Is Your Traditional MBA Making You Obsolete? How VBS’s 15:9 PGDM Prepares You for the Modern Business World

Now that in today’s AI-driven landscape most businesses exist in a fast-evolving, technology-driven world, efficiency, adaptability, and digital fluency are no longer optional – they are now necessities. Yet many traditional MBA programs continue to follow dated old models: two-year classroom sessions packed with theory, minimal industry exposure, and very little to no engagement with next-generation technologies. This approach is increasingly turning students aspiring to enter the job market into outdated resources, ill-equipped to meet the expectations of today’s employers.

This was highlighted in a 2023 LinkedIn report that states that over 60% of recruiters at top global companies prefer hiring candidates who are proficient in data analytics, AI tools, and digital business platforms, rather than those who are purely theoretical MBAs. Many traditional MBA graduates, having only studied case studies and textbooks without any hands-on experience with technologies like Python for analytics, Tableau, or AI-driven business simulation tools, often require extensive upskilling before they can contribute effectively. In contrast, candidates from programs with integrated AI, business analytics, and real-world internships hit the ground running, demonstrating both strategic thinking and technological fluency from day one.

This illustrates how a traditional MBA, lacking integration of technology and practical exposure, can leave young potential leaders underprepared for modern business challenges.

The Gap Recruiters Are Spotting

Recruiters across industries are noticing this gap. Many agree that graduates from conventional MBA programs often require additional training to adapt to real-world business challenges or understand actual challenges with textbook knowledge.

The recent mass layoffs by some of the top global recruiters including Verizon, IBM Amazon, Starbucks, American Airlines, and more, followed by mass recruitment, highlight this issue very clearly, showing that companies do have job posts, but what they need are specialists, not generalists.

This trend highlights a broader reality: the business world increasingly values career-ready practitioners over credentialed GPAs. And this is precisely where Vivekanand Business School (VBS), Mumbai, is transforming management education.

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VBS 15:9 PGDM: Bridging Theory and Practice

VBS is one of the top PGDM institutes in Mumbai and has pioneered an AI-backed PGDM program curriculum with a cutting-edge 15:9 structure. Students here spend 15 months in intensive classroom learning followed by a 9-month paid internship, allowing them to integrate theory with practical application.

15 Months of Intensive Learning

During this period, students gain a strong foundation in key business domains: marketing, finance, operations, human resources, manufacturing & telecoms. Beyond traditional management concepts, the VBS curriculum places special emphasis on AI, data analytics, business analytics, and Industry 5.0 technologies, bridging the digital skills gap seen in most MBA programs.

9 Months of Paid Internship

Unlike a conventional summer internship that lasts a maximum of 3 months, this 9-month apprenticeship immerses our students in real corporate environments helping students understand real challenges & on the job experience. They participate in projects, apply analytical frameworks, and take ownership of deliverables. This approach equips our students to handle real-world challenges, make informed decisions under uncertainty, and translate classroom learning into actionable business strategies.

Specializations Aligned With Industry Needs

VBS goes beyond foundational business knowledge, offering specializations that make graduates highly skilled in their chosen fields:

• PGDM in Business Analytics – Master data-driven decision-making and AI tools for actionable insights, helping students decode market  trends & end user behaviour.
• PGDM in Marketing – Focus on digital marketing, brand strategy, and customer-centric approaches incorporated with AI performance & delivery tools.
• PGDM in Banking & Finance – Prepare for dynamic financial markets with risk analysis and modelling, helping students get the deep understanding of the banking & financial world.
• PGDM in Operations & Supply Chain Management – Learn process optimisation, logistics management, and operational efficiency along with innovative process development & delivery tracking.
• PGDM in Human Resource Management (HRM) – Develop strategies for talent acquisition, retention, and organizational growth.

The combination of specialisation and the 15:9 structure ensures our students gain not only knowledge but also the strategic ability to make an impact in their chosen sector. 

Career-Ready Skills Beyond the Classroom

Modern business education extends beyond theory. At VBS Mumbai, we place strong emphasis on soft skills, leadership, adaptability, and industry-recognized credentials that enhance career readiness. Our students benefit from:

• Guest lectures and mentorship sessions led by industry experts
• Real-world case simulations reflecting live business challenges
• Hands-on workshops in communication, negotiation, and strategic thinking
• Industry-relevant certifications that strengthen technical and analytical skill sets

By graduation, students are equipped not only with technical knowledge, but also with strong decision-making abilities, confidence, and adaptability, all of which are critical attributes for thriving in today’s complex business environments.

The Competitive Edge of the 15:9 Structure

Most traditional MBA programs do not provide continuous exposure to live projects but at VBS, our students:

• Works closely with senior management and cross-functional teams
• Apply AI-powered analytics to live business problems
• Lead strategic projects reflecting real corporate functions

This ensures VBS PGDM graduates are job-ready from day one, with skills that add immediate value to employers.

Industry 5.0: Preparing Students for the Future

Industry 5.0 emphasizes collaboration between humans and machines, data-driven decision-making, and ethical leadership. The VBS PGDM programs hone students’ ability to integrate AI-driven insights with human creativity, making them highly sought-after assets in a technology-driven business world.

Why VBS is Among the Top B-Schools in Mumbai

As one of the most renowned business management institutes in Mumbai that offers AICTE-approved PGDM degrees, VBS combines academic rigour with real-world experience. Our PGDM programs empowers students with:

• Advanced business & technology
• Experience with extended internships
• Specializations in line with market demand
• Training on soft skills and leadership

VBS graduates leave not only in possession of a degree but professionally ready to strategically and effectively contribute in the modern business environment. Where old-school MBA programs are respected, increasingly misaligned with modern business environments. Often leaving students unready for fast-paced, technology-driven industries. We at VBS Mumbai are offering a future alternative. With its AI-enhanced PGDM and a 15:9 structure, Our students receive solid academic training, experience, and career-ready skills. And with industry-oriented specialisations, VBS sets its programs and its graduates up to be adaptable, competent, and impactful leaders in a world dominated by artificial intelligence (AI), analytics, and Industry 5.0 technologies. VBS is the start for students who aspire to attend one of the top B-schools in Mumbai so that they can future-proof their careers and stand out in the competitive job market.

Author Bio,

Ms. Hetaal Palan is the Assistant Director – Branding, Marketing & Student Relations and Head – Alumni Relations at Vivekanand Business School (VBS), Mumbai. She leads strategic initiatives across institutional branding, student engagement, and alumni relations, playing a key role in strengthening VBS’s academic visibility and industry relevance. Her work focuses on aligning management education with evolving business, technology, and career trends.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hetaal-palan-00461737