Mumbai: Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS), Mass Media (BMM) and Accounting and Finance (BAF) are job oriented courses with a practical and creative industry connect, claim students. On the flip side, colleges fear this will lead to overcrowding of courses with more number of students passing every year and less availability of quality jobs in the industry.
Shifting of streams
Large number of students are now seeking admissions to these courses as compared to the usual Bachelor of Science (BSc), Commerce (BCom) or Arts (BA). In fact, students from various streams especially Science and Commerce are either quitting their course midway or shifting to these courses. Also, students from technical and medical fields like engineering, physics or pharmacy are also following this trend.
More demand for admissions, less availability of seats
College authorities claim they sold excess admissions forms for these courses. Marie Fernandes, Principal of St Andrew's College, Bandra, said, "We sold over 1,000 forms for BMS this year. We have only 120 seats for this course so how are we supposed to accommodate so many students? While for BMM and BAF, we have 60 seats and every year we have students on the wait list for admissions."
Lack of liking towards the course
Students ought to have a passion or liking towards the course, if they wish to pursue it in their future. Anushree Lokur, Principal of Ruia College, Matunga, said, "Students need to have a liking towards any course which they opt for. This will help them to stick to their field of study, take up job opportunities and build a career."
More supply of students, less demand for jobs
Overcrowding will lead to more students graduating every year who will have to face a tough time finding jobs. Avkash Jadhav, a teacher of St Xavier's College, Fort, said, "The creative and management industry already has a large employee population. The demand for jobs is less as companies do not want to hire freshers. Students ought to realise their direction, do their research and work on their skillsets, if they want to make a mark in these fields."
What after BMS or BMM?
It's not just about studying the course, but about what you can offer to the industry once you are on your job hunt, claim teachers. Saudamini Bhagwat, a senior teacher and coordinator, said, "It's not just about photography or rote learning or even writing but it is about individual skillsets on how you can observe things differently. There are a lot of youth waiting to secure jobs so, what different are you offering to the industry? Students need to use their three years productively to develop, explore various fields, try new things and create their own skill sets."
-Ronald Rodrigues
