In our anniversary issue we have decided to present the changelings that have disrupted the arena of management education. The traditional management education that we know of and hiring entities so ardently adore had once become the go-to pop culture for every graduate who wanted to make something out of his career. This pop culture of getting an MBA degree had become so prevalent that there were MBA graduates selling peanuts, driving auto rickshaws and also serving our food. What people failed to realize that getting a degree is not the end goal but setting out on the path is - a degree is quite simply the ticket to enter Middle Earth.

For this simple reason among many others, the Indian market was clogged with MBA graduates who were clueless of their skills and as a result also unemployed. However, the times have changed and with it, so have the trends. Today's greatest asset for a working professional is Time. Understanding this constant, the changelings, Executive MBA and Distance MBA programs have become largely popular. They offer the MBA degree with lesser investment and demands lesser time from the individual. Executive MBA (EMBA) and Distance MBA programs were developed to meet the

educational needs of managers and executives, allowing students to earn an MBA or another business-related graduate degree in two years or less while working full-time.

These changelings have presented major challenges for the mainstream MBA institutes as the students who graduate out of these institutes already have prior work experience that is enhanced with the program that they have gone through, a result of which - their average placement packages are generally much higher. These are full-fledged managers, with field experience, up for grabs for the industry.

Institutions such as Indian School of Business (ISB) which is featured on our cover stands out with its uniquely tuned pedagogy for working professionals that are looking to gain a degree in Business Administration. ISB's flagship program of one year has become one of the most coveted programs in the country. With it's jam-packed curriculum and right mix of international and local faculty, ISB provides the right mix of skills to it's students.

This issue presents to you the EMBA and Distance MBA surveys which were prepared to arm professionals with extensive information that will facilitate their quest to identify the best institute to pursue their higher education from. We hope this proves beneficial for you.