Post-IT downturn, aspirants flock to MBA

Updated on: Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Given the economic recession and the conspicuous slowdown in the Information Technology sector, many students are opting for MBA in the Integrated Common Entrance Test (ICET-2009) counselling and very few show inclination to join the MCA stream.

As many as 50,000 MBA seats have been made available now, with the sanction of 100 new institutes this year. The liberal attitude of All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) in granting permission to new institutes as well as additional seats to existing colleges has created a demand-supply mismatch leading to saturation in the field. Nearly, 1,257 institutions are waiting for candidates in the first phase, while 150 more will join the fray.

Over 80 per cent of the two lakh eligible candidates of ICET-2009 are learnt to have opted for a career in MBA, which is increasingly being viewed as a ‘career guarantee’ course, compared to other PG courses. The admission pattern and the status were clear to both the colleges and the candidates earlier, but the advent of online counselling has added a ‘touch of clamour’ to the situation.

Though the allocation of seats is still hazy, what is clear is the preference shown by the candidates, who are increasingly flocking towards MBA. The candidates’ change of preference of colleges/courses online is likely to cascade on to the second phase of counselling scheduled for the third week of September. The online system has also slowed down the admission phase for the management quota seats.

Technical background (mathematics) is an essential pre-requisite for taking MCA. But now, there is a heavy rush for MBA course, irrespective of the academic background i.e., maths group or otherwise.

However, the candidates finding MCA unproductive ‘now’ cannot take the MBA course for granted For all those flocking towards MBA, the simple mantra is: ‘Passion and professional spirit in a management career can tilt the scales in your favour

Post-IT downturn, aspirants flock to MBA

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