The survey initiated by Financial Times, a British tabloid, for the best B-schools globally witnessed the value of IIM-A rise when the college succeeded in securing 26th rank. The college ranked second in career progress leaving behind prestigious business schools of U.S., which includes Harvard Business School. The career progress in the survey included the degree of the length of service and the currently working companies with the alumni, based on which the ranks were decided. IIM-A and Harvard Business School emerged at the top of game securing the first position in the list of best B-schools overall, while London Business School and University of Pennsylvania ranked second and third respectively. Indian School of Business and IIM Bangalore drew attention by making it to the 33rd and 82nd rank in the list. Nevertheless, IIM-Bangalore is quite ahead attaining the 5th position in career progress along with ISB placed at rank 33. The assessment done by the survey comprised of many factors like career progress, school's potential to come up with ideas, value for money, heterogeneity of the faculty and students which were taken under consideration to come up with the final list.

UK-based IFOA and the government of India tie up to launch course in Actuaries
The central government is in talks with UK-based global actuarial professional body, Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, to introduce specialized actuarial course at the owned National Insurance Academy in Pune from next academic session. It is keeping in view the huge demand of specialized actuaries the country may have in future, post hike in FDI to 49 per cent from 26 per cent in the insurance sector of the country. "We have suggested for having a 2-year post graduation diploma in actuarial science at NIA. We are sure that actuarial course may be a possibility at the institution in future as we are likely to have some tie-up with the institute in this connection in future for the same," IFoA chief executive, Derek Cribb. The total fee for undergoing a CAA course will be 380 pounds. Currently, there are 260 actuaries in the country who are fully qualified and passed the all 15 exams that are required for become a full-fledged actuary. The problem is merely 20-30 people qualify out of the 9,000 who are studying the actuary course in the country, every year. Globally, 200 students are undergoing the CAA course and 150 of them are from UK alone, he said. Actuaries possess expertise in the field statistics and mathematics, and help in risk assessment and estimation of premiums for an insurance business based upon past occurrences.

Landmark Signed between Delhi University and NSDC
With a view to provide comprehensive and employment-oriented education, the University of Delhi has taken an initiative to integrate "skill with knowledge" in its undergraduate programs. The university has signed a landmark MoU with the NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation) of the government of India to facilitate the introduction of skill-based courses in its undergraduate program and other programs of the university. These courses can be added on short-term courses, compulsory courses and long-term courses. The objective of the MoU is to improve employment potential of the students of the University of Delhi with systematic training, certificates of competency and placement assistance. The students would benefit in several ways pursuing these courses. Some of which are acquiring special skills, for jobs and entrepreneurship related to knowledge that they will obtain in their undergraduate program. This training shall be in sectors of banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), IT and IT enable services (ITES) health care, media and entertainment, tourism and hospitality and automotive industry. 70 percent of all students under these courses will be assured placements through NSDC for jobs or becoming entrepreneurs in the above given sectors. These courses will be available in all colleges.

IIM Graduates Turn to Startups and E-Commerce
B-School students who are ready to join the startups seem to increase in 2015 as compared to the previous year, reports ETI. As per a survey done by them, one in every nine students from the batch of 2013-15 of India's top B-schools will be attempting to join startups or E-commerce companies as compared to one among 19 students in the batch of 2012-14. Moreover, since the last one year, startups and the e-Commerce companies have raised their offers up to 120 percent.