Novelist, Surgeon, Aerospace Engineers Join IIM A’s MBA Class of 2015-16

Eighty five students have joined the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad’s (IIM A) MBA, the one-year post-graduate programme in management for executives (PGPX) Class of 2015-16.

Out of the 85 students, 16 are female candidates, a significant increase from 13 last year, and 3 are international students.

The batch this year is a mix of candidates from various industries such as aerospace, defense, education, energy/power, financial services, government, engineering, healthcare, infrastructure, IT and IT services, management consultancy, retail, shipping, telecom who have worked previously with organisations such as Microsoft, Intel, Airbus among others.

PGPX has also attracted entrepreneurs, a novelist (author of I was There), a surgeon and a marathon runner this year. 

The batch has an impressive profile with average GMAT score of 705, average total work experience of around 10 years and average international work experience of more than 2 years.

While the average age of candidates is around 34 years, 8 candidates are below 30 years of age while 4 candidates are above 40 years of age.

In terms of academic background, 6% have obtained their degrees from outside their home country while 31% have a higher qualification other than bachelor degree.

However in what remains an Achilles heel for nearly all B-Schools in India, nearly 70% of the Class at IIM A’s PGPX consists of engineers. One of the cornerstones of an MBA programme globally is peer learning and academic diversity helps ensure that students pick up lessons from people from different walks of life.

15% of the batch consists of graduates of IITs and NITs this year. 

A packed schedule lies ahead of the batch. Besides classes, students also spend time participating in various activities such as seminars, interactions with start-ups, sports, managing of student-driven clubs as well as a two-week international study programme at prestigious B-Schools as a part of which the whole class shifts abroad lock, stock and barrel.

Detailed breakup of profile of PGPX Class of 2015-16

• International exposure
  • 03 (3.53%) are international students.
  • 14 (16.47%) are residing outside India, spread across ten countries.
  • 43 (50.58%) have international exposure in terms of work and studies.

• Academic background
  • 6 (7.05%) have obtained their degree(s) from outside their home country.
  • 31 (36.47%) have a higher qualification (Professional, Masters) than bachelors.
  • 70 (82.35%) are engineers.
  • 15 (17.64%) have graduated from IIT/NITs.

• The industry mix includes, Defense, Education, Energy/Power, Financial Services, Government Engineering, Healthcare,  Infrastructure, IT and IT Services, Management Consultancy, Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Process, Retail,  Shipping, Telecom and Others.

• 16  (18.82%)  are women students

• 68 (80.00%) are married;  and 49 (57.64%)  have children