Program Structure: The MBA-RM Program comprises six kinds of learning segments carrying 110 credits, of which 78 credits are core requirements, and 32 credits are elective, spread over six terms in two years. Learning segments include classroom-based courses as well as field seminar and research segments, and carry credits ranging from 1.0 to 4.0. All courses and other components in the first year are compulsory (core). In the second year students can select elective courses of their choice from the many offered, along with a few compulsory courses. Each credit includes 10 hours of classroom contact or its field equivalent, and an equal duration outside the classroom to be utilized for preparatory reading and assignments.

Classroom Learning: The conceptual and theoretical fundamentals of management and development are provided in the core classroom segments, as well as the analytical frameworks and tools which equip them to maximize their learning in the field segments. The core courses provide the essential understanding and skills in all the functional areas of management including Accounting, Finance, Organization Behaviour, Human Resources, Operations, Marketing, Strategy; also of development, such as Community Mobilization and Institution-building, Microplanning, Societal Analysis and Participatory Rural Appraisal, Development Program Management, Development Finance and Rural Project Financing, Microfinan e, Gender, Governance and Social Entrepreneurship. These stand on foundational courses like Managerial Analysis and Communication, Economics and Research Methods. Elective courses offered from Term IV, provide advanced exposure in all the above areas and more, ranging from Agriculture Input and Output Marketing, Consumer Behaviour and Transformational Leadership to Corporate Social Responsibility, Ecosystem Management, Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation and Development Training.

Rural Living and Learning segments are an integral pedagogical component of the MBA-RM and mandatory for all students. Animated by our conviction that students of the MBA (RM) must have the willingness, capacity and drive to learn from the lives of people with whom they are going to work, the main component is the Rural Living and Learning Experience (RLLE). During this the students are attached to a development organization and stay in a village for several weeks to understand village society, economy and polity in all its complexities, learn to appreciate the difficulties faced by communities and experience for themselves the wisdom and resilience with which households and communities order their lives. Students are often placed in underserved rural areas and carry out active projects and the research and documentation necessary for conveying local conditions and processes to the world; this not only helps them to learn but also to add value to the communities and organizations which host them. Fieldwork to learn Participatory Rural Appraisal, and micro research and field application projects included in other courses also provide practical opportunities. These help students to design systems that connect the local, regional and global and plan innovative interventions in rural areas.

Management Traineeship segments for observation and study of organizations in operation, and for practical exposure are also mandatory. They comprise internship opportunities with reputed organizations working in the rural management domain, during the Summer Internship Program (SIP) and the organizational attachments for RLLE. It provides students with an opportunity to understand the working environment of an organisation, observe managerial practices and gain practical experience. It helps to equip the students with more effective techniques and better decision making abilities. It exposes the students to opportunities of real life application of development management concepts learnt in the classroom, and develop innovative and target-oriented solutions to the major issues faced by the organisation. Students are placed in locations which offer opportunities to observe and be part of the operational and strategic processes; to hone both functional and strategy formulation skills.

Seminar and Colloquium components include the National Colloquium in Rural Management (NCRM) in the first year and the Development Ethics Seminar (DES) in the second year, both of which are core requirements. The NCRM features eminent speakers from the rural management field to discuss various aspects of the fields development, contemporary issues and future directions. In the DES, students are sensitized to the ethical responsibilities of a development practitioner, the dilemmas which they are likely to confront, and ways to make principled choices and decisions.

Immersion Courses are an unique innovation to provide students with an exposure and understanding of topics which are still emergent and not fully explored in the regular courses. These are non-credited modules offered during the second year; students are required to take at least two of those which are offered. The modules are taught by thought leaders and professionals working in new areas in the industry and social sectors, and enable students to broaden their horizons, learn about the cutting-edge developments in their field and explore newer opportunities. Topics covered over the years have included geographical information systems, business planning for social enterprises, product and brand management, commodity trading, ICT for governance, human rights and social justice, renewable energy management and quality certification sys ems.

