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Management by dharma
English and Maths poor in UK schools Campus NoteS
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Management by dharma
Sitting in the sunny canteen of the SDM Institute for Management Development’s (SDM-IMD) small but well-designed campus in Mysore, 140 kilometres from Bangalore, the institute’s director, Ramesh Venkateswaran, offers a thought exercise for a bunch of visiting American students on an exchange programme: “Imagine,” he says, “an ancient city in the West, where to this day there is a Protestant church, served by Catholic priests, with the whole set up, including the town, administered by a Jewish family.” While no such place perhaps exists, his aim is to draw a parallel with the town of Dharmasthala in Karnataka, where a confluence of different faiths has seen the main Lord Manjunatha (Shiva) temple here being served by Vaishnavite priests, with the temple trust overseen by the Jain Heggade family. What’s the connection with management? It is just that the setting up of SDM-IMD was a “natural extension of business” for the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Educational Trust, which runs some 40 recognised educational institutions. The trust is headed by Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, who succeeded to the “Heggadeship” of Dharmasthala in 1968. The age of the MBA has also spawned a whole genre of “management literature” only some of which is worthy of the name. When everything goes from hawking ‘stolen cheese’ to management principles in the Bhagavad Gita, it pays to be wary. But to their credit, there are no gimmicks in the SDM-IMD programme. They recognise, after all, that students, and corporate recruiters, are looking for a solid grounding in the fundamental disciplines, and that elusive quality known as leadership. In fact, considering the non-interfering style of the SDM trust, even a possible, and very desirable, synergy with the trust’s extraordinary range of charitable and local development activities has not yet been actively explored. The trust does many things like operate a Rs 400-crore cashe of microfinance for the local women of Dharmasthala, but it does so “quietly that it takes time for us here, to discover the range of activities,” says Rajesh Haldipur, Dean (Finance). “But the opportunities are there, and we are certainly looking how it can serve the MBA programme,” says Venkateswaran. But certain values cannot help but inform the ethos at the institute. “Simplicity” is one, says Ventakeshwaran. “The trustees themselves set an example there.” “And we are the only ones that actually offer a compulsory ‘core’ course on ‘Ethics and Values’” notes Prof J.M. Subramanya. “Mere management technicians cannot build a country. We should look to build citizens of responsibility. We also urge graduating students to think in terms of a career, not the first job. After all, if you choose a stream, you are likely to be in it for some 40 years, though the company may change.” Moreover, he adds: “Teaching and learning is a serious business here. Often, in many institutions, there is only a pretence of rigour. We do not allow that here.” The institute feels that they are doing something right, as recruiters come back to them again. “There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that not only do our students perform, there is a willingness to stick to that first job.” Recruiters, the staff claim, also value certain other components of the two-year, MBA here – the 100 hours of compulsory yoga. “Companies see the yoga certificate as something positive about the candidate.” Though the institute was set up in 1993, the campus at the foothills of the Chamundi hills, named for the revered shrine of Chamundi devi on the top of one of them, is new. Designed strictly according to Vaasthu principles, the cluster of classrooms, open-air amphitheatre, office buildings, and hostels sit easily and naturally with its surroundings, allowing for full play of light and air. They have got something right here as well, for as one of the American students visiting put it: “Outdoors and indoors are integrated so well, you hardly notice when you move from one to the other.” The great weather also contributes, of course. The two-year MBA here runs through six semesters and costs Rs 4-5 lakhs. Admissions are made on the basis of CAT/G-MAT scores apart from performance at school, group discussion/interview and work experience. Website:
sdmimd.ac.in.
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English and Maths poor in UK schools One
in five schools in England fails to give pupils a decent education in maths and English, although the trend is improving, exam league tables showed today. Some 639 state-funded schools last year failed to meet the government target of 30 percent of their students achieving a good grade—at least a C—in five GCSEs including English and maths. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in November he wanted all schools to reach this level by 2012 in the exams taken by 15 and 16-year-olds. He said those that failed to hit the target faced closure or federation with another school. Schools Minister Jim Knight said 150 more schools had made the required grade in today's tables than the previous year. ''The vast majority are improving year on year and those at the lowest level are receiving intensive support.'' He said improvement over the past decade was excellent -- in 1997 only half of schools reached the target. The opposition Conservatives said the tables showed that more than 500,000 pupils were at schools the prime minister regarded as failing.
