Professionals' 'Covid march' of learning goes on

AHMEDABAD: Kartik Bhatia, a current PGPX student at IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A), is a political consultant aspiring to add MBA in his professional qualification. A technology consultant-turned-political consultant with a stint in the Government of India, he is one of the unique student profiles a one-year PGPX programme has witnessed this year.
This year's PGPX batch is the biggest with 148 students.
"Covid period gave me time to introspect and pursue my passion. Thus, when I opted to get into full-time political consultancy, I also decided to get a professional degree for the same. It's not just for the present role - even in several international foundations and organizations, MBAs are in demand," said Bhatia.
Covid period changed the way short-term education is perceived - while some lost jobs, some utilized time to get additional degrees that can help them navigate the changing contours of employment scenarios post-Covid. The trends at premier educational institutes in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar indicate that the mid-career professionals' interest has remained unabated in courses spanning from three months to one year even after two years of Covid peak.
For example, the educational institutes have seen a professional magician taking up a course to hone skills for digital marketing, and chartered accountants taking up a course in forensic accounting. The trend has also resulted in lateral career shifts for some.
Aravind Balagopal, who completed his CCC course at MICA last year, switched careers from an audit assistant to a copywriter.
Aravind Balagopal, who completed his CCC course at MICA last year, switched careers from an audit assistant to a copywriter. "After my BCom course with specialization in international finance, I worked with a Big Four firm, servicing international clients. However, I thought of taking up something creative," he said.
The institutions have seen the student base expanding in both sectors and age groups. Prof Viswanath Pingali, chairperson of the PGPX course at IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A), said that the 'Covid impact' can be seen in the batch diversity which has been increasing significantly in the past couple of years. "The current batch has students from social and government sectors to family businesses. It's a big shift in the way an MBA course is perceived," said Prof Pingali.
Prof Anita Basalingappa, chairperson of online programs at MICA, said that one of the students a couple of years ago for a course was 70-years-old. "He was the father of a former MICA student. This year we have got an aunt-niece duo for the same course. It was not possible before Covid," she said.
Ashis Padhi, an assistant director with the ministry of MSME of Government of India, is one of the current students at the GNLU Centre for Intellectual Property Rights. "I am an engineer by education. I decided to take up the course in IPR as I was always interested in studying law, and I believe that the qualification would help me in my present role," he said.
Prof Nidhi Buch, head of the centre, said that there has been a steady rise in takers for the short-term courses for the past couple of years. "Covid has changed the perception of how we looked at such courses," she said.