Goa Institute Of Management Opens Admissions For Its Unique PGDM Programme In Healthcare Management

Goa Institute of Management has announced that admissions for the hugely anticipated PGDM in Healthcare Management are now open. The applications are underway and the deadline for interested candidates is 31st December, 2013.

Goa Institute of Management has announced that admissions for the hugely anticipated PGDM in Healthcare Management are now open. The applications are underway and the deadline for interested candidates is 31st December, 2013. The institute, ranked among the Top 10 Private B-Schools in India (Outlook Survey 2012), is renowned for its flagship PGDM-FT programme. It is now evolving further with PGDM in Healthcare, which needless to say, has major relevance for today's times.

Since its inception in 1993, the institute has gained recognition for
academic engagement and the enduring learning environment it creates for its students. Moreover, it does its best to offer students programmes that are in sync with industry needs and standards. The Healthcare Management PGDM takes this endeavour forward, because this is one industry that has seen double digit growth in the last two decades.

To be housed at the heritage and picturesque Ribandar Campus of the institute, the programme has been designed by stalwarts in the healthcare industry and academic thinkers. Together, they have ensured that the requirements of various segments of the healthcare industry have been considered when designing the programme. According to Dr. Adesh Chaturvedi, Associate Professor, GIM, "The PGDM Healthcare Management Programme is guided and supervised by a formidable and active Steering Committee on a regular basis. It consists of eminent and senior personalities from prestigious healthcare organisations, academic thinkers and healthcare practitioners." And that's what makes this programme so solid in its foundation.

The Healthcare Industry has come of age in recent years and was seen to be recession proof as well. Today, it covers a wide spectrum of fields from healthcare consulting to medical insurance, pharmaceuticals to clinical research, hospitals to diagnostics, medical devices and a whole lot more. Thus it offers brilliant opportunities for specially trained professionals who can manage the industry.

With its PGDM HCM programme, Goa Institute of Management strives to offer a shot in the arm to students looking to make a career for themselves in this dynamic industry. The programme builds on already established strengths of the institute in various areas of management, and aims to create management professionals who can handle the issues and challenges faced by the healthcare industry.

While it might be the first year for the institute as far as this programme is concerned, there are others offering similar programmes. So what is it that makes the course with GIM stand out? Dr. Chaturvedi has a clear answer, "The curriculum of HCM has been designed on the lines of Healthcare Management programmes offered by Ivy League business schools in the United States. But it also takes into account the salient differences of the Indian healthcare system." Thus it is likely to offer the best of both the worlds to its students.

The core of the HCM syllabus is "Management Plus Health Care", which is meant to be one of the highlights of the programme. Dr. Chaturvedi elaborates further, "The two-year programme offers an eclectic mix of core management subjects as well as domain specific healthcare courses." But as they say, any curriculum is only as good as those at the helm of matters. That's where this programme scores high, because the institute has eminent full-time and visiting faculty on board. Needless to say, they are bound to bring their vast experience to the table for the benefit of the students.

This PGDM HCM is also designed in a way that it incorporates about 50% field-based experiential training. That is a markedly higher ratio than regular PGDM programmes and is likely to give the students the cutting edge advantage. As they understand the needs and challenges of the healthcare industry first-hand, they will be better prepared to respond to them in a timely manner. So how do candidates apply for this programme? Candidates are required to appear for XAT (XLRI Admission Test), CAT or CMAT (AICTE Test) to be eligible to apply for the programme. On registering for XAT, CAT or CMAT, the candidate can apply to GIM. Based on their test scores, candidates are short-listed for the interview process, which is conducted at seven centres across the country.

The director of the institute, Dr. Sunil Rai, is clearly excited about the programme, as he says, "It is a one-of-a-kind programme in India, since it is a management programme that addresses healthcare issues, unlike other programmes, which are healthcare oriented with limited focus on management aspects." He is also keen on a great overall learning experience at the institute, which makes a huge difference to aspiring candidates. "The sprawling, state-of-the-art campus offers the ideal setting for students from diverse backgrounds, and that leads to an interesting environment for studies. While the renowned faculty members focus on the academic growth of students, through several initiatives, sporting facilities and festivals, they are given a well-rounded learning experience."

Clearly the PGDM HCM course not only offers students a timely boost to get a foothold in a flourishing industry, it also tries to make them "holistic managers". These certainly seem to be good enough reasons for aspirants to make a beeline for admissions to the programme, which are now open.

For more details, check: http://gim.ac.in/gim_ap_healthcare_pgdbm.php