unique pedagogy at JKPS

The pedagogy at JKPS is aligned towards the idea of preparing management students industry ready. The emphasis is on developing Critical Thinking, Widen Business and Industry Knowledge Base and Enhancing Individual Personality.

Unique Pedagogy at JKPS-IMT, Gurgaon

Pedagogy in a management institute is a tool through which learning occurs. JKPS uses student-centered learning. It is aimed at developing critical thinking and managerial skills; it is popularly known as wagon wheel pedagogy which has 3 major components:

1. Development of critical thinking
2. Industry interface
3. Student development

Each component then further has many tools to achieve pedagogical objectives.

Industry Interface

1. Sectoral analysis: Each student is engaged in analysis of a sector; in which he/she is required to identify opportunities, challenges and skill-requirements in the sector. Industry experts from different sectors are invited from time to time; and students are made to interact and clarify their queries pertaining to the sector. This helps the student in honing his/her skills to get employment in it. In the second year, each student encouraged to do a project on his/her identified sector.
2. Country analysis: Students are also engaged in country analysis; in which he/she is required to compare with India on Economic, Social, Political and such other parameters. Students analyze the nitty-gritty of the foreign country, and try to identify various existing and future business opportunities in it.
3. Live projects: Every student is allotted a real time live industrial project to capture the true essence happenings in the business world. These projects are supervised by industry mentors and faculty members. The live project is required to be undertaken while they are undergoing their course at the institute; and is apart from the routine summer training program.
4. Industry visits: Industry visits are routine activity in the institute; arranged in every trimester to get an insight into the production process and related activities. These visits provide useful information related to the practical aspects of the course which cannot be visualized in lectures.
5. Panel discussions: This provides an opportunity to the students to examine, and augment their knowledge, through dialogue, discussion, and discourse.  As part of an informal debate, the students are exposed to the real-time, contemporary economic & business issues and are asked to explore possible solutions to them. This helps the students in widening their knowledge base; as also, it helps in improving the analytical ability.  Students form their own panel of discussants and one among them is asked to moderate.
6. Corporate guest lectures: Business leaders are invited on regular basis that provide, latest update on their respective Industries and also about the nuances in them. In this fashion the students are bestowed with knowledge about Industry needs and functional procedures. Both the institute and the students contribute in inviting guests from different industries.  It is compulsory part of every course.
7. Business simulations: Business simulations are a specialized form of experiential learning, focused entirely on improving business decision making skills by 'learning by doing'. Students use popular simulation software packages to sharpen their conceptual and analytical skills.
8. Industry mentorship: Mentors from industry, help in developing preparedness of students. With the consent of Industry leaders, one student per leader is assigned, who help the students to be more industry ready at the end of the PGDM programme.
9. Competency development workshop: Scientific tools and exercises are being used to holistic development of students for industries. Every student is assessed and developed using scientific tools like MBTI, FIRO-B, Thomas Kilman test, Belbin team role etc. This is done under a separate department in the name of JK assessment and development center. Every student is assessed by the centre on their joining the institute. The centre then develops strategies to hone the required skills. The same skills are again measured at the end of 2 year programme.

Development of critical thinking

1. Anecdotes: This exercise helps to relate the topic to real life.
2. Role plays: Role-play emphasizes the "real-world" side of science. It challenges to deal with complex problems with no single "right" answer and to use a variety of skills. Role-play presents the student with an opportunity to learn not just the course content, but other facets of it.
3. Discussions: Lectures are used in communicating conceptual knowledge that helps in building the knowledge gap. At the same time a lot of emphasis is laid on development of two-way sharing and active learning atmosphere. The students are always motivated in asking questions. They are given current topics to discuss in small groups. The group is then asked to come out with an agreed solution to the problem.
4. Term projects: are assigned to students to get an understanding of applicability of theoretical knowledge. It is a part of curriculum in every trimester; where students are assigned real world problems to study, develop an understanding and make an analysis. Projects develop a vertical thinking in students on the topic.
5. Presentations: help in increasing the confidence levels in students, as also developing communication and presentations skills. Special sessions are regularly arranged for the purpose. Topic are assigned and examined by experts, on different parameters. Presentations are also an essential part of every course in the curriculum.
6. Brain storming sessions: are organized every week, to help the students in developing critical and analytical thinking in them. Students’ academic committee decides the topics for discussion. The second year students take the initiative in organizing these sessions.
7. Study projects: provide with an opportunity to critically find the depth of the concepts.
8. Case study method of teaching: case writing involves an in-depth and longitudinal examination of an instance or event. These help a great deal in develop the critical thinking among students by providing with a systematic way of dissecting events or situations, given in the case.  Students collect data, analyze it, and discuss it out among the team members; before the case is presented in the class.  The presenting team is thus exposed to questioning by other students. This helps in understanding the concepts better. It is a compulsory part of every course. Besides case analysis, students are also encouraged to develop new cases.  The faculty members help them in the process.
9. Research Paper Writing : Each student in the second year is motivated and guided to write two research papers. Research Paper plays an important role for developing creative writing skills in the students. Through research writing, students learn to explore themselves and to exhibit their hidden potential. Writing a research paper helps students to develop in them abilities to investigate, think, figuring out the truth, reaching to conclusions, evaluating results for accuracy and summarizing results. Research paper writing actually teaches students to discover important data and to manage it.

Personality Development

1. Management fest is a two-day event, organized and managed entirely by student teams.  Events from academics, art, culture, sports are held, in which students from institutes across the country, converge onto institute campus; and compete against each other.  The competitions are keenly contested; and atmosphere in the institute is electric, full of verve and color.  The energy levels among students also reach its height, during the two-day mega event.
2. Management games
3. Wilderness trip: It is an outdoor team building trip, organized by the institute every year. Students are taken to an off-beat location, completely away from the daily grinds of the institute. This provides the students with an opportunity to unwind themselves, as also build team-spirit, and camaraderie; and teaches them the courage to fight, when they are put against awkward situations in life.
4. Students’ activity clubs: Many students’ activity clubs are created by the students themselves. Each has its own activity calendar and events/activities are organized as a routine.
5. Social activity camps: Through these indoor as well as outdoor camps, students are inculcated with the importance of being a socially responsible citizen.  The students understand the significance and pleasure of giving back to the society.
6. Inter college competition: Students are also sent out to take part in various events and competitions organized by other institutes.  This helps the students in developing leadership and decision making skills. They also understand the importance of reaching out and networking. 
7. Communication workshop: Intensive workshops are conducted on various aspects of communication at JKPS. Experts from communication lab and corporate, are invited to the institute campus to provide guidance. Students are engaged in activities for one week. All students engage in group discussion, mock interviews, panel discussions, debate, book review, English play, role play, seminar presentation, extempore and impromptu etc. 
8. Manthan: each student is issued a business paper early in the morning by the institute. As the name suggests, the students are made to churn out various issues associated with a given topic, on various politico, socio economic dimensions. This includes:

1. News Analysis
2. Company Analysis
3. Profile of Entrepreneurs / persons on leading positions in various companies
4. Profiles and contribution of Management gurus
5. New management terms
6. Main business news
7. Business editorial analysis

Students are assigned the above activities. The issues are presented and discussed critically in the classroom.