Wednesday, January 30, 2008

ISB Breaks into the Big Leagues!

The UK based newspaper "Financial Times" released its annual list of global rankings for Business schools.

European business schools and their US counterparts have fallen victim to a growing number of ever-improving Asian, South American and Australian schools in global rankings as evidenced in the list. This year sees three Chinese schools and one Indian one in the rankings.

The relatively young business school "Indian Business School (ISB)" in Hyderabad was ranked #20. It was set up in 2001 as a private B-school with the blessings of Fortune 500 companies and top Indian organizations. It collaborates with the world's leading business schools like the Kellogg School of Management, the Wharton School and the London Business School. These associate schools actively participate in curriculum design, research, conferences and teaching. According to the school's Deputy Dean Ajit Rangneker, the school is set to increase class size by over 100 students in the next academic year. There is also an anticipation of increased applications from international students. Rangneker estimates around 5% of the students are from abroad.

ISB; the only B-school from India to be ever ranked among the top 20, is not an institution recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the regulatory body for technical education.

Until now the IIMs were considered most likely to be ranked in such international rank orders.

"US news" releases its list of top B schools later in the year. This highly regarded ranking list ignores Asian Business schools. Only schools from Europe and North America are ranked. In the Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive Survey of how recruiters eye International B schools, only schools from Europe, North America and Central America were ranked. (Check the list at "IIMs not eyed by US Recruiters - or are they?")

Monday, January 21, 2008

India's Oscar Entry exits

'Eklavya" India's official entry for Foreign Film Category at the Oscars was edged out in the nomination process when it failed to make it to the final cut. The 105 minute film stood apart from the usual Bollywood fare being devoid of over the top themes or dance sequences in foreign locales. The film is entirely shot in Rajasthan, India. The story is intense and well acted with some great cinematography.

Only three Indian entries that have been nominated in the Best Foreign Film Category since India began sending entries in 1956 (Mehboob Khan's "Mother India", Ashutosh Gowarikar's "Lagaan" and Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay"). A small number considering the enormity of the Bollywood industry.