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B-school-review: Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

Earlier this month Careers360 issued the top 50 B-school rankings in the country. The magazine also reviewed some of the better known institutes, providing vital information students should be aware of when choosing their B-school.

Here we feature Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi and its courses.

I was looking to specialise in international business, and IIFT was the best," says one student as others nod in agreement. Some more students, both fresh graduates and the industry-experienced, share their reasons for choosing
IIFT. A good placement record and opportunity to work on government-backed research projects are a few other reasons voiced by students IIFT, set up under the Ministry of Commerce, takes up research studies with WTO, The World Bank, UNCTAD and also with the parent ministry.

In its 46 years of existence, IIFT has steadily forayed into certificate programmes in areas of financial marketing,  industrial marketing and other areas with an international focus. But the foreign trade focus still is very strong.

In addition to a centre for WTO studies, two other research centres, the Centre for International Trade in Technology (CIIT) and Centre for Small Medium Enterprises focus on trade and technology-related issues. Associate Professor Dr. Sheeba Kapil informs us that the "IIFT has the one of the best resource base to conduct WTO-related studies." The IIFT library has a separate section for WTO-related studies. The library is open to the outside research scholars too who can gain membership with an annual fee of Rs 5,500 and obtain two cards.

Other reviews:

• LN Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai
• PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore
• Institute of Management, Nirma University, Ahmedabad
• Delhi School of Professional Studies and Research, New Delhi
• Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
• Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune
• Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad
• Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore
• Amity Business School, Noida
• Acharya Institute of Management and Sciences, Bangalore

Campus and placements

Last year due to the economic downturn, 30 per cent of the students chose to join PSUs such as BHEL, GAIL and MMTS instead of corporates," says Munish Bhargava, Corporate and Placement Advisor. This year, all students have been placed with an average salary cut-off of Rs 7.55 lakhs per annum, Bhargava informs us.

IIFT has a very compact campus in the bustling Qutab Institutional Area. Situated in the heart of South Delhi, life is a ball here, say the students. The only drawback, of course, is the rigourous work load. The institute has also set up a campus in Kolkata, though the facilities in Delhi far outstrip the eastern campus.