Loyola Institute of Business Administration PGDM Review By Gorav Karnani

In our days Loyola was so highly ranked that when one of my Tamil friends asked me to join him at LIBA, I agreed. Little did I know that the institute downfall has started. I didn’t even sat for any entrance and therefore had to pay a hefty amount to get to the college. Now the college face value is 10/10 and that made me have a try. I even had some butterflies going on but I was like 2 years here and my future will be secured. If I go that way, yes Loyola has helped me get a job and my life is secured. The college role in that though was minimal. I had no idea how MBA Colleges operates and therefore used to boast it like the best and all during those days. It was only after I got placed in Yes Bank and had many MBA colleagues from different colleges, I realized that the college has taught us nothing.

The college was so strict that even 80% attendance was considered bad. One thing that I would want to tell my readers that please if you can’t understand South Indian accent don’t go to Chennai at least as all the teachers were Tamil and I had to request my faculty to please allow me to sit in the front row. The classes were long and hard and 8-10 hours classes were like normal for everybody. The assignments can never be completed as one will require 25 hours in a day to get them complete in a day. Though it was tough I was enjoying my time and even told my family back home that I have taken the best decision of my life. The practical’s which now I know has to be an everyday thing was held once or at max twice in a week. The education system has some discipline and that was good to see.

The professors at LIBA followed a dress code and that was impressive. All the professors even extend their classes if the doubts are not solved in the same class. The dedication and having concern about the students was at the peak. The lectures were sometimes delayed but they happened the same day. Since it was compulsory to stay in the hostel if you are doing PGDM and we could be called anytime for lectures or guest lectures.

All the listed IT names were on the campus and it was then that I realized that if you are in south getting a job in IT sector is what the child dreams of the day he/she is born. I had some other plans and not many students were interested to try their luck in banking, I impressed them in all the rounds and grabbed the job with them with a decent offer. In those days I think that was enough and the placement were mostly in the range of Rs. 6-8 LPA. The placements were not one hundred percent but all the students who impressed the HR persons did have a job.

At LIBA, there are 2 hostel buildings inside the campus. One is boys and one is girls hostel. The boys hostel had 120 rooms and all the rooms were of same size and with same facilities. The boy’s hostel was located at the western end of the campus and had a nice running track besides the hostel. The hostel rooms were fully furnished and hot and cold water, RO water for drinking and all was available. I joined in 2011 and the building was built in 2008. Thus the building was new and was built with all the latest amenities. The terrace of the hostel was the place where we used to sit at nights and form groups. Drinking and smoking though it was told that it is banned inside the campus but students did that openly and the warden knew about that. The girl’s hostel building was a one floor less but the architecture was same. The girls hostel had a volleyball court and sad part was that boys were not even allowed to stroll near the girls hostel.

I don’t know who suggested that Orange color but all the buildings of the college were Red and White or Orange and white. The main building as well as the hostel buildings. The campus is huge and is full of bushes and trees. The college ground which was untouched was good to have a walk with friends. The library which has a separate building was mammoth. The auditorium was not as huge but given the strength of the college it could get them all seated. The filter coffee of Chennai was available in the small canteen that the college had just outside the main building. There are 6 buildings in all and the hostels are common for people doing PGDM or certification course. There was a separate building for PhD students as they were allowed to bring their family as well. In short the infra may not score 10/10 but was nearly there.

Thank God I had a friend otherwise I would have left the college the next day itself. 90% students are from Chennai and outsiders are like you have to find them. The food at the hostel made me lose some 8kgs in 2 years as only the south Indian food was served and coming from east, I didn’t find the food appealing at all. In fact, after the college life I don’t think I have even had South Indian food for more than once or twice in a year as I was completely done with it in those 2 years. Among all the adversity that I may call it, I was happy and had some great time at this lovely institute.