FAST FACTS
Location: Mumbai
Campus Head: Professor Y K Bhushan
Approval/ Accreditation: Nil
Flagship programme: PGDM
Student intake: 366
Fees (full course): Rs. 850,000
Board & Lodging: No hostel, living expenses come to Rs. 1.5 to 2.5 lakhs
Admissions test: IBSAT (Round 1 selection is for ICFAI Hyderabad as it is a deemed university, rest based on choice in Round 2)
Full-time faculty: 45 (Sr Professors - 2, Professors - 5, Asst. Professors - 23, Sr Lecturers - 15)
Faculty with industry experience (over 10 years): 24
Average placement salary: Rs. 6.09 lakhs
Top recruiters: Aranca, Crisil, HSBC, JP Morgan, Polaris International Conference: Customer Relationship Management
Student activities: KONFLUX (annual festival)
Web site: www.ibsindia.org


IT has all the trappings of a corporate office – a large foyer, security guards and restricted entry. According to students, IBS Mumbai occupies the second spot in the ICFAI pantheon of B-Schools.

Its PGDM programme is industry-recognised, and for those interested in getting an approved degree, a distance learning MBA from ICFAI University, is also on offer, though the institute just facilitates the process. Recognition is a concern for some students, though most agree it is the placements that count.

What stands out is the famed ICFAI credibility for developing standard course materials. The curriculum is well-designed and deliverables are clearly defined. Though not automated, the delivery process, student’s claim, is quite structured and valuable.

Location does play a critical role for IBS since it gets a very good set of visiting faculty to teach its courses. “MBA finally is about training the kids on usable concepts and developing skillsets with in them,” says Professor YK Bhushan, Director, IBS, Mumbai. What they actually need is practical exposure and that is what IBS, Mumbai attempts to provide. But perceptive students do suggest that, academic rigour could do with some improvement.

The ‘urge to publish’ gene, a staple of most ICFAI schools is also visible at IBS, Mumbai. The Centre for Advanced Banking & Finance Studies publishes Finsights, a sectoral magazine. No wonder more than 60 percent of students choose a finance specialisation. According to a student, the college is known for offering cutting-edge courses such as Global Financial Management, and its students are respected very well in the market.
Alumni play a crucial role in the academic and placement scene. The location, coupled with being a part of a large network of alumni produced by sixteen member schools gives IBS an unique advantage.

Some features, which stand out are clubs and associations. IBS is one of the few schools with an entire hall earmarked to a range of them. The events calendar also shows a certain vibrancy. How far these affect the academic performance is a question which is met with knowing smiles. Since it recently moved to a new campus, some of the facilities such as the gym and student activity centre are still unfinished.

As of now the administration (a large contingent of people) takes care of placements. However, students are concerned that they may be driven by numbers rather than quality. Students do hope to take more responsibility in this area.

Beefing up the MDP and consulting practice are two focus areas. “We have the space but the pieces are yet to fall in place,” says Professor Bhushan. Besides this, strengthening the faculty team is also an immediate challenge.