MBA in Israel as an Option for Indian
Students
Think beyond USA, Think Israel!
Top keywords: MBA Abroad worth it, MBA without work experience, MBA
after graduation.
Abstract:
In this article, we have explored how Indian students view the 'MBA
abroad' option and the changing trends in this domain. There are various news
articles and reports that are cited to understand how Indian students consider
costs, employment opportunities, work experience, VISA rules, and scholarships
among others while making a decision to pursue MBA abroad. Also, we have
discussed the segments (fresher, managerial, work visa oriented) of the
candidates those apply for an 'International MBA' or an 'MBA abroad'.
Current Scenario and Analysis of the 'International MBA'
Option
Doing an MBA abroad offers great opportunity for a holistic learning.
Many MBA programs in the west today have significant candidates from foreign
countries [6]. This trend is bound to increase due to the importance of
understanding cultural differences and approaches of doing business in a ‘Globalized
World’.
Each year around 200k-300k students move out of India for their
education [7]. ASSOCHAM, India predicts that India loses around $17 billion in
revenues in 2011 due to this outward flow. Although, the more concern for India
has been the brain drain in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths)
field. Though, MBA doesn't come inside this field, but a general trend suggest
that STEM areas remain the most important factor even for MBAs who finally gets
employed in STEM areas.
There are proponents of MBA in India vis-a-vis MBA abroad who suggests
that if the ultimate destination is India, focus is on scholarship and the
entry process is rigorous through a written exam-GD-PI which makes sure that
deserving candidates gets the best institutes of India [16]. We have countered
this view citing the changes in the landscape in this article.
India is the only big country where there is a trend to do MBA just
after your graduation without work experience. Hence, there is a need for a 2nd
MBA for those who did their MBA early in their career as reported in [3]. A
second degree to home wouldn't make much sense and these candidates are settled
in their life so don't want to move to west for a long period. Student with
less experience in India prefers a 2 year MBA abroad, and hence also relies on
parents' finances [9]. This is also because of the saving culture in Indian
society that students are financed by parents.
Also, there is an upward trend of students going to western countries
for an International MBA, mostly in the European nations [2, 15]. More students
from west would be a part of the IMBAs in location in between west and east.
There are many students in the west who would like to an MBA where they can
find diversity and people with different international backgrounds. This also
helps them to adjust to the new culture they might encounter which cannot be
experienced in a US MBA with 90% batch from US. An article on how European
students looks at the advances in international MBA is given in [10].
Why US MBA Ranks Number One for Indian Students?
After US, there is no country currently which attracts Indian MBA
aspirants to a great deal [4]. Also most of the foreign education consultancy
like the one shown in [11, 19] argues that MBA in US is the best choice.
Indian students prefer USA as their destination due to the easier OPT and
H1B resume that allows them the best talent to contribute in US economy [26].
Although for some, the MBA abroad due to its cost makes it very
tough to return back when the post MBA earning doesn't increase in the
proportion to offset the cost parity [27].
Canada, New Zealand and Australia are the options due to their liberal work visa policy as compared to Europe which has a strict work VISA policy. Hence, there is no place to go for Indian students except US for their MBA due to the ease of getting H1B VISA post-MBA. Currently there is no favourable VISA policy of Israel for Indian students (as this is still getting sorted out), however, Israel provides door for an employment at global destinations post the MBA which no other option provides. Australia, which gives Indian students 2 year work permit guaranteed with their MBA program, is now attracting great number of Indian students. A ranking of how Indian students perceive different countries for higher education is given in [5]. This report suggest that while considering for an MBA in Israel the only comparable option is Singapore, because all other places doesn't provides good returns while continuing a job back in India.
