In a dramatic turn of events, evening MBA students of the Institute of Business Management (IBM), affiliated with Jadavpur University, staged a protest during the institute's 12th convocation ceremony on Monday. The students, who had gathered to receive their hard-earned degrees, voiced their frustration over the lack of job placements, a promise they claim was made during their admission.
Convocation Day Turns Into Protest Platform
The convocation, meant to be a celebratory occasion, was marked by dissent as students held up their demands for employment opportunities. The institute conferred MBA degrees to 27 evening students and BBA degrees to 17 day students from the 2022-2025 batch. However, for many, the joy of graduation was overshadowed by anxiety about an uncertain future.
The protesting students alleged that they had approached the authorities multiple times regarding campus placements but were met with indifference. "We repeatedly approached higher authorities with requests about placement," said one student. "There are students who are not working professionals and need jobs. But they brushed us off with responses like ‘we're looking into it' and ‘we'll see what we can do'."
Broken Promises and Mounting Debt
The core of the grievance lies in the alleged gap between admission assurances and reality. One MBA student highlighted the financial burden, stating, "I took a loan to study here. During admission, we were told that we would get a job with a minimum package of Rs 6 lakh per annum. But today we are standing on the convocation stage without any job."
The student further explained that even those who are currently employed had enrolled in the programme for better career opportunities. The financial stakes are high, with the MBA course fee being Rs 4,10,025. The fear of being unable to repay education loans without securing a job has created significant distress among the graduates.
Institute and University Response
When confronted with the allegations, institute Director Debasis Chanda presented a different perspective. He emphasized that the evening batch programme was designed for working professionals. "Some students in our evening batch are working professionals who attend classes in the evening after their day jobs, which is why we thoughtfully designed the programme to support this group," Chanda said.
He denied making any commitments regarding placements but added, "But at the same time, providing jobs is our priority, and we are trying to put a proper placement process in place." This statement, however, offered little solace to the non-working students who depend on campus recruitment.
Distancing the university from the issue, Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee stated clearly, "JU does not have any responsibility in this matter." This response places the onus squarely on the affiliated institute, highlighting the complex dynamics of accountability within the higher education framework.
The protest underscores a growing concern in India's professional education sector, where high fees and student loans are often justified by the promise of lucrative placements. When these promises remain unfulfilled, it leads to disillusionment and financial strain, turning milestone events like convocations into platforms for demanding accountability.
