A Q&A Interaction Session with Professor DEBASHIS CHATTERJEE Director, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK)

Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode pioneered the Executive Management Programmes for working professionals through the Interactive learning platform and now MBA for working professionals.
What is it that makes the program truly outstanding?
Response: IIM Kozhikode pioneered the Interactive - Learning (I-L) Program for working executives in India. The interactive learning program started with 300 class contact hours in 2001-02, the two-year-long Executive Management Education Programme is today the most rigorous available in the country having around 740 class contact hours.Hence, we decide to start with our MBA program.
With superior technology infrastructure of TSW, the executive education wing of Times Professional Learning the learning experience is truly wholesome and adds immensely to one’s self-worth. The world-class faculties of IIM Kozhikode impart knowledge from an objective to truly relate to the industry & connect with the participants in terms of the industry experience. This encourages the participants to have deep sighted discussions during the interactive sessions and the in-campus modules which benefits the peer group learning. Alumni meets are another great opportunity for networking and this is what makes the MBA (earlier EPGP program) of IIM Kozhikode as truly outstanding.
With so many institutes offering MBA and people rushing to pursue it, isn’t an MBA becoming overdone and losing its purpose?
Response: No matter what, anything overdone will lose its purpose, but having said that, learning is a continuous process and never overdone. Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode endeavours that the participants get the best learning experience & would help in fulfilling their aspirations. With the changing business scenarios, management professionals and organizations need to unlearn and relearn the practices to survive and grow.
Who do you think is an ideal candidate to pursue an Executive MBA?
Response: Any working executive who would want to sharpen their skills for improved efficiency, stimulate lateral thought processes and would want to apply the latest techniques studied through various case-based learning approach adapted in the executive programme’s pedagogy should pursue an Executive MBA programme. The objective would be to strive & take his organization & self to the next level.
IIM Kozhikode in association with TSW has launched the 12th batch of MBA (earlier known as Executive Post Graduate Programmes) for working executives. The MBA programme launched by IIM Kozhikode in association with TSW can be attended from the classroom centres spread over 35 cities across India.

Who are mid-career executives? What is an executive programme and why are the mid-career executives opting for it?
Response: Management is a science as well as art. It requires a multi-disciplinary approach to achieving various organizational goals. Mid-career executives are professionals looking at enriching their knowledge to grow within or outside their organizations. An MBA in management is the best option for one to do so. With over a decade and a half experience in the conduct of Interactive Learning programmes, there has been a steady increase in the number of mid-career executives opting for an Executive programme.
The rising aspirations of our youth who seek better jobs and higher incomes and the requirements from the industry for knowledgeable & efficient workforce coupled with the changing demographic profile of the country has increased the demand for executive MBA amongst working professionals. The trend work life following education cycle has changed to the simultaneous process of learning while doing. Increased monetary and personal commitments are also a major reason for the preference shift from a full-time MBA to an Executive MBA amongst working professionals.
IIM Kozhikode association with TSW is an endeavour to cater to the rising demand in executive MBA among working professionals.
What is the current scenario of the executive program in India and abroad? Does it add weightage to the portfolio of those who pursue it?
Response: Easing trade barriers and growth in the emerging markets has fueled the demand for executive education and EMBAs. European and U.S schools are seeing a huge increase in demand for executive education. However, expatriation cost is much higher than managing the people locally wherever there is no skill shortage. India needs to gear up for not only increasing the skill supply but also up-skilling the existing working population in the changing market environment.
There seems to be a preference shift from a full-time MBA to an Executive MBA amongst working professionals, your take on this?
Response: One of the USPs of the MBA programme of IIM Kozhikode is it offers the best in terms of learning while you earn. Our programmes are best suited for these professionals who would want to continue with their work and pursue their aspirations of management education from a prestigious institute. Moreover, participants who come from the industry also contribute a lot to the learning process and the peer group learning that happens during the executive programmes is a great contributor to the overall value addition that happens.