Financial Aspect of the decision making
The rupee depreciation in recent times has caused many foreign MBA aspirants to try locations other than US for an international MBA [1]. An MBA from UPenn costs around $120k while from Oxford costs around 41k pounds. Moreover for those student who want an International MBA would go to USA and plan to spend at-least 5-10 years so that they can get the required returns on their investment in an MBA. Contrary to this those who want to do an International MBA and return to India to continue a job doesn't find a very good International MBA in US or Europe, this is where BIU can provide an affordable option with the total cost of around $ 22-30k. Another comparison of Indian MBA vs MBA abroad is given in [12].
GMAC suggested that most of the students from India moving abroad for
MBA relies on parents money and education loans [8]. This is also a reason
Indian students are sensitive to the scholarship opportunities as compared to
students of China which the report suggest.
Choosing the best MBA in Israel for Indian Student
Keyword Optimization
There themes which could be added in a para to get BIU in top 10 for
below keywords along with the peer group, this could be done by making a page
with title, description, headings and other aspects:
1. Startup Up Nation
(Technion)
2. Make in India ,
example nanotech manufacturing - (make in India program at TAU)
3. Cyber warfare / Cyber
security (TAU)
4. Green Energy - Water
purification - Agriculture (Green MBA Haifa)
Figure 1: Ranking of BIU for various keywords
Focusing on these four points would make sure the students who visit the site of other universities also gets to site of BIU, hence in turn we benefit from their promotion as well.
Adsense placement: TAU, Technion and IDC are seen for paid placements at
Google India's search of "Israel MBA".
Conclusion and Proposed Strategy for BIU
It’s a new trend that most of the students doing MBA abroad gets easy
access to Venture Capitalist money and hence they start new ventures when they
return back. An entrepreneurship tale is given in [13]. Israel is known as the
start-up nation and hence this is an area where new partners could be found.
The other group to cater is the Executive MBA aspirants who want to start their
own venture or who are in their mid-career, there are seminars organized in New
Delhi on such courses [20]
Infosys, the biggest IT organization of India and other companies are
hiring in 200 locations abroad for their positions which are located globally
[17]. The placement provided is dependent on the institute as well as the
location and also on the strategic relevance of the learning. Likewise it
wouldn't be tough to engage Indian companies to hire Indian students who want
to get back to India.
Companies where BIU can place Indian students with strong presence are::
Amdocs, Elbit, IBM, Goldman, Comverse, WorldQuant, etc
There are three ways where BIU can lead the MBA option for Indian
students in Israel, first my increasing the online presence, second by using
the Alumni more efficiency to penetrate India or creating Indian Alumni,
thirdly making the course more India specific by adding / tweaking the
module. Hence any university is expected to create a better mechanism to
get in touch with the rich Alumni it has to get the connections in India for
post MBA opportunities.
Political buzz around 'make in India - launched by Honorable PM Modi'
which Israeli University has started capturing in recent months, for example
TAU [23, 24]. The Nanotech lab would be a great asset to contribute a part in
the 'make in India' initiative because most of the manufacturing is related to
Nanotech / MEMS etc [25].
This is similar to the new initiative by government of India to create
start-up - entrepreneurship fund for people who are just out of college which
is catered by the Startup-MBA at Technion. Noteworthy, the flier had focused on
the 'Start-up' which is helpful for the position of the site on search engine
which makes Israeli MBA's rank on top for such keywords.
Another promotional method is by taking virtual seminars or information
session for the program. For the announcement of Scholarship, the flier
can be submitted to the foreign education counsellor or submitted to free
portals online. Both of these options are listed in appendix.
About IndoIsraelResearch.com
We would be making sure we use the ideas to make sure
IndoIsraelResearch.com contributes and help Indian students understand the
topics and keywords and land our website to get more information. Already, we
rank in top 20-30 on many keywords.
References (News
Articles and other posts)
7.
http://monitor.icef.com/2012/11/number-of-indian-students-heading-abroad-up-300-over-past-decade/
27. http://redbus2us.com/is-studying-mba-in-usa-really-worth-it-what-if-i-do-not-make-more-money-in-job/
Appendix:
List of Foreign education consultant in India:
Scholarship sites (should be free and take 10-15 minutes to post):
