companies and industries, making it the perfect gateway to the finance industry for someone eager to build a foundation in investment strategies and market analysis.
Anshuman Singh: I focused on the roles of Data Scientist and Data Analyst, dedicating myself to mastering tools and languages pivotal in analytics, including SQL, Python, Power BI, and cloud technologies. This decision was rooted in my aspiration to decipher complex data patterns and translate them into actionable business insights.
Bhavya Mehta: Aiming for roles in Brand Management and Customer Experience, I was inspired by seasoned professionals and coursework in Brand Management and Market Research, revealing the practical applications of marketing theories.
Kamaleshwar G: I dedicated myself to the role of a Credit Analyst, driven by a profound interest in financial and statement analysis. This role appealed to me due to its critical importance in evaluating financial stability and making informed lending decisions, which resonates with my passion for understanding and interpreting financial data to assess creditworthiness.
Kritika Rajliwal: I targeted the HR Generalist and HRBP Roles, aiming to acquire a broad understanding of HR functions. These roles, ideal for a fresher, offered rich learning opportunities across various HR domains.
Nandini Mehta: As a part of the Career Track Program, I was specifically targeting or aligned toward the Risk Analyst role. My passion for learning and applying cutting-edge technologies like machine learning and data analytics within the dynamic world of finance drove this decision.
Throughout the program, I honed my foundation in financial principles and sharpened my risk analysis skills, tailoring them specifically for the FinTech realm. My motivation stemmed from a profound excitement about the endless possibilities FinTech presents. The Career Track program provided the perfect platform to equip myself with the necessary skills and knowledge to confidently pursue this role.
Swati Roy: I focused on becoming a Customer Relationship Manager, drawn to the role's customer-centric nature and the breadth of learning opportunities it presents. My preparation was guided by a thorough review of job descriptions in the field.
How did Career Track program at JAGSoM to prepare you for your dream role?
We asked students how Career Track program helped them prepare for their chosen role.
Aniket Balaji Basatwar: The career track was enriched with initiatives like mastering advanced financial analysis, portfolio management, and technical analysis, alongside strategic finance and financial modelling.
Anshuman Singh: The Career Track was enriched with key initiatives aimed at skill development and practical application. This included an intensive focus on building proficiency in SQL, Python, and other analytical tools, complemented by hands-on projects that mirrored real-world business challenges, thereby bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
Bhavya Mehta: The engagement with international faculty brought a wealth of real-world marketing insights, fostering a deep understanding of the field and motivating my career path decisions.
Kamaleshwar G: A pivotal initiative was engaging with the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) to prepare for the Certified Credit Professional Exam. This rigorous preparation was instrumental in deepening my understanding.
Kritika Rajliwal: The track emphasized practical learning through case studies, proficiency in HR tools, and engagement with online courses tailored to modern HR practices, preparing us for the evolving HR landscape.
Nandini Mehta: My engagement in the Financial Analytics & Technologies Career Track at JAGSoM was characterized by a purposeful exploration of five pivotal subjects, each contributing uniquely to my preparation for a role in financial analytics: Risk Analytics module, Product Management for Fintech segment, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in Fintech module, Machine Learning in Finance module and Blockchain for Finance module. Additionally, the program facilitated corporate mentorship sessions with industry experts in the fintech field.
Swati Roy: The program was enriched by industry faculty insights, organized industry talks, and hands-on projects tailored to our chosen roles.
Give us the highlights of your Industry Internship…
Moving from preparation to action, we asked students to share their internship details.
Aniket Balaji Basatwar: I interned with Infomerics Ratings and Valuations as a Management Trainee – Analyst – Intern for three months. My project revolved around credit rating for NBFCs and manufacturing companies, delving into financial statements, ratios, and instruments like bonds and commercial papers.
Anshuman Singh: I joined Neostats Analytics Solutions for a 3-month internship, where I was entrusted with automating data processes for preparing International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Reports for a client. This project was pivotal in applying my analytical skills in a live business context.
