FAST FACTS
Location: Residency Road, Bangalore
Director: Rev. Dr. Aveline R D’Souza SJ
Approval/Accreditation: AICTE approved
Flagship programme: PGDM
Student intake: 120
Fees (full course): Rs. 480,000
Board & lodging (two years): Rs. 80,000
Admission test cut-offs: MAT: 53.6; XAT/CAT: 50 Full-time faculty: 17 (Dean; 2, Professors; 2, Associate Professors; 2, Asst Professors; 4, Lecturers; 6)
Faculty with industry experience (over 10 years): 7
Average placement salary: Rs. 3 lakhs
Top recruiters: Ernst & Young, Essilor, Kotak Bank, Oracle, TCS
Student activities: Pinnacle, Verve
Web site: www.sjcba.edu.in
Other programme: Executive PGDM 15 months
PGCM 12 15 months
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The tiny campus of St. Joseph’s, located in the heart of the city, springs some surprises. It’s neat, tidy, not-so-quiet and is surrounded by palm trees. As Dolphy M. Abraham, the Dean, shows us around, he shares that a larger campus, again in the heart of the city, is in the offing.
The good thing is that SJCBA is a fully networked campus. Classrooms, audio-visual rooms, library, conference centre, faculty cabins are connected through a Local Area Network.
A quick look at SJCBA’s flagship programme, the PGDM. Spread over two years its divided into six trimesters. The first four trimesters comprise core subjects while the fifth and sixth trimesters offer dual specialisation programmes. Students major in one of the following disciplines: Marketing, Finance, Operations, HR, Management Information Systems (MIS). Besides this, two new electives have been recently introduced: e-Marketing and Consumer Emotions.
Last year, the programme fee was increased from Rs. 390,000 to Rs. 480, 000. Although, the institute claims that its PGDM programme is the most economical of all MBA programmes in the country, there are quite a few good management institutions, which charge approximately Rs. 1 lakh, as course fees.
The faculty, just like the small campus, and comprises only 17 members. “But students receive adequate attention from the faculty,” says Rev. Dr. Aveline R D’Souza, Director. However, it’s clear that at the moment, the institute isn’t focused on research and even the Dean acknowledges that the faculty’s low publishing record is worrying.
However, the students didn’t appear concerned. On the contrary, they felt that the institute offered good value for their money and although the size of the faculty was small, it was a good one. But the institute’s Jesuit values – that of serving other human beings and being socially conscious – are also reasons why they opt for the college. For instance, the institute has tied up with a team of Gandhians who initiate an eco-restoration project near the Thalli Reserve Forest in Tamilnadu. Many students who do their undergraduate studies in Bangalore also opt for this B-School. The hostel facilities also merited good feedback from the students.
However, students do feel that the college’s placement record could improve by encouraging more industry interaction. And surprisingly, they seemed quite content to follow the strict dress code spelt out in the student handbook. For instance, once a week the students must dress in their formal best. Although the placements are unimpressive, a good faculty and the institute’s social values continue to be the main attraction for the students.
