Chhimi Dema
Optimism is in the clear spring Gedu air as the only college of business studies (GCBS) is poised to transform into an international-level business school.
Both students and faculties, aware of the impending transformation, look forward to the changes the college will see in the next five years.
Starting this July, GCBS will offer six new courses under three schools or academic departments. The college would offer bachelor’s in marketing, human capital management, business management, accountancy, finance and economics, and business analytics under the schools of business management; accountancy; economics, finance; and business intelligence.
Along with the academic changes, there are plans to renovate and redesign the college infrastructure. The college is also working to get international accreditation within the next five years and attract international students to study there.
GCBS located at the campus which was developed by the Tala Hydropower Project Authority was established in 2008.
Today, the college offers two bachelor’s degree courses–business administration and commerce. Critics say many of its graduates are finding it difficult to find jobs.
A senior faculty member, Tandin Chophel, said that the college has a vision to be a leading business and management institution in the South Asian region which could not be realised due to many constraints.
“Change is needed. With the experts and the college management working together, it is the right time to embark on the mission of transformation,” he said.
The faculty, administration, and students are in the loop with the changes that would occur in the next five years. What is a break from the previous norm, a Vice President is also appointed. Vice President, Samten Jamtsho said his post will be a bridge between the external experts and the college.
Concerns?
Like the fog that shades Gedu in summer, faculty members are concerned about how they would be able to achieve the targets. This concern arises from the current human resource capacity and the poor infrastructure.
A faculty member, Gaki Dem said, that they look forward to changes at the college to keep up with the evolving technology and market shifts. She said that it is important to build competency of the faculty members so that they have the confidence to fit into the new academic framework. “Transformation should come in the approach or delivery, so, students feel the relevancy of the learning in the college to the world.”
According to faculty members, the college today has small classrooms that don’t encourage discussions or have limited scope to embed technology in learning.
Students, meanwhile, said that the college President shared with them about the reforms and how relevant the new courses would be to the demand in the labour market.
A third-year student said that a change in the syllabus is required to keep their learning technology-based. “What we learned in the previous year is not applicable now [as technology evolves].”
He said that the reform is needed if it makes students “job-ready”. “I am excited about the change,” he said. “If we are taught what is relevant to the market’s demand then, we become ready to get employed.
Samten Jamtsho, the college’s deputy president, said that reforms are necessary to keep up with international development.
He said that there are plans to upskill the faculty’s capacity and call the industry and international experts in different areas to the college.
Samten Jamtsho said that in the next five years, the college aims to see its graduates recognised in the international arena for their performance.