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Campus NoteS A 3-week long refresher course in Environmental Studies concluded at Academic Staff College of Guru Nanak Dev University. As many as 27 teachers from different colleges and universities of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab participated in this course. Dr. Satnam Singh, in his valedictory address, stressed for the need of sustainable development. The independence of this country saw all around spurt in activities of industry, agriculture and construction. However in this process, the environmental aspect was left unattended, he added. He said we have not reached a stage in which if do not pay heed to protection of environment, the system will collapse with no return possible. Dr. Balwant Singh, Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences gave away the certificates to the participants. Prof. A.K. Thukral, Dean, Students Welfare also graced the occasion. Earlier, Dr. H. S. Bhatia, Director of the department welcomed Dr Satnam Singh Ladhar, Eminent Scientist and Joint Director, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh. Dr. Avinash Nagpal, Professor, Department of Botanical & Environmental Science presented a detailed report of the course. She explained that around 25 resource persons delivered lectures to the participants and interacted with them. — Contributed by P K Jaiswar
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Armed Forces Indian Army, NCC West Block IV, RK Puram, New Delhi 110066 NCC Special Entry Scheme – October 2008 (SSC, OTA, Chennai) Eligibility: Unmarried Male & Female graduates (50%) who have served 2 academic years in the senior Division of NCC, “B” grade in NCC “C” Certificate Exam. Selection: SSB Interview; Psychological Aptitude Test; Medical Test. Application Form: Apply in prescribed format on plain paper and send to the nearest OC, NCC Unit from where NCC ‘C’ certificate has been issued. Details:
Employment News (5 – 11 January 2008) / website Application Deadline:
10 February 2008 Management National Institute of Technology, Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, Durgapur 713209 (WB) (Deemed University) www.nitdgp.ac.in MBA
(2008-2010) Eligibility: Bachelors degree (50%) Selection: CAT-2007; GD; Personal Interview Application Form: Send Rs 850/- by DD favouring “Director, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur”, payable at Durgapur to the Registrar at the above address / download from website. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 25 January 2008 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, D/o Management Studies, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016
www.iitd.ac.in MBA (Mgmt Systems / Telecomm Systems Mgmt) 2 years, Full Time Eligibility: JMET-2008 Selection: GD & Interview: 23 – 30 March 2008 Application Form: Apply online and send to Assistant Registrar (PGS & R) with DD of Rs 500/-. Details: Website Application Deadline:
28 January 2008 Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Haryana School of Business, Hisar 125001
www.gju.ernet.in MBA (2 years) Eligibility: Bachelors degree (50%) / ICSI / ICAI / ICFAI / ICWAI Selection: CAT 2007; GD & Interview Application Deadline:
31 January 2008 Scholarships University Grants Commission, Selections & Awards Bureau, Delhi University South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi 110021
www.ugc.ac.in PG Indira Gandhi Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child (2 years) Scholarship: Rs 2000/-pm for 2 years. Application Form: Send written request in prescribed format with attested documents to the Head, UGC at the above address / Download from website. Details:
Employment News (5 – 11 January 2008) / website Application Deadline: 03 February 2008 M/o Tribal Affairs, Room No 217 D, ‘D’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi 110001 (GoI) www.socialjustice.nic.in 15 National Overseas Scholarships / 4 Passage Grant for SC candidates 2007-08 Eligibility: Scholarship: Tuition fees, other educational expenses including maintenance, other grants and travel expenses. Application Form:
Send in prescribed format with all required documents to the Section Officer, Education Section at the above address. Details: Employment News (5 – 11 January 2008) / website Application Deadline: 03 February 2008 British Council, 17, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 Manmohan Singh Scholarships Eligibility: Indian postgraduates (1st Class) with excellent academic background and Fluency in written and spoken English. Scholarship: Academic fees; monthly living expenses; International airfares; 3-year UK visa. Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline: 31 January 2008. — Pervin Malhotra www.careerguidanceindia.com
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