The growing need for managers with exposure in niche areas seems to be pushing an increasingly large number of working professionals to take up management programmes in data analytics, risk management and healthcare management, among others.

While B-schools already offering such programmes have seen an increase in batch size, those that currently do not run such programmes are mulling options of bringing them in.

According to Uttam Kumar Sarkar, Dean (New Initiatives & External Relations), IIM-Calcutta, there is a lack in availability of skilled talent pool in such specialised areas. IIM-C offers a PG Diploma in Business Analytics (PGDBA) jointly with ISI-Kolkata and IIT-Kharagpur.

“We had been surveying this area for over three years. We realised there is a shortage of skilled manpower so we created this avenue to bridge the gap,” Sarkar told BusinessLine . IIM-C also runs a one-year full time PG certificate programme in healthcare management.

Various options

Such specialised MBA programmes are either being offered as regular two-year PG programmes (PGPs) or as executive courses of shorter duration. Some B-schools are also offering these as short-term certificate courses spanning one-to-three months.

IIM-Lucknow offers two-year, full-time residential PGPs in agribusiness management and sustainable management at its Noida campus.

IIM-Shillong runs a 14-month executive management programme on Managing Business in India and China (PGPEx-MBIC) in collaboration with the Ocean University of China.

“As part of this course we get an opportunity to spend four months in China, attending lectures at Ocean University as well as interning with firms, which helps us understand the technicalities of international business management apart from developing our network,” said Kannan Manoharan, a student of PGPex-MBIC. The founder of Chennai-based start up Apricot Logistics Solution, Manoharan enrolled into the fifth batch of the PGPex-MBIC programme to give his entrepreneurial venture the much needed push. He is currently interning with the Confederation of Indian Industry in Shanghai.

“It exposes me and my business to MNCs and businesses who could turn out to be my potential clients,” he pointed out.

IIM-Rohtak has 50-hour certificate programmes on project management and data analytics spread over three-to-four months.

Attractive package

IIM-C’s first batch (2015-2017) of PGDBA, comprising 51 students, received a total of 52 offers, of which 49 were domestic and three were for international roles. The average annual domestic compensation was ₹17.14 lakh. The batch received the highest package of ₹33.67 lakh.

According to Rohit Dwivedi, Chairman of PGPEx, IIM-Shillong’s programme has witnessed a steady rise in demand thanks to the good placement record. “Initially there was lack of understanding among students and recruiters alike but now things have changed,” he said.

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