Bhavya Mehta: My IIP was at Harman International, which is known for JBL brand. My role as a Content Marketing Intern involved revamping the TWS category catalogue on Amazon, focusing on aligning product presentations with consumer expectations over a 3-month period.
Kamaleshwar G: I joined Indian Bank for a 3-month tenure, where I was entrusted with a project on the PM SVANidhi scheme, aimed at enhancing lending efficiency to the MSME sector, particularly street vendors.
Kritika Rajliwal: My internship was at Swiggy. I undertook a 3-month internship as an HR Analyst Intern, focusing on employee engagement benchmarking and developing initiatives to boost morale among remote and hybrid employees.
Nandini Mehta: I joined Alpha Aces Advisory as a Quantitative research Intern for a three-month Industry Internship. My primary project involved identifying cointegrated stocks among the NSE Top 500 and developing a comprehensive EMA Crossover strategy back-test for these stocks from 2016 to 2023. The internship focused on quantitative research and algorithmic trading, providing valuable insights into the dynamic world of financial markets.
Swati Roy: I interned with Kewunee Labway India, focusing on a market feasibility study for lab infrastructure in Bangalore over three months, which was an invaluable learning experience.
Share your IIP experience including Objective, Challenges, Outcomes
Aniket Balaji Basatwar: The goal of my internship was to provide accurate credit ratings in alignment with SEBI and RBI guidelines. Faced with financial discrepancies in company reports, I collaborated with my manager to navigate these challenges, leading to a project completion with 96% accuracy, as validated by the senior rating analyst.
Anshuman Singh: The core objective of my internship project was to streamline and automate the client’s data processing. By adhering to a meticulously designed project architecture, I successfully advanced the project by 60%, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in data handling.
Bhavya Mehta: The goal of my project was to optimize the TWS product catalogue for enhanced customer engagement. By deeply understanding product features and customer needs, I refined the catalogue content, achieving early positive feedback on customer engagement metrics.
Kamaleshwar G: The primary objective of my internship project was to optimize the PM SVANidhi scheme's efficiency. Collaborating with my Chief Credit Manager, we devised strategic initiatives to support the target demographic, culminating in the development of a user-friendly mobile application that significantly improved accessibility and service delivery to street vendors.
Kritika Rajliwal: My internship project’s mission was to elevate employee engagement through benchmarking. Despite the challenge of gathering data from diverse companies, my strategic approach led to actionable insights, enhancing Swiggy's engagement practices.
Nandini Mehta: My Industry Internship had a clear objective: refining the firm's quantitative trading strategies on the NSE. The challenge was multifaceted, encompassing algorithmic performance, model accuracy, and adaptability to dynamic market conditions. To address these challenges, I dove into a comprehensive back-testing strategy using Python, systematically evaluating and refining trading strategies. Key projects involved identifying cointegrated stocks and implementing the EMA Crossover strategy for the NSE Top 500 stocks. Leveraging a diverse set of quantitative tools, I actively contributed to decision-making, risk assessments, and comprehensive performance analyses. The early results were promising, showcasing significant improvements in quantitative model performance, successful alpha generation, and insightful portfolio-level analysis.
Swati Roy: The objective was comprehensive site data collection and market mapping, with the challenge of gaining client consent. My efforts led to identifying opportunities worth Rs. 3.67 crores, showcasing the potential impact of our findings.
Your biggest learning from MBA Internship
We asked students that their key learnings from the industry internship program.
Aniket Balaji Basatwar: My most profound learning was understanding how to maintain professionalism and ethical standards in the corporate world, which are crucial for long-term success.
Anshuman Singh: The most significant takeaway was gaining proficiency in working across diverse platforms, including Azure Factory, ADLS, Databricks, and Fabric, which broadened my technical expertise and adaptability in the field of analytics.
Bhavya Mehta: Embracing a self-starter mindset was crucial; in the corporate world, initiative and autonomy are key to making impactful contributions.
