Seats for the asking

Number of seats available in management courses is far more than the demand in Karnataka

Even as there are a large number of colleges in the State that have opened courses in management studies, it appears that the number of seats available is more than the demand.

As many as 10,096 MBA candidates appeared for the PGCET which was supposed to be the only entrance exam to determine admissions for both MBA and MCA courses (for both government and management quota seats) in the State. Similarly as many as 4,444 MCA aspirants had written the PGCET. However, as per the data provided by the consortium, the total number of seats available as of July 11 was 20,690 for MBA and 7,946 for MCA.

This includes both government as well management seats.

Besides this, sources also said that seats from several private colleges were yet to be added to the matrix.

This clearly indicates that the demand for seats was much lower than the total number available.

Exam schedule

Anticipating a huge number of vacant seats the Karnataka Private Post-Graduate Colleges’ Association has decided to conduct the Karnataka Management Aptitude Test (KMAT) for management quota seat aspirants on August 3.

Job first, MBA next

M. Prakash, secretary of the Karnataka Private Post-Graduate Colleges’ Association, has said that the number of colleges offering MBA programmes has gone up drastically over the past few years.

He also said that the courses are offered in different names and their intake is also huge. “Besides, students now prefer to work immediately after graduation as there are jobs available. They want to pursue MBA only after obtaining work experience for two or three years.”

Pooja M., a final year BBM student, echoed the same view. “As we have a wide range of companies that come to our campus for placements, there is no dearth of jobs. So, I prefer working for a year or two and then study in a reputed management institute.”

Transition Admitting that the number of seats available was more than the demand, Mr. Prakash said that it was a transition period and that the private managements had to figure a way out to tackle the situation.

However, he also pointed out that the association had received thousands of applications for KMAT and the actual demand for the courses could be ascertained after the KMAT was held.

Students who aspire for government seats will have to undergo counselling held by the Karnataka Examinations Authority based on their PGCET ranks. However management seat aspirants can apply to colleges based on their PGCET, KMAT, Common Admission Test (CAT) or Management Aptitude Test (MAT) scores.