You don't have to ace the Common Admission Test and go through a gruelling interview process to engage in those intellectually stimulating business discussions with the country’s leading professors. India’s top management institute, the Indian Institute of Management – Ahmedabad (IIM-A), is giving an opportunity to everyone by launching FacConnect – a unique social interaction initiative by the student body which handles the institute’s external relations.
The social media initiative aims at extending the institute’s online outreach. The programme will give interested netizens a chance to interact with faculty members of IIM-A and engage in discussions with them on selected topics.
“The areas of discussion as well as the faculty members will be chosen keeping in mind some of the most pressing concerns of the day,” said Sarthak Phadke, member of the media cell at IIM-A, in an e-mail reply. “The initiative will provide an opportunity for complete outsiders to interact and discuss issues and relevant topics with (our) reputed faculty.”
The outreach programme also gives an opportunity for aspiring students who want to join the reputed B-School a glimpse of what one can expect in the premier institute.
The business school is using a mix of social media platforms such as Google Hangout, Facebook and Twitter to launch and execute the discussions.
The shortlisting for the programme will be done on the basis of answers and essays submitted by those interested.
“Unlike conventional methods, social media has the ability to reach thousands of people at one go, it will also allow us to get feedback about the activity regularly and introduce required changes,” added Phadke. Netizens will have to go through an online submission and shortlisting process to interact with a new faculty member each month.
The discussions will take place on Google Hangout on topics such as public systems, business policy, marketing, and ethics in business. The initiative is primarily aimed at students and professionals who have a keen interest in such topics. Participants with a non-management background are also eligible to apply.
The institute has a social media presence on multiple platforms including Wordpress.
“With the current migration of offline to online and large number of traditional media houses moving to online editions, online content is slowly building credibility with the audience as well,” said Phadke. “Coupled with the ease of use and the speed, it is very crucial for the dissemination of information.”
The last date for registering for FacConnect is July 24.