The Road to the Corner Office

SHAHEED SUKHDEV College of Business Studies (SSCBS), established in 1987 as a constituent college of Delhi University, has consistently dem­onstrated its commitment to innovation and excellence in education. Through­out its history, the college has achieved several milestones. Among its most cred­ible achievements are pioneering the se­mester system. In 1990, SSCBS became the first college to introduce this system. This progressive move was later adopted by the university and fellow colleges, highlighting SSCBS’s role as a trailblazer in shaping the academic landscape. In 1999, SSCBS took the lead in offering the Bachelor in Financial Investment Analy­sis programme. By providing specialised education in financial investments, the college set a precedent that was followed by other institutions. In 2016, SSCBS es­tablished the Incubation and Innovation Foundation, a Section 8 company dedi­cated to promoting a thriving startup culture. With a generous funding of `2 crore from the Delhi government, this company provided the essential seed funding to help fledgling firms. Two years later, SSCBS once again broke new ground by becoming the first college in Delhi University to offer a postgraduate diploma course in cybersecurity and law. This programme addressed the increas­ing demand for skilled professionals in the fields of cybersecurity.

SSCBS implements innovative peda­gogies, striving to enhance programme quality and learning. The campus fea­tures modern infrastructure, including state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, library, auditorium, sport facilities, an incubation centre and a dedicated place­ment cell. SSCBS stands out for its focus on innovation and practical manage­ment education, establishing strong links between academia and the busi­ness world. The college pioneers in cur­riculum planning, involving faculty in designing a comprehensive and relevant learning experience for students.

To mitigate the pandemic’s impact on students’ learning experience, the college has implemented various measures. Ac­knowledging the challenges students face in maintaining focus and managing their academic and extracurricular activi­ties effectively, the college and its faculty members have put in additional efforts to assist students. This includes teachers actively engaging with students, moni­toring their progress, identifying areas of improvement, and providing extra support as needed. The college offers a robust mentorship system that facili­tates discussions on a wide range of topics between students and teachers. Further­more, a certified counsellor is available to address students’ psychological needs, offering regular counselling and support services to ensure their well-being.

The faculty members at SSCBS use innovative teaching methods like case studies, simulations, and problem-solving exercises to enhance students’ skills and provide practical understand­ing. The college emphasises on holistic education. With over 40 student-run societies, SSCBS offers diverse cultural and academic opportunities. Participat­ing in these activities exposes students to real-world applications, fostering skills in fundraising, financial prudence, and management. These activities provide a refreshing break and cultivate competi­tiveness. SSCBS students consistently ex­cel in national and international events, earning recognition in prestigious competitions like the Harvard Global Case Competition, BrAINWARS, Duff and Phelps Valuation Challenge, IIM Ahmedabad Case Competition, and IIM Calcutta Case Competition.

The college promotes entrepreneur­ship and innovation. The Entrepre­neurship and Innovation department organised 36 events, resulting in 22 startups. These initiatives showcase students’ proactive and enterprising spirit. Furthering the cause of evangelis­ing entrepreneurship among the SSCBS fraternity, the college has successfully set up a unit of Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), an initiative of the Minis­try of Education. The college is deeply committed to fostering a culture of re­search and innovation, bringing both faculty members and students together to conduct research, write case studies and undertake academic research. They also collaborate to offer consultancy services. Over the past year, some of the companies who have taken consul­tancy support from SSCBS include The Social Town, Indus Action, Strawcture, CRY, RePurpose, Turn the Bus, One Acre Fund and Mego Pay.

The college takes pride when its stu­dents gain admission to prestigious in­stitutions like IIMs, ISB, Trinity College Dublin, and Imperial College London. This showcases the quality of education at SSCBS. The college’s commitment to excellence is evident in their success. These accomplishments reflect talent nurturing, a competitive academic environment, and excellent career prospects. Overall, SSCBS is a special institution thanks to its faculty, student societies, infrastructure, and supportive administration.

Business studies continually evolve amidst the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous operating environment, emerging trends, and shifting market dy­namics. The college proactively equips students with essential skills and educa­tion to stay ahead.

