Know all about SCMS Cochin School of Business: An Interview with Dr. Radha Thevannoor

In this exclusive interview with Careers360, Dr. Radha Thevannoor, Director, SCMS Cochin School of Business, shares details about SCMS admission process, collaborations, placements and more. To know more about SCMS Cochin School of Business go through the interview.

About: SCMS Cochin School of Business, Cochin was established in 1992 and approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). SCMS Cochin School of Business courses are offered at postgraduate and doctoral programmes. SCMS Cochin School of Business courses are PGDM and FPM programmes. For SCMS Cochin School of Business PGDM admission, qualified students will be invited to attend a group discussion and personal interview. However, the final selection will be based on academic scores and performance in group discussion and personal interview. Merit is the only criterion for securing admission to the SCMS Cochin School of Business FPM programme.

Q. Tell us something about SCMS Cochin School of Business; when it was set up, vision and mission.

A: SCMS or School of Communication and Management Studies was founded in 1976 by edupreneur and visionary Dr. G.P.C Nayar. SCMS Cochin School of Business was set up with the vision to train and groom students to become effective managers and leaders. Its vision is to be a leader in providing value-based education in harmony with the changing global order and its mission is to develop globally competent and socially responsible business leaders through an innovative education system. The training at SCMS is rigorous and is designed to help students make the transition from being a student to becoming a successful professional in the field of management and face career challenges confidently.

Q. Tell us something about the SCMS Cochin School of Business admission process.

A: Aspiring candidates are required to submit an online application on the SCMS website using the link admissions.scms.edu.in. Online applications are scrutinised and eligible candidates are invited to attend a group discussion and personal interview at the SCMS campus. For SCMS Cochin School of Business admission, candidates are selected based on various parameters such as the score on the entrance test, performance in the qualifying exam, performance in GD & PI, achievements in sports and extra-curricular activities, work experience, etc. Merit-based scholarships are offered to meritorious students. However, meritorious students with over 2 years of relevant work experience in a reputed company are eligible to apply for a scholarship worth 40% of the tuition fee.

Q. What kind of infrastructure can students expect at SCMS Cochin School of Business? Please elaborate.

A: SCMS provides its students with some of the best facilities including air-conditioned classrooms, seminar halls, library and gymnasium. The expansive library is spread over 6,732 sq. ft. and has a collection of over 40,000 books, journals and online information resources. The wi-fi enabled campus provides high-speed internet connectivity for students. SCMS Cochin School of Business facilities include classrooms that are equipped with high-end presentation equipment and gadgets. The ladies and gents’ hostels can accommodate over 300 students each. The SCMS cafeteria is known for its hygienic and delicious food. Sports and games facilities, both indoor and outdoor are provided and Intra and inter-institutional matches and annual sports meets are held.

Q. There is a lot of stress that is being made with regard to interaction with the industry as well as companies that recruit. What are the steps being taken by the institute in this direction?

A: At SCMS Cochin School of Business, Institute Industry Interface (III) sessions are conducted periodically by inviting practising managers in various fields. Distinguished guests from the industry and the government visit the SCMS campus regularly and share their wisdom and expertise with students. The interface includes a lively Q&A session where the practitioners talk about the challenges they faced and solutions they arrived at. These interactive sessions provide practical insights into problem-solving and decision-making strategies. In addition, case study discussions are held, which give students a real picture of the business operations they will soon embark upon.

Q. Internships are now mandatory as per AICTE guidelines. Does SCMS Cochin School of Business help students with this? If yes how?

A: SCMS Cochin offers two internship opportunities to PGDM students. The Social Immersion Programme is aimed at sensitising students to real-life problems. The programme introduces students to the concepts of community engagement, empathy development, conflict resolution and cross-cultural collaboration. In addition, the PGDM curriculum includes an Internship cum Project of 2 months’ duration, under the guidance of faculty members or industry mentors. It involves real-world applications of business concepts and theories learnt in the classroom and is designed to enhance students’ understanding of business practices and develop their analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Q. Can you please share details if there is any collaboration with universities abroad?

A: SCMS Group of Educational Institutions has signed MoUs and established academic tie-ups with top foreign universities for knowledge sharing, research collaborations, teaching, curriculum development, faculty exchange and student exchange since the year 2000. SCMS now has tie-ups with 28 universities across the world, the most recent one being an MoU with Northern Kentucky University, USA, which will enable students from SCMS Cochin School of Business to enroll directly into the 2nd year of Master of Business Administration programme in Haile College of Business, NKU. NKU is an expanding metropolitan university and is a premier institution in the region which offers an excellent education at an affordable price.

Q. Please share SCMS Cochin School of Business placement statistics with information on the average package, highest and lowest package, number of students placed and details of companies that have recruited.

A: All eligible candidates passing out of the PGDM programme get placed during SCMS Cochin School of Business placement. Students are groomed for placements through the active placement cell at SCMS. A team of committed faculty provide the training, grooming and mentoring before placement tests, group discussions and interviews are conducted. Over 60 leading corporate houses visit the campus every year for student recruitment. For the year 2022-23, the SCMS average salary package was Rs. 7.8 LPA with the highest being Rs. 13.6 LPA and lowest being Rs. 4.5 LPA. Some of the leading companies recruiting PGDM students from SCMS are Accenture, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Federal Bank, Goldman Sachs, ICICI Bank, PWH, Flipkart etc.

Disclaimer: This content was distributed by SCMS Cochin School of Business, Cochin and has been published as part of Careers360’s marketing initiative.