Indian education is facing a sea of change. We foresee a more skill-based education system emerging

As a management institution, XLRI is unique in many ways. It offers admissions only through its own entrance exam – XAT, which is considered a very effective exam for assessing managerial and leadership quotient. XLRI remains a PGDM B-school, while many of its peers like XIMB turned into Universities. XLRI’s placements and rankings put it within Top 10, in most cases even Top 5, B-schools in India.

However, top tier of management education has become very competitive, with ISB creating its own niche, and older IIMs upping the ante. Top IIT B-schools are seeing resurgence. A few new corporate-backed big-ticket B-schools have been launched too. Further, many top global B-schools are offering executive education. XLRI has traditionally stayed away from the limelight… This is set to change as new leadership takes centerstage at XLRI.  

Fr. Sebastian George, S.J. took over as the Director of XLRI Jamshedpur in August 2022. Himself an alumnus of XLRI 1996 batch, he has rich experience in Transformational Leadership. Before taking over as the Director, he has served XLRI for many years in various capacities.

MBAUniverse.com conducted an in-depth interview with Fr George to get his perspectives on management education trends, and how he is readying XLRI for the decade ahead. Given the breath of the topics covered and rich responses, we decided to split this interview into two parts – Part 1 focusses on Fr George’s views on changes in business landscape and its impact on management education and Part 2 focusses on how XLRI is responding to the changes. Read on…

Part 1 of Interview with Fr. Sebastian George, S.J., Director, XLRI Jamshedpur

Q: Congratulations on your appointment as the Director of XLRI Jamshedpur. What are your first priorities?
A: Thanks for your wishes. God has been kind to us, and we continue to rely on his guidance and blessings. Global visibility is still a challenge to us, our focus is to concentrate on making our presence felt at the global level.

Last year we launched a joint dual degree management program with Rutgers University, USA, and it has taken off in a positive direction. We are planning to move in that direction in a focused manner.

The coming year is a platinum jubilee year, on 17th October 1949 XLRI was started in a humble way and we are continuing the journey with lots of enthusiasm and commitment.

Q: Last few years have seen a tectonic shift in the business landscape. What are the implications for managerial skills?
A: Change is the only constant. The pace of change that businesses are experiencing today is unlike anything that we have experienced earlier. Therefore, it has become important for business leaders and managers to think on their feet and respond to the changes and since we live in a digital world, we clearly don’t know what the future holds for us.

The world we live in is changing very quickly with increasing consciousness independent of people and outside of them. The people who create and initiate change cannot know the consequences they cause and the aftermath.

Future business leaders, managers or changemakers need to focus on strategic thinking to create result-oriented strategies. It should be backed by data driven decision making which in turn helps in making fact-based decisions and increases the organizational efficiency. Along with excellent communication skills and people management, managers also need to be agile and flexible and make quick decisions as per the changing business landscape.

Q: How should business and management education evolve to keep up with these changes? How does the MBA of the future look like?
A: The education sector in India is facing a sea of change. The current scenario is going through an evolution which is going to affect stakeholders in a large way enhancing their value greatly. We foresee a more skill-based education system emerging. The industry today is demanding talents that are equipped with new-age capabilities and managerial skills. Because of which, industry specific specialized programs might increase.

Also, the pandemic has created a digital ecosystem by making this generation close to technology thus providing them access to diverse competencies of reputed academicians globally. Entrepreneurship and sustainability are currently trending. But in the end, the students will be benefitted greatly as the B-schools are all geared up to face the current dynamic education system in the country.

“As business evolves, so will the education system.”

Q: How should MBA Curriculum and Pedagogy change?
A: In today’s data driven world backed by digital technology, companies are constantly evolving.  Future business leaders will require managerial skills to tackle the current and future business challenges, including a digital mindset, a focus on continuous learning, ability to make data driven decisions and critical thinking.

B-Schools have always been an excellent place of learning for future leaders that helps them learn how to analyze market trends, develop business plans, strategies to scale up a business and lessons on how to manage finances and human resources. However, we live in a dynamic system wherein business leaders will have to cope up with the changing demands of the marketplaces in order to survive in the industry.

Q: In light of above, what could be the changes in MBA Curriculum?
A: Keeping this in mind, the following can be a list of changes or add-ons to the MBA Curriculum:

• Students shall be exposed to more multicultural experiences as they get to work with employees or clients coming from a diversified background or culture.
• More emphasis on emotional intelligence and authentic leadership.
• Focus more on how to adapt to changes with speed and agility.
• Use of technology or tech savvy platforms apart from offline classes.
• Frequent lessons or lectures by entrepreneurs and alumni.

Also, Predicting the near future requirements, programmes on entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, supply chain management and public policy seem to be imperative apart from the business management and HR management which are here to stay for more years to come.

Q: What are your views on NEP 2022?
A: India’s education system has always been on the national level. Our learners were unable to use their skills on a global scale. But now since the Indian Government has revised its old education policy into the National Education Policy, our country’s educational and research facilities will also be strengthened.

The NEP 2022 aims for an India-centric education system that contributes to India enduring into a vibrant, equitable, and knowledge-based society by providing world-class education. NEP has opened the education sector on the global platform and XLRI is working on global collaborations with leading global institutions.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for Part 2 of this special interview…