Unfortunate as it may sound, like many other sectors of the economy worldwide, Coronavirus COVID-19 is disrupting the Higher Education sector too. Almost all top global B-schools have moved their classes completely online. Convocations, Classes, International Exchanges and Program commencements have all been postponed across the world, including India. GMAC – the GMAT exam conducting body, has suspended the conduct of GMAT exam globally. According to GMAC, “As a part of the global effort to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus), GMAT and Executive Assessment testing has been suspended worldwide.” Many academic engagements like Exchange Program that are aimed at Experiential Learning have been put on hold. Understandably, Admission Deadlines have been pushed and Admission Processes are being modified. Amongst all this, MBA Aspirants are justifiably asking if MBA experience of Class of 2020 is likely to be less rich with more online Classes, fewer Experiential Learning and Exchange Opportunities, and perhaps weaker Placements.
In India, the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on MBA/PGDM education can be briefly summarized as below:
No Summer Internship in Other Organization: AICTE Directs Institutes
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has directed all its affiliated institutes to instruct students not to go for summer internships in other organizations as India is under lock-down. This means that students who were scheduled to undertake their summer internships in 2020 in companies to engage in real-time projects will not be able to do so because of the countrywide lock-down on account of Covid-19 global outbreak. Instead, it has also asked the institutes to provide their students internships in which they can work from home.
Tweeting about the directive, AICTE said, “AICTE directs all its approved institutes to instruct students NOT to take up any Summer Internships outside organizations. Instead colleges/institutes should give challenging problems as internship which can be done from home.” Adding further AICTE said, “However, ongoing internships, where companies are allowing students to work from home, shall continue.”
Students always look forward to the summer internships in good companies and work hard to get the best opportunity. Many students have said that the internships are very important for their career and have requested AICTE not to cancel internships, instead delay it till the situation improves.
AICTE has further clarified that it will issue further orders once the situation improves regarding the compliance of its mandatory internship policy.
Top B-schools in India postpone Convocations and Events
In view of the prevailing conditions, almost all top B-schools in India including IIMs have postponed all their convocations and events to offset any unwanted health situations.
Classroom Sessions Suspended in Many B-schools
In the wake of COVID-19, most B-schools are moving to online classes and interactive learning sessions instead of classroom sessions. The process is expected to continue for a few weeks till the normalcy is restored.
Impact of Coronavirus on MBA/PGDM Admissions in India
The final selection process for MBA/PGDM admission 2020 in most of the MBA/PGDM colleges is in the final stage. And, due to the COVID-19 threat, these B-schools are poised to complete the interview and other process online. However, since the MBA/PGDM 2020-22 batch in India commences in June/July 2020, the B-schools are banking upon the possibility of coronavirus under full control and the problem to get over.