INTRODUCTION

In Nepal, as elsewhere, management education has in recent years seen a tremendous growth both in terms of demand for and supply of a range of programs designed to meet the increasing need of professional managers across all sectors of economy and society. Predictably, a variety of university-based management education programs as well as non-academic management development programs have sprung up over the years in Nepal to meet the growing need of professionally-trained managers. Supply of professional managers, however, falls far short of their demand – both in quantity and quality. A huge demand for professional managers exists to manage an ever increasing number and variety of economic and social enterprises in the country.

A huge chunk of managers across all spectra of business, economic, public, and citizen sectors have not had, during their career, opportunities for formal management education or even high quality management training to shape and sharpen their managerial competencies and experience. This explains, at least partly, the generally low performance level of management prevalent in most Nepali enterprises. If performance of economic and social enterprises in Nepal is to be enhanced, these managers should be provided with proper and quality management education opportunities for their professional improvement. As in the other developed countries, in Nepal too the university-based continuing executive education programs designed and delivered in practitioners- friendly ways seem to be a major strategic response to this need.

Like management education, other technical and professional educational streams have also substantially grown in Nepal in the recent time. Many of the graduates of these programs set up their own enterprises or take up jobs in organizations before they pursue advanced degrees. Both these categories of science and technology graduates require managerial competencies to be successful in their ventures.

There are many business houses and citizen sector organizations who are interested in developing their managers through such short- term and practitioners-friendly formal university management education programs that are more flexible in delivery modality and adaptive to learning requirements of working managers.

Befitting its leader role in management education, the Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) now responds to the long outstanding need of Nepali enterprises. Directed by its strategy of diversifying products and markets and more deeply entrenching into the continuing executive education programs for the promotion of management profession and practices in the country, KUSOM offers innovative short term post-experience and application-oriented management education programs that links management knowledge with the real world of work to make KUSOM a destination of practicing managers. KUSOM offer two interlinked programs in general management: a. Diploma in Management (DipM) program; and b. Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDSM).

WHY DIPM/ PGDM?

DipM and PGDM are practice-oriented and industry- relevant management education programs of high disciplinary rigor that equip students with substantial grounding in professional knowledge in management while enriching practical management competence for improved managerial performance.

The overall purpose of the two interlinked programs is to enhance professionalism in management of organization by

• Enriching professional management competence of practicing managers at all levels and across all functional categories as well as fresh graduates from non-managerial streams aspiring for managerial and entrepreneurial roles;

• Providing a platform for continuing learning of management knowledge, values, and behaviors to help practicing managers update and contemporize their management practices and engage in self-renewal process; and

• Facilitating networking of community of management practitioners and management knowledge providers.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The programs are offered as a two – tier system of stand-alone as well as integrated package. At the foundation level, Diploma in Management (DipM) is offered and at the advanced level Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) is available. DipM is both a stand-alone and an integrated study program. As a stand –alone program, DipM offers students an option to terminate their study program after its completion in which case they will get a certificate of DipM from the School. As an integrated package, DipM is the foundation for PGDM. Those who meet requirements for post graduate diploma level may continue and after completion of the requirements will get a certificate of PGDM from the University.

Diploma in Management (DipM)

DipM provides a broad-based, practical introduction to the key management ideas, techniques, and overall competencies needed in order to manage effectively and productively in enterprises. It is a one trimester program stretched over 14 weeks (three and a half months). Students are required to take a total of 10 credit hours course load comprising foundation management courses.

Foundation Courses

1. Communications at Work [2 Credits]

2. Managing Organizations [2 Credits]

3. Managing People [2 Credits]

4. Managing Market and Customers [2 Credits]

5. Accounting for Management [2 Credits]

Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)

PGDM is an advance study program that builds on and extends the learning contents and experience of the DipM program. It is an intensive one year study program spread over three trimesters of 14 weeks each. Students are required to take a total course load of 28 credit hours that includes foundation courses (offered in DipM), core management courses, and an integrative project work. Credits earned in the PGDM program are transferable into Executive MBA program of the School as decided by the Dean.

Core Management Courses

1. Interpersonal Communication Skills [2 Credits]

2. Managing Finance [2 Credits]

3. Development of Marketing Plan [2 Credits]

4. Managing Human Resource Systems [2 Credits]

5. Managing Information [2 Credits]

6. Managing Projects [2 Credits]

7. Enterprise Development [2 Credits]

8. Managing Change and Organizational Development [2 Credits]

9. Integrative Project Work (involving a Real Life Management Problem) [2 Credits]

YOU NEED THIS PROGRAM IF YOU ARE….

• Practicing manager at any level and across all functional categories in business, economic, public, and citizen sectors;

• Young aspirant trying to get into management career after earning undergraduate degree in technical and non-management disciplines; and

• Entrepreneur or self-employed person seeking to learn and enrich management for improving your venture.

WHO CAN JOIN THE PROGRAM?

For credit candidates with job experience

DipM: A practicing manager or supervisor with at least three years of work experience, or an entrepreneur with three years business experience, with a Bachelor degree of at least two years duration in any discipline from universities recognized by Kathmandu University.

PGDM: Nepali and non-Nepali citizen with at least three years of work experience at the supervisory/ officer level or above and a Bachelor degree of at least two years duration in any discipline with 45 percent or equivalent or Master degree in any discipline with 45 percent or equivalent from universities recognized by Kathmandu University.

For credit candidates with fresh Bachelor’s degree

DipM and PGDM: Nepali and Non-Nepal citizen with a Bachelor Degree or equivalent of at least three years duration in any discipline with a minimum of 50 percent in aggregate or 2.5 CGPA on a scale of 4 from universities recognized by Kathmandu University.

For audit candidates

Nepali and Non-Nepal citizen with a Bachelor degree of at least two years duration in any discipline and minimum three years job or business experience.

(In case of very experienced candidates who are likely to make good use of management knowledge earned in the programs, the Dean upon recommendation of the Subject Committee may wave this requirement for audit candidates).

Selection of the candidates is based on

• Scores on the KUSOM’s Diploma in Management Admission Test (verbal assessment and quantitative assessment), written English test, and personal interview (in case of audit candidates, only personal interview);

• Relevant and productive academic managerial experience in business, public, citizen, and academic sectors;

• Merit of academic attainments up to the graduate level; and

• Articulation and depth of interest in management.

OTHER PROGRAM DETAILS

Methodology

KUSOM emphasizes more on learning by students themselves rather than on teaching them. It uses the teaching methods that encourage students’ active participation and involvement. Apart from class lectures, regular case study, take away and class room assignments, project works, term paper, presentation, tutorials, and students led seminars will be used for the delivery of the courses.

Throughout the program, students are motivated to define and analyze the problems or issues, evaluate options, and make decision.

Credit Transfer

Credits earned in DipM will be transferred to PGDM if students successfully completing DipM enrol into PGDM. Credits earned in PGDM may be transferred to EMBA.

Academic Calendar

The annual cycle of PGDM program is as follows: Summer Term; Fall Term; and Spring Term. The duration of each term will be of 14 weeks. The calendar and the credit hour allocation are as follows:

Summer Term: June—September 10 credit hours

Fall Term: October—January 10 credit hours

Spring Term: February—May 8 credit hours

However, KUSOM will offer DipM in summer, fall and spring term as deemed necessary.

Post Graduate Diploma in Management

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