Everyone,
I see a lot of posts of people trying to compare institutes, and asking wether 'joining MDI this year or giving another shot to the IIMs?' is worth it.
I won't go about comparing institutes, but I would certainly like to present an account of why my Alma Mater has risen to the stature it commands today. (P.S.: I highly recommend watching the corporate film on MDI's web site.)
Why MDI?
1. Peer learning: Everyone here at MDI is likely to be 99 percentile plus. (HR & IM should also be close to that mark) .The amount you learn outside the classrooms through everyday interactions at B-School is much more than inside it. At government institutes, one has to contend with reservations.
2. Faculty: MDI has the 2nd highest permanent faculty body in the country. All of them highly experienced, qualified, and renowned in industry and academic circles. The total number, as of date, stands at 77. A number of them have multiple books, and international reserach publications to their credit. Look up faculty profiles of people like Prof. C.V. Baxi, Prof. Pritam Singh, Prof. B.S. Sahay, Prof. Subir Verma, Prof. Ashok Kapoor, Prof. Rohit Prasad, Prof. A.P. Arora, Prof. Dhruv Nath, Prof. Sanjay Bakshi, Prof. Rajesh Pillania (he would, however, be going to join Harvard University as a faculty this August), Prof. Amit Kapoor, Prof. Mukul Gupta, Prof. Jyotsana Bhatnagar, Prof. Asha Bhandarkar, to name just a few. Am sure you shall be enthralled.
3. International Linkages and Exposure: Again, amongst the best in the country. AMBA and other international accreditations. IIMA has been awarded EQUIS accrediation this year. MDI & IIMA are the only institutes in the country to have such extensive international linkages. I hear that MDI has also been awarded the AASCB accreitation, though I'm not very sure, as of now. AMBA, EQUIS, and AASCB are referred to as the 'triple crown' of accreditations.
MDI boasts of tieups with 45 top international B-Schools in 23 different countries for Student Exchange Programs. (Am looking forward to my exchange term with ESCP-EAP, Paris (probably ranked #2 in Europe by the financial Times) this August!)
International Exposure is an imperative for any management graduate in today's age & times.
4. Placements: MDI has always had amongst the best placements in the country. This will be 16th batch of PGPM. PGPHR, and PGPIM, inspite of being relatively newer courses, have differentiated themselves on several counts, and are doing well on this parameter as well.
Again, 2008 was an year of inflated expectations, and 2009 has been just the opposite. Therefore, they should not be made the benchmarks for assessing any B-School. At the same time, when the reports are out, one may make an objective assessment of placements.
5. Strategic Location: Gurgaon is a corporate hub. Hence, MDI boasts of an expansive industry interface. In the last one year, we have been witness to visits and talks from numerous CEOs: Bharti Airtel, Du Pont, PNB, Nestle, to name a few.
Further, there are numerous opportunities for Live Projects which add tremendous value to both your CV, as well as your education.
6. Pedagogy and Curriculum: MDI has a predominantly case sudy-based pedagogical approach. Classrooms are a treat to be in, with the finest brains in the country, and arguably the world, at work together churning out spectacularly brilliant, (and often outrageous) ideas!
The curriculum is revised and updated regularly. PG '08 even had a complete subject devoted to the financial crisis in the third trimester (Jan-Mar 2009), making MDI probably the 1st B-School in India, to study the crisis as a part of their curriculum: as it happened.
7. Infrastructure: i) Campus: MDI has a campus of over 37 acres. The campus is one of the most aesthetic, and visually appeasing in the country: the photographs keep making their way to newspapers and TV programs! There are well maintained sports facilities, expansive 'Imperium Greens', and of course, as many of you would know, a six-hole Golf Course on campus.
There are elaborate plans for even further augmentation of this infratsructure in the coming months.
7. Infrastructure: ii) Classrooms & Hostels: Besides, the general ambience and greenery, the classrooms infrastructure (All classes are AC!) and the hostels are also pretty good. The hostel complex at Change Masters Annexe (IDPL) is also very well maintained and has Wi-fi internet connectivity. Executive Management program participants also have excellent facilities. But, that wouldn't be of much interest to PG students.
7. Infrastructure: iii) Library: Around 60,000 books, 325 Print Journals, 800 e-journals, an online library, numerous training videos, movies, annual reports of top companies, conference proceedings, case studies: Need I say more?
8. Student Managers: Look up Unnati: A Mutual fund competely managed by students at MDI. Strategic invetsment based on market analysis is done. the fund has been running successfully for over six years.
Besides that, most activities on campus, ranging from Placements to Annual Festivals, are completely student driven. Hence, beyond the academic rigor, there is an exciting and intense extra/co-curricular spread.
9. Student Social Responsibility: Besides the famed academic rigor, intensive efforts in Academic and Extra curricular Management clubs, students also manage to find time to cultivate and nurture their social side. Samaritans, is MDI's social service club. Samaritans have adopted an entire village nearby the campus. Also, PG students in association with Energy Management students have been engaging in a Haryana State Government Project for Energy Awareness for school children.
10. Rankings: MDI has consistently featured amongst the top 5 B-Schools of the country. References for this year: CNBC TV 18's A List of B-Schools (Data based rankings: Rank 4), Mint: Rank 5, CSR: Rank 4. However, its important to underscore the fact that there is a huge difference between facts and perceptions. Remember, that "Truth is never a function of the number of people adhering to it". :)
This is just an indicative description. There have been some very informative posts by Saket, Himanshu, Abhi_thehobbit, Amit, Abhay (PG '08 ) Ram, Mufasa, Ashish (PG '07) on several forums including the Admissions & Life@MDI forum.
Check them out!
I sincerely hope that some of this information would be useful to you in taking an informed, objective, and rational decison.
Once again, the very Best of Wishes go out to all future 'Change Masters and Thought Leaders!'
Best
Pratyush
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