What are PGDM courses?

By Dr. Jitendra Kumar Mishra

The Post-Graduate Diploma (PGDM) is an AICTE approved professional course in management pursued after graduation. A two-year full-time PGDM program is equivalent to MBA (as per the equivalence accorded by AIU). It is offered by specialised institutions (also known as standalone institutions). PGDM Programme is highly sought after by the students given its impressive placement records and demonstrated success of the alumni.

The success of the PGDM students is due to the flexibility accorded to the standalone institutions by AICTE to design the program offerings in tune with the industry requirements and engage with the industry for delivering the programme.

Reasons to pursue PGDM

Industry Centric Courses
PGDM course is industry-focused and accordingly the course is designed to cater to industry needs. Also, the program emphasizes developing necessary skills and attitudes in the students to make them industry-ready.

Array of specialisations
The popular specialisations include PGDM in Finance, PGDM in Marketing, PGDM in Human Resource Management, PGDM in International Business, PGDM in Operations Management, PGDM in Business Analytics, etc.

Better Placement Offers
PGDM students get practical exposure in the form of organizational study, internships, on-the-job training, etc. Most of the PGDM colleges in India have collaborations with leading business organizations that often conduct recruitment drives within the institutions.

Better Skill Sets
PGDM focuses not only on classroom training but also aims to increase the overall efficiency and skills that help students resolve common issues that are encountered in the corporate world.

Exposure
PGDM courses also provide students with the necessary industry exposure. Internships, guest lectures, and industry visits are common in a PGDM course. This allows students to gain a more practical approach towards their studies than getting overloaded with theoretical knowledge. PGDM courses help students to make smooth entries into the corporate world as management professionals.

Types of Specialisations
PGDM offers different specialisations that students can choose from. Specialisation is normally chosen in the final year, with the first year being dedicated to learning and having a stronghold on the basics.

PGDM in Marketing
The course focuses on marketing, advertising, and the sale of products or services of an organization. This particular course is most suited for those students who are outgoing and a mbitious.

PGDM in Finance
This course is most suited for students who love Math. Students who are good with numbers can consider pursuing this course. It also offers high-paying jobs in reputed companies.

PGDM in Human Resources
Human Resources is all about managing resources in an organisation. HR is an essential part of most organizations and its development widely. This course has a lot of scopes and is very rarely affected by the current market condition.

PGDM in Operations
This course specialises in understanding the key operations of a company. Planning, strategising, and executing are some of the main tasks that are involved in operations.

PGDM in Research and Business Analytics
Research and business analytics deals with quantitative analysis of businesses. This specialisation is a blend of business, science, research, statistics, and technology.

PGDM in Enterprise Management
Enterprise management deals with the daily management of an organisation through the use of ERP, which is specialised business management software that is comprehensive in its delivery.

PGDM in International Business
PGDM in International Business helps students learn about the operations of a business on a global level. From adhering to international laws and practices to managing multinational companies, this specialisation teaches them everything they need to know about conducting business on an international level.

PGDM in Supply Chain & Logistics
These specialisations are a part of business management. Supply chain management is the art of managing all aspects of the supply chain, typically in manufacturing-related businesses, while logistics concerns the complex logistics of the organisation.

(The author is Director, MATS Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, JAIN Group.)