Indian Institute of Management IIML, Lucknow - Course & Fees Details

There are mainly 3 MBA programs in India:

• Two Year Program in Management- Aimed at people with less than 2 years of experience
• One Year Program in Management- Aimed at people with 2-15 years of experience
• Part Time Program in Management- Aimed at working professionals

Before we dwell on the best one-year full-time executive MBA courses in India, let’s understand what exactly a one year program is. 

The 1-year-program gained fame in India after the success of ISB in the early 2000s. IIMs and other institutes initiated the same and have been offering the 1-year program since late 2000s. This program mainly offers high-quality education for experienced professionals. Some best programs offered in India are

1. ISB- PGP (Post Graduate Program)
2. IIM Ahmedabad- PGPX (Post Graduate Program for Executives)
3. IIM Bangalore- EPGP (Executive Post Graduate Program)
4. IIM Kolkata- PGPeX (Post Graduate Program for Executives)
5. IIM Lucknow- IPMX (International Program in Management for Executives)

The admissions happen on the basis of GMAT, Essays, and Interviews. It is primarily meant for people with several years of experience but who want to upgrade their managerial skills.

The best part is that the 1-year-program is equivalent to an MBA internationally. Infact, major international rankings such as Financial Times consider the 1-year program. So the 1-year program at the top B-Schools in India will give you a similar experience academically.

As far as the IPMX course is concerned, it is not an Executive MBA. 

Go for the IIM Lucknow ABM program only if you are sincerely inclined towards agri. If not then choosing ABM will limit your career prospects considerably and you might even regret it later.

MDI Gurgaon PGDM is one of the oldest programs that have great value. MDI Gurgaon can easily be called the country’s best B School. The admissions are solely based on merit so the quality of your peers is top-notch. Some major highlights of the institute and its PGDM program are

• Experienced permanent faculty
• Student-driven clubs
• Student-driven Mutual Fund 
• Elaborate alumni network 
• Lush green campus
• Excellent peer learning

So you will not regret choosing MDI even over IIM Lucknow.

Honestly, there are so many online courses offering the same program that are cost-friendly. Brand name does not play any major role in your career in Analytics. So paying such hefty fees is not understandable. Also, the professors of Analytics here are too old and have never worked in the field in real life. They are just here to earn money and impart bookish knowledge. 

Courses like these require passion and willingness to learn and not a brand name or huge fees. This course is suitable for a senior manager who is eager to learn about Analytics. 

Rather than inquiring about the worth of a course, one should analyze whether the course is suitable for them or not. Your preference should be a priority not the worth of the course.

That being said, Executive MBA programs are suitable for 

• professionals with considerable experience (+10 years) , who are also managing a large team
• people in the consulting industry

If you don’t belong to any of these 2 categories, then the course is of no real value for you. This is because this program is far sighted and focuses on managerial elements like Organization and Strategies. Unless you are a consultant or a top manager this knowledge will be of little use. So go for it once you belong to one of the two categories only.

The Sustainability Management program is an excellent domain with the capability to gain fame quickly. Although it has been launched several years before it is only now that corporations are finally giving it the attention it deserves. In fact, some companies across the spectrum of industries are establishing formal teams to solve this issue.

The level of expertise in this domain is relatively lacking all across - policy making, policy implementation, regulation, etc. This can be seen as an opportunity as it has led to an increased demand for professionals with a formal background in Sustainability Management.

The curriculum includes the foundation management courses along with complex topics like

• Principles of Sustainability
• Marketing of Sustainability
• Creativity in designing solutions for Sustainability
• Measuring and Reporting Sustainability
• Sustainability in SCM
• Policymaking
• Research in Sustainability 
• HRM for Sustainability

So in the current scenario, the Sustainability Management program offers ample opportunities to aspiring managers.

Yes, spending around 15-16 lakhs for an MBA from IIM Lucknow is worth the investment. It has a good brand value and consistently ranks among the top B-Schools in the country. 

• IIM Lucknow placements have been great over the years. According to the placement highlights of 2022 the average CTC received by the students was INR 30 LPA. As the course fee is INR 19.20 Lakhs, the ROI is pretty good. 
• IIM Lucknow has an excellent faculty base. 
• It follows a curriculum that incorporates the latest industry trends. 

Other than these, the peer learning opportunities, exposure offered and the well-developed alumni base make IIM Lucknow a good option for an MBA.