Adani Institute of Infrastructure Management PGDM Review By Pinkesh Prajapati

What I learned at Adani Institute of Infrastructure Management Ahmedabad was corporate politics and also how to take matter in own hands because the college director was seen once in a blue moon. Its two years now, and still, some students from our batch aren't placed. To see whether we are learning something new in infrastructure management, I compared my books with other colleges. The conclusion was that it's more or less the same. One subject was there on infrastructure challenges and the opportunities that we have in the sector. Students have been placed in different domains and are working as financial advisors rather than giving insight on infrastructure management. Thus, the college offers a normal PGDM program at a fee much higher than its peers. The batch size was small as a batch of 120 was divided into three sections in the final year. Thus, a class of 40 made it more comfortable for faculty than the students. The experience at AIIM Ahmedabad was good. For guest lectures, many bureaucrats, leading companies, CEOs, and celebrities were invited. The college owner is also a decorated businessman, and I learned how simple he is after watching him during the events and guest lectures at the college.

The case study made my reading and understanding power the world of good. I hardly interacted with many MBA students before joining the college and thereby didn't have much idea about that. In the 2nd year, to justify infrastructure management, we had general subjects and a subject on infrastructure to choose from. The optional subjects were urban development, airport development, logistic supply chain, and environment. We had to choose two subjects, and special faculty was called upon for a month to teach us these subjects. The practicals were designed after consultation from various industries. All these developed skills like decision making and analyzing better.

The faculty of the college was great. Most of them have worked in Adani Enterprises or other companies of the group. Some of them have earlier served as professors in overseas management schools. A new way of teaching was seen here, and making friends with faculty was ever so easy. The college doesn't have any age criteria, and students in their mid-30s were also a part of the college. The faculty members had a core group of 6 members, but some left mid-way due to internal politics. A week or so was wasted by management in persuading them to stay back, and even students were asked to pitch the professors to stay back. This was our learning for how to handle politics at work. It was bad news for students but at the same time some new learning as well.

Even from a section of 40, everybody didn't have the placement. I cut but felt sorry for my friends who couldn't get a job. Your personality and luck will decide where you will get the job. Sufficing with the profile is not the only criteria here. Students with work experience were handed top jobs. The freshers could only manage a package of 5-6 lakhs per annum.

One can find accommodation at the Shantigram township or many townships that are nearby SG highway. The college doesn't provide a hostel facility. Most of the students were from Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar. The college location is such that even if you don't have your own vehicle, you can easily commute to any area of both cities.

Both the colleges, AIIM and AIIE, are on the same campus. The college is located in Shantigram township, which is next to SG highway. The classrooms are air-conditioned with both video and audio facilities to conduct lectures in modern style. The computer lab had the latest PCs with headphones attached in each. We could access YouTube from the computer labs. The library had a rich collection of management books. The library was fully digitalized, and students can themselves check whether the availability of books. The college has a huge seminar hall with a seating capacity of 300 students. The college has a sprawling green playground with a volleyball court and a cricket pitch. The ground was rather small, and one has to limit his shots. The canteen was like a restaurant with over 100 tables.

Not so overwhelming, but probably not boring as well. Engineering college also being alongside the management college. The student interaction between the college's students was the best time-pass. Not many events, but guest lectures were organized almost every week. There are many malls on SG highway, and on days we felt bored, we rushed there for a bowling game or watching a movie with friends. For personal growth, the education at AIIM can help both in good ways and also if you want to learn some points on how to be cruel. Both the factors are part and parcel of life, so one has to keep up with that. The biggest value-add of AIIM is that not just will we be spending time with acclaimed faculties but also with head-honchos of the industries.