NTPC School of Business – Interview with Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi, Deputy Director General

NTPC School of Business – Interview with Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi, Deputy Director General: Energy Management is one of the newer management specializations that is being increasingly being preferred by Bschool aspirants. NTPC School of Business is one the specialized schools set up for energy management by the NTPC Education and Research Society (NEARS). Careers360 caught up with Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi, Deputy Director General, NTPC School of Business to know more about the institute’s mission, legacy, courses, admission and placement. Read the article to know more.
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Careers360: Please share your academic journey with us.
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi: I was born in a small village in rural India and studied up to 5th standard in the local school. I was introduced to English alphabets only in class 6th. From a very young age, it was my dream to study at an IIT. In 1983, I attempted the engineering entrance after my board exam but failed as I was unable to comprehend the paper which as set in English. The next year, I cleared the exam and got into IIT Delhi. After completing my B.Tech in 1988, I joined a French company and worked there for a few years, I then enrolled for M.Tech in construction management after clearing GATE. While pursuing it, I took up a job offer at Mumbai. I joined a part-time MBA programme in finance. That sums up my academic journey.

Careers360: Tell us about NTPC School of Business, its mission and legacy.
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi: The story behind the setting up of the NTPC School of Business is an interesting one. It’s a fact that PSUs are mostly populated by engineers who again mostly are from IITs, NITs, and state-level colleges. With a career progression from engineering to management, the job gets difficult for them to manage. Thus, the NTPC School of Business was established. It was set up to train people in the field of management so that they have an easy transition when promoted to a senior post.

NTPC is the first power management institute in the country. The institute teaches the required management skills to sustain and grow as an individual as well as on a country scale.

Watch the full interview of Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi, Deputy Director General, NTPC School of Business

Careers360: Throw some light on the programmes and specializations offered by NTPC School of Business.
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi: NTPC School of Business is specifically focused on the energy management. Our school offers two PGDM programmes–one in General Management and the other in Energy Management. We are looking for students who are interested in building their career in the field of energy. A general management student will be need orientation and training to work in energy or power plants whereas, a student studying energy management will already come with the required skill sets. NTPC School of Business welcomes students with an interest in and understanding of energy resources and management.

Careers360: How is the admission process taken care of? Are there any cutoff criteria that candidates need to match in order to avail admissions?
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi: NTPC School of Business is a sectoral business school and is supported by IIM Ahmedabad. All processes are controlled and designed by IIM Ahmedabad. NTPC School of Business takes admission through CAT, GMAT, XAT, and sometimes through its own entrance exam. We have a committee who decide the yearly cutoff for each of these examinations for admissions. We have a yearly intake of 60 students but we hardly fill all our seats. We are only interested in taking students who have the right mindset to work in the field of energy and resource management.

Careers360: How diverse is the culture at NTPC School of Business?
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi: NTPC School of Business has students coming from all over the country. We have students from Kerala, North East, and North India. Since our institute is situated in North India, majority of students are from North India itself. However, after being accredited, we are looking forward to students from abroad also.

Careers360: Please give details on placementsat NTPC School of Business.
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi: NTPC School of Business has its students working in diverse fields of management. Our recruitment process has witnessed participation by companies such as CERC, GMR, KPMG, OSI, SB Energy, GE Power, HILTI, Trident Group, etc. Our recent placementprocess for the 2021 batch saw three students getting placed in Deloitte at a very good package. Last year, the highest package offered was 29 lakhs. The highest package was 21 lakhs for the energy management programme, and the average package was 11 lakhs.

Careers360: How are the hostel facilities at NTPC School of Business?
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi: We have fully furnished hostels. Each and every hostel room is air conditioned with an attached washroom. We have a total of 89 such rooms; the boys hostel hasan intake capacity of 35 students and girls hostel 10 students.

Careers360: Please give details about internships at NTPC.
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi: The companies coming for final placements are the same one that offer summer placements and internships. The current batch for PGDM EM programmeis the thirdone since inception; we are regularly enhancing the list of companies coming for internships and final placements.

Careers360 - What kind of students NTPC is looking for?
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi - Most of the graduates in management come with the general management skills and not industry-specific management skills. NTPC School of Business is a school of energy business. While general management students may lack he prerequisite skills to work in the energy sector, students from NTPC School of Business can handle management positions well in the energy sector. General management will require orientation and training to work in energy or power plants while energy management students will be inculcated with the required skill sets. People with experience and interest in energy sector are the ideal candidates for NTPC School of Business.

Careers360 - What advice would you like to give to prospective B-school candidates?
Prof. Gireesh Chandra Tripathi - While choosing a B-school, try to look for your dream faculty and department rather than focusing on placements and marketing of a B-school. Students should choose a B-school that delivers the exact skillsets that they are looking for. B-schools that have more rigorous curriculum are the strongest. So, students should choose schools that have a rigorous academic curriculum. Before deciding the school, students should figure out their streams and sector they want to work for. This method will automatically narrow down the list to some of the finest business schools in the country as per their interest levels. This method will help students develop skills in the core management field of their interest.