Some years into your job, and you feel the tentacles of the boredom gnawing at you. Or you end up feeling frustrated at the kind of job that you are doing. You want change. Yes we all want change – to grow, to rise, to prosper and to get satisfaction.
Modern day demands have provided us with various study/ career options. Of them, Management is one of the most sought after courses in India today. While most students opt for regular MBA courses, working professionals with some years of experience can opt for the Executive MBA or the EMBA course in India.
So, what is EMBA?
An EMBA is essentially an abridged and customized MBA programme, where the average student profile is slightly different. EMBA programmes are primarily designed for experienced executives who prefer not to take a career break to study a full-time MBA and typically require significant business experience to gain admission to higher profiles or businesses. Unlike their counterparts on full-time MBA programmes, EMBA students are able to implement and practice what they learn in the classroom in their job as they learn and there are greater opportunities to learn from classmates.
Though both Executive MBA and EMBA are popular, trend shows that students prefer to pursue a regular MBA course, whereas the EMBA programme is best suited for working professionals or for those interested in entrpreneurship (after some years of work experience).
According to Wikipedia, “Executive Education is the term used for programmes at graduate-level business schools that aim to give classes for Chief Executives and other top managers or entrepreneurs. Executive education developed in the 1980s and 1990s, as the increasing pace and scope of global business demanded higher levels of education among employees. As longstanding business concepts became obsolete, continual training was necessary but earning a degree was not.”
Why Study Executive MBA/ EMBA?
As per estimates of New York based BusinessWeek magazine, Executive Education in the United States is approximately a $800 million per year business, roughly 80% of which is provided by universities (mostly business schools).
In India too, takers of Executive MBA has gone up compared to regular MBA. This is primarily because Indian executives want more salary or get jobs in the best company. The global recession has changed the job market immensely and hence, EMBA courses have become popular with mid-career professionals who want to keep their career going as well as keep up with their family’s lifestyle. Another reason why EMBA is the hot choice amongst professionals and students is because the cost of pursuing a regular full time 2 years MBA course in India has gone up alarmingly and considering the job scenario at present, the ‘return on investment’ is not proportional to the amount spent.
Besides this, an EMBA or a one year Executive MBA course is as good as a regular MBA course, if not better. Executive MBA course is role specific and concentrates on developing a specific range of management expertise resulting in quick upgrade in designation as well as salary.
So EMBA is most beneficial for mid-career professionals. Rising business managers or people who lack workplace expertise, should probably opt for a full time MBA to understand and hone their management skills.
Pattern of Executive MBA:
1) Full-time Programme (usually 1-year) accelerated courses like IIM-A’s PGPX, IIM-L’s IMPX and other top B-schools.
2) E-Learning programmes offered by institutes like U21 Global, NIIT Imperia, and others.
3) Part-time three-year EMBA offered by B-Schools & Distance programmes offered by reputed B-schools.
4) Short-term MDPs & AMPs offered by B-schools aimed at developing specific skills.
Cities Offering EMBA in India:
- New Delhi
- Mumbai
- Chennai
- Hyderabad
- Pune
- Bangalore
- Kolkata
- Chandigarh
- Delhi (NCR) - Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad etc
In India, the number of executive MBA or EMBA programs is on the rise with several B-Schools and universities joining the list of EMBA education providers.
Scope of Executive MBA in India:
Executive MBA in India is in demand as it saves time and is cost effective. Students and professionals prefer to study Executive MBA Programmes given that the benefits of EMBA programme matches up to the regular MBA courses in India or even more. Executive MBA India is rapidly gaining credibility and the number of EMBA programmes around the world is also growing.
Some of the prominent colleges in the field of Executive MBA in India include:
- Indian Institute of Management,IIM-Calcutta: offers Post Graduate Programme for Executives (PGPEX)
- Indian Institute of Management, IIM-Ahmedabad : offers Post Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPX)
- Indian Institute of Management,IIM-Lucknow: International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX)
- Indian School of Business,ISB Hyderabad
- Symbiosis Institute of Business Management in Pune
- SP Jain Institute of Management in Mumbai
-
Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University
Courses Offered under EMBA
- General Management
- Operations Management
- Hospitality Management
- Finance
- Pharmacy
- Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- International Business
- Marketing
An Executive MBA in India is broader in scope when it comes to the specialized subjects it offers.
Who can pursue EMBA?
Mid-career professionals can opt for EMBA programmes. Most EMBA students enter a programme with five or more years of professional and/or managerial experience. An undergraduate degree is generally required, a degree in business is not mandatory. Evaluation of students for admission to EMBA programme is a very systematic process. While test scores, grade point averages and other objective criteria are all considered, a prospective student’s background, work experience, career goals, desire to succeed and numerous other factors are considered in making an admission decision.
Trend:
A study says that part-time and Executive MBA recieve more applications every year as most professionals can resume their jobs along with this programme or take a year off to pursue this course. Since 2010, 59% E-MBA applicants have experienced an increase in the application volume. In 2012 more than half (58%) of E-MBA programs reported steady (16%) or increased volume (42%) of applications. Working professionals who have done Executive MBA are held at par or given greater value (depending on work experience) with their graduates who have done MBA immediately after graduation. So if you have a decent work experience and want to fulfill your dream and enhancing your career then executive MBA is the most suitable option for you.
Conclusion:
With the state the economy is in right now, more and more professionals want to stick to their jobs and the probability of them quitting their settled jobs (for a 2 year MBA course) seems bleak. Executive MBA here seems like a good option for them. Fresh graduates are more interested in specialised programmes like Master of Finance, Master in Management etc.
Mayalène Crossley, Business Development Director at ENPC, Paris says: “whereas many Executive MBA graduates were interested in the increased earning potential of an MBA degree, now they are increasingly motivated by a desire to evolve both personally and professionally, and often to change professions slightly or even significantly. The EMBA does help many graduates break through glass ceilings but it also helps many graduates to capitalize on their professional and life experiences and open the door to new opportunities in their local markets or internationally.”
Besides upgrading leadership skills, EMBA helps bring the execution skills to the table, especially considering the complex global marketplace.
In all, whatever the market dynamics, EMBA is here to stay. The EMBA industry will experience a major shift in the near future due to the dramatic changes in the corporate financial sponsorship. It will be interesting to see what revolution the EMBA courses usher in.
Author: Raunika Sood