Management

Students in the integrated BTech-MBA programme say key details on fee structure, curriculum, internships and placement opportunities remain unclear two years after the course was launched.

Students enrolled in the integrated BS/BTech-MBA programme jointly offered by Indian Institute of Technology Patna and Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya have raised concerns over what they describe as a lack of transparency regarding fees, course structure, internships and placement opportunities.

Introduced through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counselling process in 2024, the five-year programme combines three years of technical education at IIT Patna with two years of management studies at IIM Bodh Gaya. The programme currently offers 54 seats across MBA, MBA in Digital Business Management and MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management.

Students allege that critical information was not clearly communicated at the time of admission. One of the primary concerns relates to the MBA fee component. According to students, institute officials initially indicated during an online open house that the cost would be around ₹7.5 lakh per year. However, a later document issued for an education loan application mentioned an estimated annual fee of ₹8.14 lakh, while also noting that the amount could vary.

Students claim no formal written fee structure was shared with the inaugural batch despite repeated requests. Many say they joined the programme without a clear understanding of the total financial commitment, making long-term planning difficult, particularly for those from economically weaker backgrounds.

Officials at IIM Bodh Gaya have reportedly confirmed that the MBA phase will follow the prevailing fee structure of the institute's regular MBA programme at the time students enter the management segment.

Beyond fees, students have also questioned the academic structure. They point out that the traditional four-year BTech curriculum has been compressed into three years, requiring completion of 167 credits within a shorter duration. They also cite changes in internship schedules and the replacement of certain technical electives with Humanities and Social Sciences courses.

Another major concern is the absence of an exit option after the undergraduate phase. Students say they were informed that those choosing not to continue with the MBA component would not receive a degree, as the programme is structured as a single five-year course.

Questions have also been raised about placement opportunities. Some students claim they were initially told they might be eligible for placement processes at both institutions but were later informed that access to IIT Patna's placement process would not be available.

With the first batch nearing the completion of its IIT phase, students are seeking greater clarity from both institutions on financial commitments, academic pathways and career prospects associated with the programme.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the admit cards for the Joint Integrated Programme in Management Admission Test (JIPMAT) 2026. Candidates who have registered for the examination can now download their hall tickets from the official website by logging in with their application number and other required credentials.

The JIPMAT 2026 examination is scheduled to be conducted on June 7 in a single shift from 3 pm to 5:30 pm. The test will be held in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across designated examination centres in the country.

In an official notification, the NTA has advised candidates to carefully verify their admit cards after downloading them. Applicants must ensure that both the QR code and barcode are clearly visible on the document. Candidates are also required to carry the same photo identification proof that was uploaded during the application process and is mentioned on the admit card for verification purposes at the examination centre.

To download the admit card, candidates need to visit the official JIPMAT portal, click on the admit card link available on the homepage, enter their login credentials, submit the details, and save the document for future use.

The examination will be conducted for a duration of 150 minutes. Candidates belonging to the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories will be provided an additional 20 minutes to complete the test. Under the marking scheme, four marks will be awarded for every correct response, while one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. No negative marking will be applied to unanswered questions.

JIPMAT serves as the entrance examination for admission to the five-year Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) offered by the Indian Institutes of Management. The test is conducted on behalf of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bodh Gaya and IIM Jammu, which use JIPMAT scores for admission to their IPM programmes.

The Integrated Programme in Management is designed for students aspiring to build careers in management and leadership. It combines undergraduate and postgraduate management education into a single five-year course, enabling students to pursue management studies immediately after completing Class 12.

Candidates are advised to download their admit cards well in advance and carefully review the examination guidelines issued by the NTA to avoid any last-minute difficulties on the day of the test.

In a significant step towards strengthening employability and industry readiness among students, the Odisha government has launched an apprenticeship-embedded undergraduate degree programme that integrates academic learning with hands-on workplace experience.

The innovative programme combines traditional classroom education with a structured, paid apprenticeship during the third year of study. The initiative is aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes experiential learning, skill development and stronger links between higher education and industry.

Under the new model, students will spend the first two years pursuing academic coursework before undertaking a one-year apprenticeship with industry partners, enabling them to gain practical exposure while completing their degree. Officials believe the approach will help bridge the gap between academic knowledge and workplace requirements, improving employment prospects for graduates.

The programme offers students flexibility in choosing their academic pathways. Learners can select from 11 disciplines and combine major and minor subjects in accordance with the multidisciplinary framework promoted under NEP 2020. The flexible curriculum is expected to allow students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals while acquiring industry-relevant skills.

Higher education experts have welcomed the initiative, noting that apprenticeship-integrated programmes are increasingly being adopted worldwide to enhance graduate employability. By providing real-world work experience before graduation, such programmes help students develop professional competencies, workplace ethics and practical problem-solving abilities that employers often seek.

The Odisha government has opened admissions through the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal. Interested candidates can submit their applications until June 10. According to the admission schedule, the first merit list for selected candidates will be published on June 17.

Officials say the programme represents a major shift from conventional degree structures by embedding skill-based learning directly into the academic journey. The initiative is also expected to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions and industry partners, creating opportunities for students to gain exposure to emerging sectors and workplace practices.

As India continues to focus on enhancing youth employability and workforce readiness, Odisha's apprenticeship-embedded undergraduate programme could serve as a model for other states seeking to integrate academic education with practical training and industry engagement.

A story of perseverance, career reinvention and resilience has captured attention on social media after a Hyderabad-based technology professional shared the remarkable journey of his IIT Madras graduate flatmate, who found success in trading after spending more than a decade pursuing the UPSC dream.

