IIFT EPGDIB Experience

This article caters to the on campus one-and-a-half-year long Executive Post Graduate Diploma in International Business (EPGDIB) at Indian Institute Of Foreign Trade (IIFT). I have just completed the EPGDIB (2012-14 batch) programme as the final semester results were declared on 3-December-2014 and would like to share my thoughts on the programme.

Course Structure:

• The programme is very rigorous in terms of course structure/modules and has best in-class faculty members available. 
• The functional insights provided on Marketing, Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Operations etc. and thereafter their International ways of linking and working (like Cross-Border Marketing, International Trade Logistics and Documentation, International Finance Management etc..) I believe no other institute in India can provide that except IIFT.
• And finally, it all boils down to make appropriate Decisions and Strategies. I am not saying that in whichever organization you work you will make Strategic Decisions from Day 1. But the course on Strategic Management and International Business Strategy gives you the tools and levers to create strategic wisdom about the different industries & organizations.  
• The semester wise courses are

Semester 1 (January 2013-July 2013)

• Global Business Environment
• Accounting for Managers
• Marketing Management
• Management Information System
• Business Research Method
• Managerial Economics
• Human Resource Management
• Introduction to Computers
• Business Statistics

Semester 2 (August 2013-February 2014)

• WTO and Trade Issues
• India's Foreign Trade Policy
• International Marketing Management
• Financial Management
• Strategic Management
• International Trade Logistics & Documentation
• Elective-1 (Marketing of Services)
• Elective-2 (International Business Negotiations)

Semester 3 (February 2014- August 2014)

• International Financial Management
• International Business Strategy
• Supply Chain Management
• Business French
• Elective-3 (International Brand Management)
• Elective-4 (Project Appraisal & Finance)
• Elective-5 (Commodity Price Risk Management)

*The course structure continuously gets updated and keeps on changing keeping in view the latest trends on International Business.

Important Points:

• This course will drain you out completely as you would be juggling office work and classes on weekends for a 18 - Month period. Believe me 18-Months is a very long period. Make sure you get proper rest and recharge your batteries as the learning would be very hectic. 
• The classes are very tiring so keeping the concentration levels up and running from 9 AM to 6:30 PM in a day is a big aspect.
• Due to parallel processing (Office Work, Family and EPGDIB Course) there could be instances where you cannot fulfill each and every requirement of everyone. That's Fine, there would be situations where family life would get disrupted just because you have class on a Sunday. Just think beforehand what sort of compromises you would be making and whether you are ready to make those compromises for 18 Months before joining the programme. 
• Never miss a class. Whatever be the situation, never ever miss a class. It's not about topping in the exams and completing the executive programme but moreover of learning, un-learning and re-learning things.
• Take out time for self-study apart from Office Work, Family Life and IIFT classes. I know this is near to impossible but make sure you self-study.
• Class participation has a very high weight-age to the end result so make sure you participate and be vocal.  
• Complete your assignments/presentations on due time because if you miss you miss. The faculty is very strict and if your assignment is not submitted on time, they give a 0 (for that part).
• There would be situations where you are subjected to surprise quizzes/tests so make sure you go through at least the faculty notes/presentations.
• Make sure you take the elective International Business Negotiations. Yes you read it right, Negotiations is an art and can be learnt. This elective will not only teach you how to do negotiations more effectively but moreover make you a better person. I still cannot forget the life lessons taught by Mr. Sanjeev Nandwani Sir which done properly and in a balanced manner would surely take you and your career a long way. 
• Under normal circumstances, there would be a Single End Term Examination followed by classes or vice-versa. But in some situations there could be 2 or maybe 3 End Semester Examinations on the same day (2 Hrs Each). Therefore, make sure you study continuously and do not wait till the end.   
• Once any course completes (i.e. all the required classes are over) co-ordinate with the PD (Programme Director) and schedule the End Term Examination in the subsequent 2-3 weeks. If all the courses end simultaneously then you would be left with no time at all to prepare for the End Term Examinations.
• A Research Project in any area of International Business is required to be undertaken by each student under the guidance and supervision of a faculty member of IIFT/ expert from industry. Kindly be serious and do this Research Project to the best of your capacity.
• Make sure you never miss an End Term Examination as the re-exams are more tougher and more hard to clear.
• I don't know why but IIFT does take >3 Months to declare the Semester Results.
• This course gives you access to the wide IIFT Alumni network across the world, which is very important for future developments. 

Placements:

There have been multiple talks/posts/thoughts about IIFT's placement service for Executive programmes. Therefore, being a past student thought of clearing the air: 

• The average work experience of my batch was >10 Years (During admission, I was the least experienced candidate with only 4.5 Years) so placement scenario does not come into the picture as most of the job changes which happened in my batch was via references and by creating networks.
• It's more about marketing yourself. I have seen cases where colleagues of mine changed jobs in-between the course itself and have shifted to much higher and better positions in the corporate ladder.
• IIFT does help you in securing jobs but never guarantees that you would receive an offer. The process is: During the 2 Semester you are told to prepare your resume in the IIFT format. Once the resumes are done and submitted, IIFT provides these resumes to the recruiters. If the recruiters shortlist your profile then you are called for the job interview. Thereafter, it is between you and the recruiter where the deal has to strike :)   

Hence, if you are willing to make sacrifices and want to learn then EPGDIB is a Highly Structured and Recommended programme for people who want to learn and implement nuisances of International Business.

As of me, I have still not changed my job as it is more of a personal decision as I want to grow further in my present organization. My main motive of doing this course was to be ready with the requisite business knowledge because I am sure when the correct opportunity comes I should be ready to grab it.

Feel free to post your valuable comments/feedback and I would be happy to help.