Pic: Jingdianmeinv1

The biggest news of the week, was the International Monetary Fund (IMF) rap on world debt markets a warning that dark days are looming ahead. In a message, the IMF sounded a global caution both Europe’s debt woes and a painfully slow recovery in the United States could undermine global growth,without action those economies could tip back into recession. Whether that admonition brings in another 2008 in all its horrors is to be seen but definitely when Europe and the US sneeze, India cannot be far from catching the whiff. Already the rupee has declined to a new low, how the job market will react is anybodys guess. Placement work in many b-schools in India has begun and officials say it is too early to predict the season. For more on the IMF warning, read http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=48585

And now for some much lighter news if you wondering why super model cum TV host and author Tyra Banks is on the cover photo of this weekend piece, its because she is making news at Harvard Business School, where she has enrolled in an Owner/President Management Program. Coughing up a whopping $31,000 a year in tuition, the course requires a commitment of three weeks on campus a year for three years. But apparently, Tyra is staying on campus in the dorms with others. She is doing the course because (she has reportedly said) I think I could’ve leaned on all of my advisers. I have accountants, and lawyers, and investment bankers. But I don’t want to be that girl when I’m meeting with them, where I’m like, ‘Uh-huh, great.’ I now can say what’s the net present value on that? What’s the discounted cash flows of that? And that’s because of Harvard.” Tyra is working on her book while at Harvard, the first of a three part series. And apparently she has developed carpal tunnel syndrome from feverish two-finger typing. Read more on http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/tyra-banks-invites-readers-visit-modelland-14586324

Facebook was in news last week for all its changes – allowing people to connect in new ways like read, listen, watch etc. What does this mean for marketing agencies? An intersting blog in the HBR this week. Look up http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/09/facebook_changes_upend_adverti.html

Still with Harvard, for some traditional research/survey news, a new working paper from the Harvard Business School has some never-before-said things about bosses. The survey estimates that an average boss actually works for only 48 hours a week and much of that time is spent in meetings or in a large conference. You probably hoping never to get a boss like that but to read on the kinds log on to http://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/index.cfm?page=colDetail&itmno;=870

From Harvard to Wharton School aspirants – a written application may no longer be enough to seek admission. According to Vice Dean of Innovation Karl Ulrich, the current applications may not allow reliable assessment of applicants based on all qualities. Hence talking points will not centre on an applicants business acumen but general knowledge to showcase interpersonal skills and critical thinking ability. This years test will apparently aim to decide whether discussions will become a permanent fixture in the MBA admissions process. http://thedp.com/index.php/article/2011/09/mba_admissions_pilots_discussionbased_supplement

There is refreshing news from a Dukes Business School student Brian Hamilton, who is also co-founder and CEO of Sageworks. His companys outreach program called Inmates to Entrepreneurs is being much talked about. The idea, according to its Web site, is to educate inmates on how they can start productive, low capital businesses upon their release from prison. In addition to providing a valuable service to people who need it, it never occurred to Hamilton that what the program might do for him is make him appreciate his upbringing more and see his natural entrepreneurial spirit as a gift he can bestow. In other words, not take those things for granted. More on the venture in http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/09/23/business-education-one-prison-at-time/

From the US to Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme has topped Forbes’ list of MBA rankings for the first time. This achievement lays testament to the superior education that Singapore has to offer to employees, says an article in http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/09/23/prweb8790923.DTL#ixzz1YmuCAEKU. PaGaLGuY had visited the NUS earlier this year. With a huge population of Indian students, the school did stand out in the crowd. Besides interesting course work, the campus atmosphere was indeed eclectic and full of beans and the rankings seem only appropriate.

Back home in Bangalore, The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to go after those who plagiarise their final year projects. AICTE has decided to open a web portal where all students will be mandated to upload abstracts of their project. This is the report that says more. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-16/bangalore/30165073_1_engg-students-aicte-s-s-mantha