The Higher Education Review

Dr. V. Kulandaiswamy:

He is the Secretary & Managing Trustee at Vivekananda Institute of Management Studies. He has been a college professor with 40 years of experience. He has held various positions like Principal, University Registrar, member of Senate, Board of Studies, Planning Board, Governing Body in many Universities and Autonomous Colleges.

Dr. A. Valarmathi:

She is the Director at VIMS. She has presented and published research articles in 14 International and National conferences and 19 publications in refereed Journals. Besides she has published three books in management discipline.


The Global Management System Market was estimated at $601.36 million in 2014 to register a CAGR of 7.19 percent to reach $912.20 million by 2020. The industry has emerged from the financial crisis to face a changing and complex working environment and a rapidly changing client base that's bolder and more risk-averse, yet more sophisticated and demanding. This projected rise in management industry has opened the scope for job opportunities globally demanding the best talents with the niftiness in handling the fluctuations. Providing the right insight into the industry becomes crucial for every institute. Functioning on the very base of preparing industry ready graduates from day one, Vivekananda Institute of Management Studies (VIMS) imbibes an evolving pedagogy that caters to the industry's needs of recruiting fresh talent.

Promoted by a group of professionals and run by Coimbatore Education Foundation, VIMS strives to achieve an avowed goal of achieving human excellence by means of Academic and Allied programmes that cater to the demands of the industry. "Approved by AICTE and affiliated to Anna University Chennai, VIMS commenced its operations in the Academic year 2012-2013 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu state," says Dr. V. Kulandaiswamy, Secretary & Managing Trustee, VIMS. Understanding the lack of skilled professionals in the industry and their prominence in the corporate world, VIMS offers its MBA program with added specializations that ensure academic delivery suiting the needs of the current business world. Through specializations in Marketing, Finance, HR, Production, and Systems the institute inculcates academia with the right amount of exposure through projects in the final semester.

Affiliated to Anna University, the curriculum in place at the institute inculcates the syllabus beyond which the faculty at VIMS brings prioritized experience in every aspect of the academia. A team of 16 faculties handle the range of management syllabus. For Finance, HR and Marketing streams, VIMS has visiting faculties from different sectors. These visiting faculties include university professors and also industry experts who provide accurate information on the industry to mould the students; equipping them with the latest methods in problem solving and decision making.

In pursuit of industry institute interaction that caters to the industrial needs, VIMS provides holistic exposure to students that enable them to equip themselves with the practical aspects of the industry. Through MOU tie ups with various organizations, the institution organizes industrial visits, and helps in bringing industry institution interaction in the campus. An initiative called Empirical Micro Learning at the institute encourages students to visit the industry and learn by their own experiences. "Empirical Micro Learning is not part of the curriculum but an extended effort by students to gain the field exposure," adds Dr. Kulandaiswamy. "Enabling students to take up projects at the industry through Empirical Micro Learning had resulted in many students finding jobs before the

completion of the project," adds Dr. Valarmathi. The institute is in process of strengthening its industry connections in order to expand its MOU and tie-ups.

With a view to promote human excellence by encompassing knowledge skills, attitudes and values, that help students to look beyond careers and get opportunities to realize their full potential, the Trust has included many services and charitable activities in its agenda. The institute organizes a job fair every year. In an event that goes on for two days, around 6000 students enroll in the fest and over 1000 placements are offered by the leading corporates. Amongst the other extra-curricular activities, an intercollegiate event for UG students that is conducted every year deserves special mention. In this event every year more than 600 students with diverse talents from around 50 colleges participate. Management development programs for various industries, social service and soft skill training programs for UG colleges, and such other CSR activities are the other activities at VIMS. The institution has established a Center for Research Consultancy and Publication (CRCP) which takes up research projects and brings out publications. The institute publishes a biannual journal namely VICHAARA, An International Journal of Management since 2014.

Foothold for Career Sustainability

Developing entrepreneurial zeal in the students is a vital aspect in the institute. "The presence of an Entrepreneurship Development Cell instills career independence in the students," adds Dr. Valarmathi. VIMS aspires to acquire a NAAC accreditation in the near future. With a strong focus on imbibing quality parameters in education, Vivekananda Institute of Management Studies aspires to build professionals who can compete with the graduates of the premier B-schools of the country. "We aim to give to the society, management professionals with value orientation in Indian ethos," concludes Dr. Kulandaiswamy.