Focus Areas in the MBA-RM Rural management graduates serve in a variety of organizational contexts, and are therefore required to be competent in a number of substantive areas. The core segments are designed to enable all students to develop this multi-dexterity. In addition, the students can build specialized expertise in any of the rapidly growing areas in the domain, by selecting a combination of elective courses that enables concentrated attention on their focal area(s).

The Agribusiness and Rural Marketing concentration builds the ability of students to catalyse market access for and by the rural citizen. Courses in this concentration equip students more strongly for a career in marketing agri–inputs and outputs, food products, consumer goods, crafts and services, and in developing rural markets and value chains. Courses offered include supply chain management, value chain analysis, product and brand management, design thinking & innovation, sales & distribution management, agri-input & output marketing, procurement management, market research and craft marketing. These are revised in keeping with emerging trends and complemented by frequent industry interface.

The Rural and Inclusive Finance concentration provides the specialized understanding of rural financial markets, institutions, products and services necessary for extending the range of financial services to those who lack access. Deeper understanding of the financial intermediation process and the complex inter-dependencies of different stake holders enables the development of the specialized capabilities required for building viable architectures for sustainable rural financial delivery, and enabling wealth creation and poverty reduction. Courses including micro finan e management, commercial and development banking, commodity derivatives and insurance & risk management are available in this area.

The Livelihood and Development Management concentration provides a closer understanding of various livelihood models and approaches, and their applications and experiences at national and international level, and the issues and challenges confronted in building sustainable livelihoods. While the primary focus is on the development of agri-based, livestock-based and natural resourcebased livelihood options in rural areas, a richer understanding of development Programs in various sectors (Health, Education, WASH, Food Security and Nutrition) can be built, including about policies, institutional mechanisms and the groups served. The concepts and tasks of decentralized planning and governance are also taught, set within an overarching rights-based approach to development, and linked to rights-based policies and legislation.

The Social Entrepreneurship concentration enables those students with innovative social-business ideas who are keen on developing their own enterprises; it also enables students to work with start ups in the social enterprise sector. The courses train students to understand newer forms of organisations such as producer companies and the emerging domain of social impact investing, manage social enterprises and measure their social impacts. Students interact with social entrepreneurs in the XUB network who offer specialised modules on social business plans and the management challenges in start-ups. Students will be encouraged to intern with social enterprises during their field work components, and encouraged to opt out of the placement process, access venture funds to start their own enterprises and thus expand the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.

Industry Interface & Practical Exposure: The MBA-RM students organize and conduct a number of events and activities, geared to designed to develop their managerial and team-work capabilities and also increase their involvement with local communities and with industry segments. A flagship event is the Gramotsava, a weekend of rural and social marketing fairs organized in villages in the region.

Students undertake live projects in partnership with sponsoring organizations, and collaborate with the village leaders and the community to organize the events. In the RLLE mela at the end of their village stay, students share the details of the village, their experience and the projects undertaken with the students, faculty and visitors of XUB. The RMax – the association of the RM students – organizes Abhivyakti, the annual Rural Management Conclave, with senior leaders from industry and sector organizations; it also publishes Dhwani, the rural management magazine and organizes case-writing competitions during the year. Leadership Talks are also a regular feature, bringing business and social leaders to campus to interact with students.

Academic Calendar: The MBA-RM academic year comprises three terms of approximately 12-14 weeks. The RLLE segment is part of Term II in the firstyear, and the SIP is scheduled for 8-10 weeks between terms III and IV. The weekly schedule typically has 16-20 sessions, which include classroom sessions and time for other segments such as the NCRM and the DES. The Gramotsava, Abhivyakti, RLLE Mela and some other co-curricular events are scheduled on working days, while Leadership Talks and Immersion courses are often organized over some weekends.

Degree: The Xavier University awards the MBA in Rural Management Degree to students who successfully complete all curricular requirements equivalent to 110 credits, and fulfil other prescribed requirements of the MBA-RM Program. The Degree is awarded to qualifying students in the Annual Convocation, usually in the month of March.