Kamaleshwar G: The most significant learning for me was gaining hands-on experience in credit appraisal and risk management, allowing me to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios and understand the complexities of financial decision-making.
Kritika Rajliwal: The internship honed my decision-making skills, especially in evaluating and implementing HR practices that align with company culture and objectives.
Nandini Mehta: The most significant takeaway from Industry was the fusion of theoretical knowledge with real-world application. I learned to navigate challenges in algorithmic trading, honing my quantitative expertise and gaining insights into market dynamics.
Swati Roy: I honed my skills in effective pitching and adopted a client-centric approach, which are crucial for success in sales and relationship management.
How is your Internship Program different from your Friends at other B-schools
We next asked students if they had the chance to discuss and compare their experience with their peers in other B-schools. They had interesting insights to share!
Aniket Balaji Basatwar: Our unique approach, integrating extensive domain-specific training and practical exposure before the internship, ensures that students are thoroughly prepared and can contribute meaningfully during their internships, setting us apart from other B-schools.
Anshuman Singh: Our IIP stands out for its early emphasis on skill development and corporate networking and industry readiness that is distinct from the experiences at other B-schools.
Bhavya Mehta: JAGSoM's unique approach in converting research projects into tangible internships offers a competitive edge, allowing for direct engagement with industry leaders and practical application of research insights.
Kamaleshwar G: Our internship is distinct in its timing at the end of the program, ensuring students are fully prepared as professionals rather than just summer interns.
Kritika Rajliwal: My IIP uniquely combined corporate exposure, academic rigor, real-time case studies, and comprehensive evaluations, enriched by online learning, setting it apart.
Nandini Mehta: I believe that our Industry Internship Program stands out through its meticulous blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Swati Roy: JAGSoM's IIP stands out for its practical orientation, enabling students to apply academic learnings directly in a corporate setting, which is a distinctive advantage.
What is your recommendation to improve IIP program?
While the students looked satisfied with their industry experience, we prodded them to share their suggestions on how the internship can be further improved. We received a few responses.
Aniket Balaji Basatwar: Integrating advanced subjects into the earlier semesters could further enhance the depth of knowledge and readiness gained from Career Tracks.
Kritika Rajliwal: Industries should offer more real-world projects to interns, while JAGSoM could enhance practical learning through regular feedback, more hands-on sessions, and stronger corporate linkages.
Nandini Mehta: I suggest a proactive approach from both the industry and JAGSoM. From the program's inception, PGDM students could be offered real-time projects, providing a seamless integration of theoretical and practical knowledge.
Your message for MBA Aspirants
We concluded the interaction by asking current MBA students to share their message for aspirants. Students were quite forthcoming and endorsed the value of MBA/PGDM program. They also offered personal tips on how to choose a B-school!
Aniket Balaji Basatwar: Pursuing an MBA/PGDM is invaluable. When choosing a B-school, focus on the quality of education and holistic development rather than just placements, as true success stems from knowledge and personal growth.
Bhavya Mehta: Prioritize faculty expertise when selecting a B-school. The quality of faculty directly influences the depth of learning and exposure you'll receive, which is crucial for mastering your chosen field.
Kritika Rajliwal: Focus on programs that align with industry demands, offering experienced faculty, practical learning, and holistic development, rather than basing your choice solely on placement statistics.
Nandini Mehta: Consider not only the curriculum but also the practical exposure, industry connections, and the institute's approach to holistic development.
Swati Roy: Prioritize the quality and relevance of the curriculum, ensuring it prepares you for industry challenges. The value of an MBA/PGDM lies in the practical knowledge and skills you gain.
In conclusion, the insights shared by JAGSoM students shed light on their journey and experiences through the Career Track and Industry Internship Program (IIP). Their narratives illustrate how the program positioned them for success in their chosen roles, offering a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. From honing specialized skills to navigating real-world challenges, these student's journey reflects the efficacy of JAGSoM's unique approach to MBA education. We hope you found the article rich and insightful!
