International School Of Business & Media: Setting The Stage For Future Financial Luminaries Through Holistic Education | TheHigherEducationReview

International School Of Business & Media: Setting The Stage For Future Financial Luminaries Through Holistic Education

By Prof. S.B.Subramaniam, Chief Finance Officer & Associate Professor - Finance
Playing a pivotal role in Indian economic development, the finance industry has witnessed remarkable growth, primarily steered by rising disposable income, favorable government policies, and increased digital adoption. But it is also deemed a highly dynamic sector, which constantly necessitates the companies to onboard those who are sufficiently equipped to navigate the VUCA world with a diverse range of skill sets, facilitating both personal and organizational growth.

While this need has led to the influx of finance management education institutions who promise to cater to the demand, International School of Business & Media (ISB&M), a prominent business school, stands apart from the "˜all hat and no cattle' crowd by empowering its students to not just ace the placements but also achieve life-long employability and success.


Prof. Mahesh Renguntwar, Area Chairperson -Finance & Placement, Chairperson


Claimed to be standing among the best 2 percent in the country, ISB&M is consistent in demonstrating a novel approach and commitment to quality, well-rounded higher education and development of its students. The institution is the brainchild of Dr. Pramod Kumar, a reputed academician and thought leader known for his research publications and expertise, particularly in human resource and organizational behavior.

Recognizing the significant potential to guide next-gen students for the future, Dr. Pramod started ISB&M in a small, rented property in Viman Nagar, Pune, with separate wings for management and media specializations-all without any political affiliation. As the numbers grew, ISB&M, adhering to AICTE's mandate, established its first full-fledged campus in Nande, Pune, in 2007, gradually expanding to Kolkata and Bangalore, offering courses and placements in engineering, 2-year PGDM, undergraduate, and management programs.
The organization also recently received approval to reinforce its dedicated media department, which had once lost its impetus.

Future-proofing the Students


"œDr. Pramod's academic and consultancy prowess is a big boost for ISB&M to provide the right leadership and platform for students to make their career", asserts S. B. Subramaniam, senior faculty , ISB&M. Sharing the founder's vision, the finance department at ISB&M has also been proactive in filling flesh to its objective of implementing best practices and standards.

This is reflected in its industry-focused pedagogy, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and other endeavors. "œWe always aim for the holistic development of our most important stakeholders-the students. By enhancing their skills and personalities, we want our students to grow into leadership roles, succeeding in any path they choose", adds Subramaniam.

These efforts are equally driven by the ISB&M's highly-qualified faculty, who encompass research-based and practicing professors backed by technical knowledge and, most importantly, extensive industry experience. Both kinds of educators are hired according to the government norms; however, the practicing professors are required to have a minimum corporate experience of 10-15 years, which further helps them bridge the gap between industry and academia. On the other hand, such an industry connection also equips the faculty to stay current and design the curriculum accordingly to provide skills, domain knowledge, and concepts to prepare the aspiring finance professionals for their career from day one.

At the beginning of each academic year, typically between April and June, the academic council comprising finance faculty collectively studies, analyzes, and discusses all the requirements of the employers and the job description for the role available, which are then integrated into the course. "œWe do not plan for the next 4-5 years. But, our course structure evolves annually to meet changing needs of revolutionary technologies and employers' requirements, making our students highly sought-after in the finance sector", shares Mahesh Rengutwar, Chairperson-Finance, ISB&M.

Recording 100 percent placement rates, the institute registers 120 companies annually, out of which 70-80 percent are regular recruiters from the Big Four and other eminent MNCs. The average CTC for batch 2022-23 was 11.4 lakhs in campus placement with 20 Lakhs highest domestic package. The fact that the efforts and initiatives taken by us in the finance domain is clearly reflected from the good and consistent placement track in finance over the last few years. Also, our students on joining discover that they are generally better equipped with finance insights and technology awareness as compared to their peers.

ISB&M prioritizes fostering experiential and self-directed learning while also guiding the students throughout every stage in acquiring business-must and technological competence. For example, the institute encourages technology adoption from the first trimester of the course through multiple strategies, which is perfectly exemplified by paperless assignments. In addition, the students are coaxed to work on different contemporary case studies, project works, and internships, which enables them to build abilities of situational thinking, peer learning, teamwork, leadership, and deadline management. They also have to present their internship experience, which further propels them to articulate their employability skills effectively.

ISB&M also does not advocate scholarships; instead, it has partnered with leading banks and institutions, like HDFC, to provide the students with unsecured loans and educational assistance, which can be repaid once they start the job. According to Mahesh, this facility helps the students understand the value of money and offers them the joy of financing their own postgraduate education while becoming self-sufficient in the process.

Beyond the Class Hours


ISB&M is also marked by its vibrant campus, buzzing with activities day and night, most of which are led by the students. Through different cells, including finance and lifestyle development clubs, the students organize various co-curricular and extra-curricular events, like workshops and seminars from industry veterans, to expose the students to the real world. ISB&M's strong alumni network, which boasts 10500 successful alumni spread across globally in 36 countries in diverse industries, also adds an advantage in leveraging practical insights for the students. Our finance Alumni are successfully making strides in their careers with their presence across the globe reputed global companies, With such student-driven initiatives, the institute further seeks to strengthen its collaboration with the outside world, disseminating knowledge globally and inducing constructive growth. The organization is currently looking forward to upgrading its finance cell to make it more interactive and present a positive and stronger image to the global finance community.