An array of experiences lie ahead of third-generation IIM graduates

IITs and IIMs are considered as the pioneer of education and a mark of excellence in India. Being a part of such institutions adds a feather to their cap and is an aspiration for many students. IIM Bodh Gaya, one of the six IIMs established in 2015, is giving wings to these aspirations. Exploring below the surface, how it feels to be a part of a third-generation IIM – is a question to ponder upon.

I recently attended a panel discussion with a few of the bright stars of the previous batches. It brought me to document my feelings on being a part of a third-generation IIM. Through my lens, I am enjoying this journey. A budding campus allows you to witness the development from a very nascent stage. You become a part of that growth. With every single milestone achieved, you grow a little more every time. The process of learning things from the scratch makes you a more reliable person and enables you to achieve greater heights. The institute not only gives you a degree but makes you a different person altogether in those two years – a better version of yourself.

Being under the umbrella of an IIM teaches you how to do work efficiently and effectively. The institute gives you abundant opportunities to see and learn things. The various clubs and committees help you translate theoretical knowledge into practice. One also gets wonderful chances to learn from the pedagogy of the industry’s brilliant minds. The depth of the curriculum gives a clear perspective of all things around you. Relating with the words, you read to the outside world you see, is the USP of MBA.

Despite all, I must throw light on the flip side of the coin as well. BLACKIS, as the aspirants call it, have decades of legacy, and comparing them to second and third-generation IIMs might not be fair. The second and third generation IIMs are still evolving and should be compared with the others after at least a decade more. 

Nevertheless, life as we know is absolute and not relative. Coming from a third-generation IIM myself, I can attest that the MBA is giving me so many opportunities to gain various skills. Here, education is not just focused on classroom learning; there are case studies, competitions, internships, courses for anything, and everything. In the end, companies will prefer candidates who are willing to get their hands dirty.

Irrespective of which generation of IIM you belong, if anything works the best is your efforts at the end of the day. The deadly combination of technical and managerial skills, along with soft skills is the perfect kit for a successful corporate life. In this pandemic-hit world, you need these skills more than ever. Going through this “new normal", where everything including the market, economy, living style, etc is evolving, there is a demand for new skills for any job.