Introduction
PGDM or Post Graduate Diploma in Management is a post graduate diploma course in management. This course is offered mainly by the autonomous institutes which are not affiliated to any of the universities. This course is recognized by AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education). While on the other hand MBA or Master of Business Administration is a post graduate degree program in management. This degree program is offered only by those colleges or institutes which are affiliated to any of the universities. This degree program is recognized by UGC (University Grants Commission). PGDM could be offered by those institutes or colleges also which are affiliated to any university and they can offer both the post graduate degree program as MBA and post graduate diploma program as PGDM.
MBA
MBA known as Masters of Business Administration is a two year post graduate degree program provided by only those colleges or institutes which are affiliated to any university. In MBA there is a fixed curricullum made by the university and all the colleges and institutes have to follow that curricullum strictly. They made some changes to the program during three to five years period by retaining most of the curriculum same. They focus on theoretical, analytical and applied aspects of management. Due to this type of curriculum a student can do his/her overall development. They are considered for more of the higher posts like administrative officer, management consultant, human resources manager etc. They can get equal chances in both private as well as public sector such as in financial organizations, banks, business consultancies, industrial houses, educational industries etc. To do MBA an aspirant has to be graduate under any undergraduate degree program and has to crack any of the qualifying exams such as CAT (Common Admission Test), MAT (Management Aptitude Test), JMET (Joint Management Entrance Test) etc. The eligibility could vary from college to college or institute to institute. Some universities accept all entrance results while some conducts their own entrance exams. One of the top institute which offers MBA degree program is FMS (Faculty of Management Studies) affiliated to University of Delhi.
PGDM
PGDM, known as Post Graduate Diploma in Management, is also a two year post garduate diploma program in management provided mostly by the autonomous institutes or colleges which are not affiliated to any of the universities. Some colleges and institutes which are affiliated to the universities also offer PGDM. PGDM don’t have any fixed curriculum they make necessary changes to their course every year, if required, otherwise they go through their curriculum once in every years. They can make changes according to the current market demand. Institutes offering PGDM focuses on theoretical and practical aspects of management. Due to this type of curriculum a student can do his/her development in that way so that he/she can tackle the problems or crisis as quickly as possible. They also get good chances in both public and private sectors such as banks, financial organizations, educational institutes etc. The posts for which the PGDM diploma holders are considered are quite similar to the MBA degree holder, some of the positions are relationship officer, recruitment officer etc. To do PGDM an aspirant has to be graduate either degree holder or diploma holder. In some institutes they can get direct admission after getting graduated by degree college or earned diploma, while some of them give admissions on the basis of entrance exams such as CAT or they conduct their own entrance exams. One of the premier institute which offers PGDM is IIM (Indian Institute of Management). They offers PGDM as PGDBM (Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management).
Difference between MBA & PGDM
There is not much difference in both of the programs in respect to their applicability or functioning. MBA focuses on in depth knowledge while PGDM focuses on current market trends. MBA develops the aspirant in such maner so that he/she can tackle any problem or crisis because they know all the basics, fundamentals and all the compulsory aspects which are essential for a mangement professional. On the other hand PGDM develops the aspirant in such a way so that he/she can tackle all kinds of current market problems or crisis. If any problem which seems unknown to a PGDM diploma holder occurs then the aspirant become helpless to tackle the problem.
Which one should you choose?
Now a days more of the students get confused in between PGBM and MBA. In general if any student wants to be a management professional then he/she has to know the difference between them. Some institutes which provide PGDM markets themselves so well, so that they can’t diffrentiate between MBA and PGDM. But in the real world some companies clearly gives priority to MBA over PGDM, because in the long run MBA has the clear edge over PGDM. But it doesn’t mean that PGDM is worthless PGDM holders can also perform better. The biggest example is IIM producing management professionals who are earning more that any other management professional now a days. So, if you want to be a management professional then try to go for MBA first, otherwise choose PGDM as an option very wisely, try to choose any premier institute to earn PGDM. Choise is yours!