In today’s data-driven world, deriving meaningful insights is vital. The college offers comprehensive courses in data an­alytics and business intelligence. Access to online databases, software, and plat­forms like Prowess IQ enables effective data collection and analysis, significant­ly enhancing students’ industry readi­ness. The rise of digital platforms and online presence make digital marketing crucial for business strategy. The college provides courses in digital marketing, ensuring students gain knowledge of digital channels, social media market­ing, content creation, and search engine optimisation. This prepares them to navigate the ever-changing digital land­scape and strengthen their marketing skills and capabilities.

To stay aligned with industry trends and demands, the college collaborates with prestigious institutions and or­ganisations such as the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and Confederation of In­dian Industry (CII). These partnerships enable the college to provide in-house courses and connections that offer prac­tical industry experience in areas like capital markets, financial modeling, and algorithmic trading. Moreover, ses­sions conducted by esteemed corporate trainers and interactions with industry leaders furnish students with valuable insights and foster skill development.

The college has introduced various academic offerings recently to enrich the educational experience. The implemen­tation of the National Education Policy (NEP) since the academic year 2022-23 has been successfully completed. The college provides new and distinctive streams like entrepreneurship, pro­gramming languages, and yoga as part of generic electives, skill enhancement courses and value adding courses.

THE COLLEGE CONTINUOUSLY strengthens its array of short-term value-added courses, providing students with practical industry experi­ence and hands-on learning opportuni­ties. The course portfolio encompasses NCCMP (NSE Certified Capital Market Professional), FMAT (Financial Model­ling and Algorithm Trading), FinTech, Data Analytics and Business Intelli­gence, and Digital Marketing. These specialised courses enable students to acquire relevant skills and remain up-to-date with industry trends. The substan­tial student interest confirms the quality and appeal of these courses.

The college has a tie-up with the In­stitute of Management Accountants USA, offering a scholarship of $1,000 per student as a fee waiver for the CMA Certification programme. It maintains collaborations with organisations like Goonj, Rotary International, and DUSIB. It also participates in Coursera’s Campus Program, providing one free course certi­fication per student annually.

The college promotes international exposure and engagement in global com­petitions to broaden students’ perspec­tives and cultivate a global mindset. Stu­dents have excelled in representing the college in renowned competitions. Such opportunities allow students to demon­strate their abilities, learn from interna­tional peers, and gain a global outlook on business challenges. SSCBS encourages student exchange programmes. Out of four Indian participants in the esteemed Global Entrepreneurship Mindset Pro­gramme organised by Kansai University, Japan, two students were from SSCBS. They not only represented the college and the university, but also the country. The combination of relevant courses, in­dustry collaborations, skill development initiatives, and international exposure enable students to acquire the necessary competencies and stay ahead in their chosen fields.

SSCBS has consistently provided re­markable placement opportunities for its students. The average salary for the 2022-23 season increased from `7 lakh per annum to over `11 lakh per annum, demonstrating the high demand for SS­CBS graduates. The college’s placement cell plays a crucial role, seeking feedback from recruiters to enhance students’ skills and offering add-on courses aligned with industry requirements. Innovative initia­tives like the CARE system connect stu­dents with alumni for guidance and sup­port. The Buddy System pairs second-year students with seniors who have already been hired, thus creating a supportive environment.

The latest placement season saw exceptional success, setting new stan­dards in terms of placement numbers and quality. The college welcomed prominent global recruiters like AB In­Bev, Axxela, FischerJordan, Futures First, L.E.K. Consulting, Xander Group, Wells Fargo, Havells, and others. SSCBS main­tains strong relationships with recruit­ers like Accenture, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Dabur India Limited and McKinsey & Com­pany. This trust reflects the institution’s reputation and the exceptional talent it nurtures. BCG offered frontend consult­ing roles with an impressive package of `23.54 lakh per annum, placing SSCBS among the country’s top undergraduate institutions.

SSCBS stands out with an impressive average salary of `11.03 lakh per annum for graduating students and over 227 offers. Among the top 100 students, the average salary is `15.32 lakh per annum. The resounding success of the place­ment season 2022-23 exemplifies the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, industry relevance, and ho­listic development. With a wide range of esteemed recruiters and outstanding placement offers, SSCBS continues to so­lidify its position as a premier institution for students aspiring to secure rewarding careers in the business world.

About The Author

Poonam Verma

Poonam Verma is Principal, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi