Summer placement at IIMA to start from tomorrow

AHMEDABAD: Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) will begin its summer placement for 2011 from tomorrow.

"The brightest minds of this country would once again be vying for internships at firms from all over the world: Europe, USA, Australia, Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle-East and of course, in India," stated the IIMA release.

Many observers believe that the IIMA placements serve as an indicator of the state of the economy in general. A good placement season indicates a robust economy.

This year, the Placement Committee expects a revival after a relatively dull placement season in 2008-09.

Himanshu Nema, Head, IIMA Placement Committee, said, "We would hopefully see not just our regular partners but also many new and exciting names that would ensure that our students are spoilt for choice."

He added, "We expect to see global consulting firms, investment banks, FMCGs and technology firms. In addition, we are also proactively approaching public and social enterprises."

According to him, a path breaking initiative would be the entry day, a day dedicated to firms that are smaller in scale but offering exciting profiles to students interested in becoming entrepreneurs.

"Such an environment acts as a testing ground for these students where they can work closely with senior management and see from close quarters how a company is managed," he said.

It may be noted that final placements in 2009 happened in February-March 2009 and lasted nine days. Although the time taken was higher than usual, IIMA was the first and fastest campus in the country to place all its students.

Given that times have improved since, it is expected that the premier institute will complete the process this time around in lesser time.

Incidentally, the IIMA recently featured in the top 100 ranking of the world renowned magazine Economist, a survey conducted across major business schools including Harvard, INSEAD, London Business School and Stern.

The school was the only Indian business school to feature in the top 100 premier business management institutes of the world.

Vivek Jain, a coordinator of the Placement Committee said, "We ensure that we leave no stone unturned in making placements a success and carrying forward the legacy of IIMA."