According to the viral post, the graduate turned down a campus placement offer worth ₹10 lakh per annum in 2012 to focus entirely on preparing for the prestigious Civil Services Examination. Like many aspirants, he viewed the UPSC as a pathway to public service and a meaningful career. However, his journey was marked by repeated setbacks. He failed to clear the preliminary examination in his first attempt and was unable to progress beyond the mains stage in his second.

Seeking a new direction, he briefly shifted his focus to competitive badminton, hoping to build a career in the sport. However, disillusionment with the system and challenges within the sporting ecosystem eventually led him back to UPSC preparation. Over the years, he continued to make multiple attempts at the examination but was unable to secure the breakthrough he had hoped for.

After nearly 12 years divided between civil services preparation and badminton, the graduate found himself at a crossroads. Rather than giving up, he began exploring financial markets and taught himself trading through online resources. Without formal coaching or mentorship, he dedicated time to understanding market trends, risk management and investment strategies.

His efforts gradually paid off. Today, he works as a SEBI-registered investment advisor and reportedly earns around ₹2 lakh per month through trading activities, though his income varies depending on market conditions. The transition from UPSC aspirant to financial market professional represents a dramatic shift in career trajectory, driven largely by self-learning and persistence.

The story has resonated with many social media users, who described it as a reminder that success does not always follow a conventional timeline. Several commenters praised the graduate's willingness to adapt and rebuild after years of setbacks, while others noted that career paths are increasingly becoming non-linear in a rapidly changing world.

For many young professionals and competitive exam aspirants, the story serves as an example that resilience, continuous learning and the courage to embrace new opportunities can eventually open unexpected doors, even after years of uncertainty.

Undergraduate admission trends across Mumbai are reflecting a major shift in student preferences, with traditional Arts and Science programmes witnessing declining cut-offs while professional and industry-oriented courses record sharp increases in demand.

As colleges released their first merit lists for the 2026-27 academic session, institutions reported that students are increasingly opting for specialised, career-focused programmes aligned with emerging industries, artificial intelligence, healthcare technologies, finance, and entrepreneurship.

At St Xavier’s College, one of the city’s most sought-after Arts colleges, the BA programme cut-off dropped to 87 per cent from 90 per cent last year. A similar trend was visible at Ramnarain Ruia College, where Arts cut-offs declined from 90 per cent to 85 per cent.

However, professional programmes at the same institutions recorded significant jumps. Ruia College’s Biochemistry course saw its cut-off rise sharply from 64 per cent last year to 81.17 per cent this year, indicating growing interest in science-linked professional careers. At St Xavier’s, the Bachelor of Accounting and Finance (BAF) programme remained highly competitive with a cut-off of 91 per cent.

College administrators say the shift reflects changing employment aspirations among students and the broader transformation of higher education under the National Education Policy framework, which encourages multidisciplinary and skill-based learning.

Ruia College principal Anushree Lokur said students now have wider undergraduate options and increasingly view professional programmes as pathways to faster employability. In response, the college has introduced new programmes, including a BSc in Psychology and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Energy Science.

The college has also launched the Ruia Professional Development Centre, which will offer certification programmes in specialised healthcare and technical sectors such as Operating Theatre Technology, Medical Imaging Technology, and Dialysis Technology, alongside regular degree courses.

Meanwhile, R A Podar College is expanding its professional offerings with new programmes such as BSc in Finance and Artificial Intelligence and BCom in Management and Entrepreneurship. The institution had earlier introduced a BBA in Shipping and Logistics to address rising demand for industry-trained graduates.

Principal Vinita Pimpale noted that while traditional courses continue to offer broader academic understanding, students today are increasingly prioritising profession-oriented education linked directly to specific industries and emerging job markets.

The evolving admission trends highlight how colleges in Mumbai are rapidly redesigning undergraduate education to balance academic learning with employability, technical skills, and industry readiness in an increasingly competitive job landscape.

Scottish Church College has applied to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for autonomous status as the historic Kolkata institution plans a major academic overhaul focused on curriculum redesign, interdisciplinary learning and emerging technology-driven courses.

The 196-year-old college submitted its application on Monday following recommendations made by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2022. The institution has also approached the University of Calcutta for a no-objection certificate (NOC), a key procedural requirement for autonomy.

Principal Madhumanjari Mandal said the college acted on NAAC’s recommendation before the end of the current accreditation cycle.

College authorities said autonomous status would provide greater academic flexibility, enabling the institution to redesign syllabi and introduce new major programmes aligned with evolving industry and student demands.

Among the proposed academic expansions are major programmes in sociology, psychology and statistics, alongside growing emphasis on contemporary fields such as artificial intelligence and data science.

Officials stated that curriculum reforms and introduction of new-age courses would begin only after formal approval from the UGC.

The institution is also undertaking infrastructural expansion through a second campus at the Ogilvie campus near its main premises in Kolkata. Departments such as commerce and BBA are expected to shift to the new facility after construction is completed, while additional future-oriented programmes may also operate from the expanded campus.

The move reflects a broader shift among higher educational institutions in Kolkata towards autonomous governance structures that allow colleges to introduce flexible, industry-oriented and multidisciplinary curricula more rapidly than under traditional university systems.

Recently, Loreto College also applied for autonomous status after receiving an NOC from the University of Calcutta. Meanwhile, Behala College secured autonomous status last year and subsequently launched programmes in cyber security, multimedia, web development, design and Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA).

Education experts believe the growing push for autonomy among colleges reflects increasing pressure on institutions to modernise academic offerings and equip students with skills suited to changing employment markets shaped by digital technologies, artificial intelligence and interdisciplinary industries.

For Scottish Church College, autonomy could mark a significant transition from its traditional academic structure towards a more flexible and innovation-driven educational model while preserving its longstanding legacy in higher education.