I have always believed that good education is the bedrock of a great career and a top of the class B-School always makes great managers, the kind who is ready to take on the world. To make world-class managers is not easy especially since education has a strong connection with an individual’s cultural roots and attitude toward learning. Like Tata Sons Director R. Gopalakrishnan, whom we interviewed for our Big Interview section, says the behavior of a person largely depends on the cultural heritage one belongs to, and it can be modified only up to a point. Every student has to figure out his destination and B-Schools can only help them in their journey. But, it has been proved without a doubt that going to the right school has helped the student develop the right kind of skill sets that would help him/her stand in his/her stead in the corporate world.

The challenge these days is not just in terms of deciding to take up a career in management but also choosing the school to which one should go to. With the proliferation of B-Schools around the country, one empathizes with the student who has to make that difficult choice. This is where we would like to step in and help. People Matters has joined hands with the National HRD Network for the second year running to assess, evaluate and rank B-Schools on their capability to make an impact and shape the market of business education. With the cost of B-School education spiraling and one being spoilt for choice, it is very essential to select and assess the right school with the right parameters that suit the student’s requirements.

The number of B-Schools participating in the ranking this year has gone up to 55, from the 42 that took part last year. Last year’s B-School ranking had received a stupendous response from the B-Schools, academia and the industry. We are happy that the schools have reposed their faith in the ranking and have come back and newer schools are joining us in this journey of excellence.

The 51 schools were ranked on nine broad competencies such as intellectual capital, student profile, campus life etc. and weightages had been accorded to multiple parameters appropriately. These days companies don’t just restrict their visits to the top 10 B-Schools but are also looking to tap talent from the schools in tier-II and tier-III cities. It was also noticed that though schools are very gung-ho on projects and initiatives for students, it was not the same in the case of the faculty. More schools have accorded importance to global accreditations and international collaborations to raise the profile of the institute.

B-School education is looked upon as the passport to success and with competition rising, both among the students as well as the schools, it is imperative that one has to work towards maintaining the quality.

Besides the cover story on the B-School ranking and our regular columns, we also have a special story on how organizations need to be aware of the top five talent risks that can threaten the existence and execution of business plans in the future. As always, we look forward to hearing from you as we continue to innovate. Email us your suggestions, constructive ideas and criticisms as they help us become more relevant to the community. Happy reading!