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Q. Is PGDM equivalent to MBA? Is affiliation to a university required?
A. A two year full time PGDM course, approved by AICTE, New Delhi (a statutory body
under the Ministry of Human Resource Development), is equivalent to an MBA offered by any Indian University.
In case the institute offering the PGDM programme is competent to handle the course independently
(as ascertained by AICTE), affiliation to a university is not required and it is fully authorized
to issue its own certificate that has full recognition all over the world. In fact, a PGDM offered
by an autonomous institute like SICOMS has some major advantages, particularly in terms of their
up-to-date syllabi and modern instruction methodology. which most universities are unable to offer.
In the case of SICOMS PGDM course, the curriculum has been benchmarked with what is taught in top
global B-schools. This gives SICOMS PGDM students an added edge over conventional MBA students.
Curriculum updating is a continuous process at SICOMS. The curriculum is not only reviewed annually,
but mid term updating will also be frequently done whenever a new concept is to be taught to the students.
It would also be pertinent to point out here that all the top B-schools in India offer PGDMs ? IIMs,
XLRI, JLB, IMD, SPJ, NMIMS, etc. In fact, more than 90% of the top 100 B-Schools in India offer PGDM,
not MBA In this sense, it would be better to say that a MBA offered by a university may be considered
equivalent to a PGDM!
Q. In what way is SICOMS PGDM different from others? What is Super Competency Programme?
A. The general structure of a MBA/PGDM course as taught in most universities/institutes
is two-tier. There is a core component which consists of the fundamentals of Management Studies and a
Specialization component, generally in one of the four broad areas viz. Marketing, Finance, Human Resource
or Operations. SICOMS PGDM is unique in that it offers a third-tier ? called the Super Competency Programme
(SCP) in four cutting edge and industry relevant areas of Airlines and Airport Management, Shipping &
Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management and Retail Management. During the 1st year, all SICOMS PGDM
students are exposed to these four SCPs. By the end of the 1st year, they choose a Super Competency area
of their choice in which they get to do their Summer Internship Programme (SIP) and Capstone Project
(in the 5th trimester). Hence by the end of the second year (i.e. 6th trimester), the student would not
only have gained domain knowledge in the area of their choice but also live industry experience of upto
5 months in their chosen Super Competency area. This makes them fully ?Industry Ready?. This course structure
is not offered by any University/Institute today.
Q. Will SICOMS assist in getting placement to its students?
A. SICOMS assures 100% placement for the students. SICOMS has a very strong Placement Cell headed by vastly experienced placement
professionals. Further, SICOMS is guided by a Director
Board which has some of the most distinguished persons in the industry and academia. Added to this is
the fact that the unique SICOMS PGDM course structure makes the student ?Industry Ready? by the
time they pass out of the institution. With such a strong combination of factors working in favour
of SICOMS students, all our students are expected to be placed in very respectable positions much
before they formally complete their PGDM.
Q. Since my residence is near, can I commute from home instead of staying in the hostel?
A. No. This is a fully residential programme and the students are required to stay in
the hostel for the duration of the course. The stay in the campus is essential for a number of reasons.
Unlike normal MBA courses, the SICOMS PGDM course is rigorous. After class hours, the students would be
required to spend a lot of time in the library and the computer lab to complete their assignments. Further,
there would be a lot of student activities like quizzes, debates, etc which would be after normal class
hours/evenings. Similarly, there would be group activities like case discussions and presentations that
require the students to have intensive discussions and interaction that is possible only if they stay
in the campus.
There would, of course, be holidays and short breaks between trimesters when students can visit home.
Q. Do you provide laptops to the students?
A. Yes, we provide free laptops to all the students admitted to our PGDM course.
Q. Would SICOMS take its students on foreign educational tours?
A. SICOMS does not believe in doing something which does not add value to its students?
education. If going abroad is necessary or beneficial for a project or a paper presentation, SICOMS will
definitely encourage it. However, being an institution that believes in Gandhian values, SICOMS does not
encourage unnecessary expenditure by its students in going abroad for sight seeing ? by whatever name it
may be called.
Q. Why go all the way to Palakkad to study at SICOMS when the college in my town is offering an MBA?
A. This question can be answered by a counter question ? Why travel all the way to
Agra to see the Taj Mahal when you can see its pictures sitting at home? The difference is in the
quality of experience. The time you spend staying and studying at SICOMS will be the experience of
your lifetime and will also open the door to a great career.
Q. Why should I study at SICOMS?
A. You should study at SICOMS for the following reasons:
- 100% Placement Assured.
- The course structure is unique and you are ready to be eagerly taken up by the industry by the time you complete the course.
- The curriculum is at par with the best B-Schools in the world.
- The SICOMS faculty is one of the best faculty groups available in Kerala today - from IIM, IIT, Allahabad University, etc, with the right blend of academic and industrial experience.
- For its high standard, the SICOMS PGDM course is possibly the best value for time and money one can get today.
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