B-school review: Mudra Institute of Communications

Earlier this month Careers360 issued the top 50 B-school rankings in the country. The magazine also reviewed 25 top institutes in India, along with vital information students should be aware of when choosing their B-school.

Today we feature Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad and its courses.

Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad as an entity wishes to distinguish itself firmly as a communications management school, differentiated by creativity, divergent thinking and out-of-the-box solutions approach," says Professor Ashok Ranchhod. He adds, "We wish to be identified as the best C-school (creative school) globally."

Students are exposed to core courses in their first year to develop a general management perspective. The second year they need to specialise in any of the four broad themes: brand management, marketing research, advertising research and media management. Course work also comprises rural research projects, understanding communication in the urban context, corporate venturing and entrepreneurship.

Factors that point towards an effort to build up a good research base include steady tie-ups with good institutions in the UK (Southampton Solent), USA (Southern Methodist and Georgia) and Singapore (Nanyang), encouraging faculty members and students to engage in writing research papers, and the introduction of a PhD programme this year.

While the library, better known as KEIC (Knowledge Exchange and Information Centre) is resourceful especially in media and communications, market research, brand management and advertising, one wonders why they are not as aggressive on publishing. KEIC, open 24 hours a day, houses the best online resources, be it the databases of the World Advertising Research Centre, TV commercials, Luerzer's Archive or Euromonitor Intelligence.

Other reviews:

• Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore
• Amity Business School, Noida
• Acharya Institute of Management and Sciences, Bangalore

Post tea at Micaf , Vivek Shah, a final year student, takes us on a tour of the campus. First, MICORE (the research division) and then the entrepreneurship cell. We walk through Chhota, the 24-hour canteen, the only smoking zone in the campus and then reach the hostel Silveroak, meant for exchange students and entrepreneurship cell scholars, which has rooms little better than the twin-sharing rooms in other hostels. Other MICA centres of excellence consist of Management Development (MDC) and Development Communications (CDC).

The gym and football field spring to life post 5 pm. And you have post-dinner meets to discuss projects etc.

MICA Radio also focuses on issues relevant to residents of the neighbourhood, and has MICAns generating their own content and music. Another eye-catching feature is the not-so-well lit gallery where students showcase their intellect and creativity.

Professor A F Matthew, who has an interest in Development Communication, is literally a campus USP. His lecturing style includes screening  films. Jyoti Sudhir, Communications Manager, MICA quips, "It's a myth that MICA is only for those who wish to pursue careers in media and advertising. It also offers courses in market research, retail, creative communication and more."