There are MBAs currently on offer in the local market, through both private as well as state institutions.
This article will mainly focus on what is offered by the private institutes.

MARKET DEMAND:
Low cost to obtain qualification
Reduced work
Reduced time period for completion
Non-requirement of a research
based dissertation
Most of the local private institutes, especially the ones that have commenced in the very recent period have gone ahead to offer the above to the market.

DEMANDS FROM AN MBA GRADUATE:
Ability to think strategically
Find solutions to managerial/organizational problems in a scientific manner
A comprehensive understanding of the Management disciplines
Ability to take the organization to its next growth stage
The above are just a few demands, which any organization would have from a person who has obtained an MBA.

The question now dawns upon us, whether these institutions offering ‘market driven’ MBAs can really produce graduates who can meet the above demands or merely mass produce a group of people with a certificate indicating 3 letters M-B-A?
POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN SELECTING A GOOD MBA:

ASSOCIATION WITH THE PARENT UNIVERSITY –
The institute should have a direct association with the parent University that is awarding the qualifications. With such associations, the quality assurance processes of the University, assessments and direct purview of the parent University comes into effect.

SCOPE OF THE MBA –
A good MBA should cover the breath and depth of the management disciplines. Also students are expected to follow a properly structured, research based dissertation.
Making students cover just 7 modules and a mere project report with 15,000 words does not serve this purpose in producing the kind of people required as mentioned above.

QUALITY ASSUARENCES –
Institutions that are directly associated with the parent University come under their direct purview when it comes to its quality assurance procedures and academic policies. Such institutes cannot even publish an advertisement without the prior approval of the parent University. All faculty members, processes, facilities and student enrolments are done under the strict scrutiny of the representatives of the parent University.

FINAL CERTIFICATE –
Ensure that the final certificate is issued by the parent University and is the identical one that you would receive even if you study in the principal country. MBAs that do not have this direct association issues certificates through its franchise partners, hence the franchise partner’s name (i.e.: UWIC) is indicated in the certificate.

PAYMENTS AND COSTS –
As much as possible ensure that the fee plans given does not have any hidden costs and that students are not subjected to revisions frequently. Some of these institutions offer very low fee plans to lure students for the 1st time into their programme, but latterly revise the fees which the students are expected to pay. Hence this low fee charges become a myth.

REPUTATION AND CREDIBILITY OF THE INSTITUTE –
Ensure that the programme you register for is a tried and tested one, which has been continued over a period. There are institutions in the market that has failed to even hold on to collaborations with lesser reputed Universities. Hence as a student it is a huge risk if the offering University decides to part ways with the local institution due to misconduct, in the middle of the programme.
A concerned writer