Three upcoming and promising B-Schools of Tamil Nadu
In India, we have many B-Schools that belong to the "C" category. That is, they would positively find a place within the best 125 B-Schools, but would fall after the first and best 40 B-Schools. This article is an attempt to discuss the salient features of three such B-Schools in Tamil Nadu.
Introduction
They would have several doctorates among their Faculty Members. They would even have their Business journal that is refereed by experts in every field. They would make continuous improvements to stay ahead of the rat race and would attempt to make themselves relevant. They are positively not the run-of-the-mill B-Schools, where the attempt is to just run away from the more urgent task of brand building. These are the stuff that "B" and "C" category B-schools in the country are made of.
Three of such B-Schools in Tamil Nadu, are the Sona School of Management, Salem, the St. Joseph's Institute of Management, Tiruchirapalli, and the Gnanam School of Business, Tanjavur. All three B-Schools offer an MBA degree. The three B-Schools are now attempting to break into the big league, with Sona trying to ape the better-known B-Schools in terms of standards. For example, it is an easy No.2 college of choice for the MBA degree, after the branded PSG School of Management, Coimbatore, that is No.1 in the Salem-Coimbatore belt.
We will now attempt to focus on the unique qualities of the three branded B-Schools.Sona School of Management Salem
This School of Management would jostle for space just after all the IIMs and the best of branded B-Schools like the Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Tiruchirapalli, the LIBA, Chennai, the Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai and the Thiagarajar School of Management, Madurai. It is a college of choice among the B-Schools in the Western Region of Tamil Nadu and never finds it difficult to fill up the seats on offer. The high quality of Research and the galaxy of at least eight doctorates among its Faculty Team, adds great flavour to the branding of this famous B-School. The founders of this group of institutions, the Sona group, also run a famous college called the Sona Engineering College, which sits pretty along with the likes of PSG College of Engineering and the College of Engineering, Coimbatore.
This college even has international placements and its placement record is improving year on year. The extremely high quality of teaching is unique to this institution, which is autonomous and runs the MBA course of Anna University on the trimester pattern.
Over the years, Sona School of Management has emerged as a branded school that attracts students from other States as well. Not to be unfazed by the competition, this institution has systematically been offering Management Development Programs, Faculty Development Programs, and has conducted several National seminars that have added value in terms of advanced knowledge. Industry professionals whom I contacted from the industry placement list did confirm that the college is one that believes in building a brand. It has a towering reputation for quality and stands out in the universe of over eighty engineering colleges that also offer the MBA course of the Anna University, but are finding it so difficult to attract even the minimum number of students.
The Institute also publishes a high-quality half-yearly journal called the Global Management Review, which is an International, Double-blind peer-reviewed journal, with many research papers on all areas of Management. It is for such reasons that this branded Sona School of Management Salem is a force to reckon with, in the Coimbatore-Salem region, among the best of B-Schools.
Contact Information: Sona School of Management
Junction Main Road
Salem 636005
Phones:- 91-427-4099999, 4099897,4099990
Email:- mba@sonamgt.org
Website:- www.sonalmgt.orgGnanam School of Business Thanjavur
Situated just off the Tiruchirapalli-Thanjavur Highway, but nearer to Thanjavur is this branded B-School that is now making waves for its quite high standards. This is a standalone B-School. This school has a full-time CEO, Mr Arul Doss, who is also the son of the Founder of this group, the A.Y.S. Parisutha Nadar Centenary Foundation was established in the year 2009. This B-School offers the MBA of the Anna University, Chennai.
Gnanam School of Business has to contend with competition from the MBA offered by the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, and the branded Bharathidasan Institute of Management, both of which are neighbours. Yet, Gnanam has held its own and has excellent hostel facilities. Since I have been a visiting Faculty Member of this institute, I can easily vouchsafe for the sincere attempts made by the CEO to continuously improve the branding of the institute. For instance, immediately after the Union Budget is announced, the CEO would have a seminar on the lawns of the college, with experts from Tiruchirapalli, who would share all their views on what the Budget is all about, and the implications for industry and the MBA students, in terms of the emerging opportunities in the industry.
This institute has a very active interaction with the industry and the guest lectures are held very often. Specialized training programs are also organized. Perhaps for these reasons, the placement record is really good and the average salaries paid to the MBAs of this college have been increasing year after year.
The intent of the CEO and his team are very good and it is for these reasons that the Gnanam School of Business Thanjavur is a reputed branded B-School in the Tiruchirapalli to Tanjavur region.
Contact Information: Gnanam School of Business
Mary's Nagar
Tiruchi-Thanjavur Expressway
Sengipatti 613402
Thanjavur District
Phones:- 04362-221102-05, 9585881102
Email:- mail@gsb.co.in
Website:- www.gsb.co.inSt.joseph's Institute of Management Tiruchirapalli
Ranked among the best two or perhaps the best of the Arts and Science Colleges in Tamil Nadu, is the St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli, which is affiliated with the Bharathidasan University and is an autonomous college for several decades. This college is a 150+ years college. Its famous Alumni is the former President of India, the late Abdul Kalam.
As a stand-alone and autonomous college of this famous college, the St. Joseph's Institute of Management(JIM), has been making waves in the past decade. With a very good placement record, this college is growing in stature as a good, branded B-School of Tamil Nadu. The average salary of 4.5 lakhs is a sort of record, given the fact that the other competitors in Tiruchirapalli, do not have such a record. The website mentions that the institute has achieved an international placement of 16 lakhs, which is a good record for a B-School in this part of the country.
This B-School offers the MBA of the Bharathidasan University. It is also a recognized research centre of the Bharathidasan University and has been growing from strength to strength in the past few years. The industry interaction is very good. There are visiting faculty members from the local industries such as BHEL and this has constantly lead to a practical orientation in addition to the high quality of inputs. The fact that there are many doctorates with a good research background in the Faculty Team, is an indication of the quality of teaching.
It is for these reasons that St.Joseph's College Tiruchirapalli is among the best of emerging B-Schools in Tamil Nadu. There can hardly be any doubt about the brand value of St.Joseph's College. This college is an international brand. Naturally, the B-School will also have tremendous support from its Alumni and the parent college as well. BHEL managers interviewed for this article indicated that this B-School would emerge as a very high-quality B-School within the next few years.
Contact Information: St. Joseph's Institute of Management(JIM)
Salai Road
Near Mahe ground
Woraiyur
Tiruchirapalli 620002
Phone:-0431-4226481
Email:- info@jim.ac.in
Website:- www.jim.ac.inConclusion
Since there are too many alternate professions, the number of students who are interested in doing the MBA course is coming down, day after day. This is seen in the intense competition among the branded B-Schools to attract the best students. The three B-Schools discussed in this article have been quite adept at accepting this challenge and doing their best. They will improve in the years to come.