Please elaborate on who is behind Balaji Institute of Modern Management (BIMM) and the principles the institute follows as a Business School.

Balaji Institute of Modern Management is run by Sri Balaji Society, a registered charitable trust under the guidance of Prof (Colonel) A Balasubramanian who is a writer and scholar. Prof Balasubramanian has earlier been associated with Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS) and Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM). The school believes in being a training centre for MBA students and gives importance to women upliftment (50 percent seats are reserved for women). IT training is imparted as an integral part of the course to increase students’ employability. Corporate interface in the form of seminars is also provided. The induction training is organised for 30 days to increase the student’s knowledge about the industry.

What are the various full time MBA programmes offered at BIMM?

The various full time courses offered at BIMM are Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM-120 seats), Post Graduate Diploma in Management in IT & Marketing (120 seats) and Post Graduate Diploma in Management Personnel Management & Human Resources Development (60 seats). Post Graduate Diploma in Management Executive (60 seats) is only offered to candidates with five years or more work experience.

What is the course structure followed for students in the PGDM (fresher) programme? What factors should applicants consider when choosing between these programmes?

At BIMM, a student can select their MBA specialization from Marketing, Finance, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Systems, Personnel Management and Human Resource Development and Banking and Insurance. Faculty at the school perform a SWOT analysis of students to help them choose the right specialisation. As per our experience, freshers in MBA schools do not have a lot of knowledge regarding these specializations. Therefore, a seminar is held in the school to explain to them all the aspects before they make a choice. They are also advised to make an informed choice according to their competence and ability at the time of selection interview. The students chose their specializations only in the second semester and thus they get a better idea of the industry and their own strength and weakness.

What is the fee structure followed for the management programs at BIMM? Are residential facilities provided?

A sum of Rs 2.5 lakh is charged as fee for the course per year which is required to be remitted in two installments. The residential facilities are provided to outstation students in the first year in the in campus hostel. During the second year, they have to stay at the flats located within a radius of one to two kilometers around the campus.

Please explain the admissions process followed for admissions to BIMM. Which entrance tests scores are accepted for admission to various programs at BIMM? What are the cut-offs needed to be secured in each of these tests in order to get a call for GD-PI screening?

At BIMM, all candidates with a first class throughout their academic career are invited for the admission process (this is relaxed for SC/ST students). Thus the school receives about 10,000 applications. There is no cut off score for CAT or MAT although a weightage of 30 percent is given to them. The MAT scores are converted to their CAT equivalent score. The Group Discussion holds 40 percent weightage while the interview holds 30 percent.. There is also an essay which carries 30 marks, one-third of which is added to the final marks of the candidate. Thus the final merit list is drawn out of 110 marks. 95 percent students exercise their choice for almost all the courses offered and get one of the courses according to a computerised merit list generated by their combined marks.

Please elaborate on the batch profile of students at BIMM as far as undergraduate background and work-experience is concerned.

The school has graduates from all fields (science, arts, commerce) with 40 percent of students in all streams being engineers. However, all the students in the IT and Marketing programs are engineers. This year ten doctors have also been admitted. Apart from the students of Executive MBA stream where five years of work experience is mandatory, most of the students are freshers with only around 10 percent with a work experience of six months to two years.

What was the sector-wise breakup of placements of the MBA program at BIMM? What was the maximum, minimum and average salary secured by the last batch of MBA graduates from the institute?

Amongst all sectors, the maximum placements in 2008 took place in the Banking (33.06 percent ) and IT (31.67 percent) sector. In 2009, in addition to Banking (27.40 percent) and IT (18.27percent) another sector that was a major player was Manufacturing with 12.98 percent students placed. The maximum and minimum salary in 2008 was Rs 11.5 lakhs and Rs 3.6 lakhs respectively while in 2009, maximum salary was Rs 15.72 lakhs and minimum salary was Rs 3.25 lakhs. The average salary was 4.84 lakhs in 2008 and 4.41 lakhs in 2009.

How have placements at BIMM been affected because of the economic slowdown? How many students stand placed as of now and what changes have been observed as far as salaries are concerned?

The economic slowdown has adversely affected campus placements. However recruitment is taking place and 600 students have been placed so far. The institute plans to place 300 more students before May 31, 2009, which is when the current senior batch will complete their course. Thus about 100 students specializing in Finance and System are expected to remain unplaced and strategies are being drawn to help them. As for salaries, Kotak Bank, Axis Bank and few others have reduced their compensation packages. However, companies like L.G Electronics Pvt Ltd., TVS Motors Ltd etc have increased their salaries. There is also a rise in the number of students being recruited from companies in FMCG and Pharmaceutical sectors. There has also been a maximum withdrawal of confirmed participation dates by many companies this year due to changes in the hiring plan made by their board.