Prof Dr Geeta Pradhan

Dean, Faculty of Management Studies

Pokhara University

What are the emerging trends in management studies?

New courses have been introduced in Nepal like EMBA. In MBA too, we have MBA in Finance, MBA in Global Business and we have planned for MBA in HR (Human Resource) Management and MBA in Management Information System. These courses produce expertise that is required for any corporate house or enterprise. Other course that I want to introduce is a Masters programme in Public Policy. I think the current education does not well equip those going for government and civil services.

What is driving the growth of management schools in Nepal?

There is a remarkable growth in management colleges and students in Nepal. When I joined Pokhara University, there were very few students. In 2008, there was just one student in MBA. In Pokhara, there was a belief that MBA will not succeed. With the help of some officials from the university, I visited banks, institutes, chambers of commerce for searching students. They all assured to cooperate. Then, we received applications from 80 candidates while we had only 50 seats. At that time in BBA, the dropout rate was high. Admission was announced thrice for one BBA session. The growth of banking sector has also created demand for capable managers. Management studies with practical approach of teaching like internships, project works have helped graduates to contribute competitively in the organisations. Hence, there is growth in attraction to these courses and management schools.This course produces capable human resource and managers who are required in every field – hospitals to corporate houses. Emerging financial institutions and corporate houses have also increased the demand for management graduates.

Some corporate houses are sending students to study in foreign colleges. Does that mean they don’t trust our colleges and curriculum?

It is not that our education is bad but we have not achieved their level, which we can achieve easily. I blame our attitude to ignore rules, regulations and the system. Despite having excellent course design, students are not able to perform well. If they can work accordingly, they will be capable, honest and manage their time efficiently.

Most MBA graduates seem to be targeting a job in banks. Are the MBA courses designed for that only? Do you see any  misconception in students?

That is a misconception. The MBA is for producing capable managers and entrepreneurs. Our society does not respect all kinds of works. Table work is always considered the best job but running a farm is taken in a different way. Bank jobs have become a symbol of prestige now. Very few students think of setting up their own businesses. I encourage students to find out ways to use hot natural springs around Pokhara and prepare proposals but I think students do not have positive attitude for such creative works.

Case study is what foreign universities opt for teaching. It is said that we don’t have much cases within our country to study. Are we forced to study only the foreign cases?

In case studies, frankly speaking, the trend of case writing is missing in Nepal. In my university too, we employ the case study method, which is a foreign concept. Good cases from Nepal are not being written. There are some professors who write them but still good cases are missing. We often encourage writing them but professors for some reasons are not willing to write them. I think they feel lazy. I feel we don’t have a tendency to be competent and do something different. So, we are bound to study foreign cases though we have enough cases and examples in our own surroundings.

How suitable is our curriculum for the typical business environment of Nepal?

The curriculum suits the typical business environment of Nepal. However, the dialogue between academia and business is missing. Business is heading in one direction while business schools are in another. I often tell business houses to exchange resources but I don’t know why it is not been possible to find a working chord.

Curriculum and teaching-learning methodology of Nepali colleges and universities are said to be traditional. What is your university doing to update your curriculum?

It is true that we have traditional method of teaching and learning. For bringing some changes, students must have exposure and the teachers too need to have some inputs. They teach only what they have studied. That makes it quite difficult. When visiting faculties are selected I prefer MBA graduates from America. They have exposure to different methodologies and it is definitely different than teachers who got education here. We are revising the curriculum even of BBA and that has been approved by the subject committee. We have also included the course of business ethics. We continuously go on revising the curriculum.

How does the course bridge the gap between real life work place and the lessons taught in business schools?

If there were more teachers who studied in foreign universities or from abroad, bridging the gap between classroom and the real world would have been much easier. There are many constraints. When we ask students to go for some field visits they ask the university to bear the cost. That is a hindrance. To some extent, students also need to bear these expenses when it is useful for their studies and career. I think many do not understand the concept of university. In university, students are required to manage some expenses for themselves. What they do and what they learn in classroom is reflected in the real working environment.

Nepali universities are said to have weak management and the basics like exams and results are not conducted on time. What is the main problem?

The management is not a total failure but it is also true that it is quite weak. The management is unable to enforce the rule upon students and their unrealistic demands are not suppressed. In some cases, colleges themselves are involved in encouraging students for demonstrations to change the date of scheduled exams. They reason, the course is incomplete. I think infiltration of political elements in colleges is guiding it. But we have tried to bring the session back on track by cancelling vacations. The situation is gradually improving because we are also taking firm decisions. I think one of the reasons behind such practice is, most of the time students are enrolled without proper selection due to various reasons.