FAST FACTS
Location: University of Pune campus
Director: Dr. BV Sangvikar
Accreditation: NAAC
Flagship programme: MBA++
Student intake: 180
Fees (full course): Rs. 130,000
Board & lodging (two years): Limited accomodation
Admission test cut-offs: MH-CET 171/155/150 (Outside/Maharashtra/Pune university students)
Full-time faculty: 14 (Professors: 2; Readers: 5; Lecturers: 7)
Average placement salary: Rs. 4.25 lakhs
Top recruiters: Syntel, TCS, Titan, Abbott Labs, Bilcare
Student Activities: Dhruv (cultural festival), Nostalgia (alumni meet), Adios Amigos (official farewell)
Web site: www.pumba.in
Other programmes: MBA – Biotech, EMBA (Both 24 months)


We walk into the Department of Management Sciences on the second day of PUMBA’s three-day cultural festival, Dhruv. “This year, the Amazon is the theme,” says a student who shows us colourful leaflets and décor, which complement the theme. This mega event attracts close to 1,300 participants from 137 institutions, of which most have MBA programmes affiliated to the University of Pune.

The Department of Management is located inside the University of Pune Campus, strategically located, with good connectivity to all the important parts of the city. We meet Dr. (Capt.) C M Chitale, Dean and management faculty, who is also the key person looking after the affiliated institutes in Maharashtra. “Being part of a government institution helps, as not many institutions can match the university’s infrastructure and well-laid out system,” he says.

“It’s just a matter of changing the mindset of a few people in government-backed institutions,” he says, citing an example questioning a finance official why management departments could not spend on advertising their achievements. “The MBA++ is unique to PUMBA and is based on a trimester pattern,” Dr. B V Sangvikar, Professor and HoD, informs us. The plus symbols imply that a student can do a functional and a sector-specific specialisation, and each academic year is divided into three semesters. While the disciplines in functional specialisations include Marketing, Finance, Systems, Operations, HR and IB; the sector-specific specialisations include Retail, Banking & Insurance, Engineering, Health Care and IT & ITES.

We take a look at the facilities - the classrooms, auditorium and the syndicate rooms, primarily used for discussing case studies, and also meet the faculty.  “Besides its unique programme, PUMBA is also known for its emphasis on social causes,” says a faculty member. We are introduced to Prof. A G Joshi who voluntarily rescues snakes in and around Pune. PUMBA also runs a one-year full-time diploma course, which imparts vocational training to disabled  soldiers, at the Queen Mary’s Technical Institute at Kirkee.

“PUMBA is among the best MBA programmes in the region with only SIBM (Symbiosis) in close competition,” says a student. As the interaction with students intensifies, we get to know that PUMBA is the first choice for toppers of the Common Entrance Test (CET). Most students seem very content about their decision to join PUMBA. “The cost of programme is also more inviting," says a student, an ex-employee of Infosys.

“Also, we need more IT/ web-based learning support,” adds another student. But the focus on research is minimal.

There are hostels on campus, but many choose to live off the campus. Canteen food, according to quite a few students, is a strict no-no for their taste buds, as we are encouraged to meet Priya, a first year student, and a budding entrepreneur who caters to the food needs at a fairly reasonable price.