KIIT School of Rural Management: Interview with Anurag Ajay (Alumnus)

KIIT School of Rural Management, Bhubaneswar was established in 2006 as a constituent college of KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. The institute is known as KSRM in short. It has been recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). KSRM Bhubaneswar accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA). The college offers postgraduate degree programmes in management. The MBA courses available at KSRM are - M.B.A in Rural Management and M.B.A in Agriculture Business Management.

Careers360 brings you an exclusive interview with Anurag Ajay, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT). He is an alumnus of KIIT School of Rural Management. He did his M.B.A in Rural Management in 2008-10. In this interview Anurag has shared his experience and life at the institute. What is life like inside KSRM? How did he choose his career path? And other things about the institute. To know more about the experiences of an KSRM Bhubaneswar alumni read the full interview of Anurag Ajay with Careers360.

Careers360. Tell us about your domain and your work profile. At a professional level, did you pursue the same field you were interested in or you switched?

Anurag Ajay. Monitoring project progress through efficient tools and generating insights through quick surveys are my major working domains. Apart from these, I spend a substantial amount of time managing big data and adding value to data – from data generation and analytics to data publication. I can very well say that I am in the same or in a very closely related field that excited me during my MBA (RM) study. Courses offered on quantitative techniques, development research methods, ICTs for development, project management and few more were my favourites. Those concepts and practices are immensely beneficial for me now.

Also Read: KSRM Admission

Careers360. Can you briefly tell us about your career path so far?

Anurag Ajay. I was placed in a microfinance firm, Spandana in 2010 from KIIT School of Rural Management. Then I worked for a few NGOs in Maharashtra. In 2012, I joined the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT). It was the same organization where I had undertaken one of my field segments during MBA (RM). Since then, my career growth has remained very smooth in the last 10 years serving at various locations. Currently, I contribute at CIMMYT as a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist based at Patna, Bihar and managing activities in Bihar, UP and Odisha.

Quick Link: KSRM Courses and Fees

Careers360. Is industry work different from what you learn at B-School?

Anurag Ajay. There is a very thin line between ‘what we learnt’ and ‘what the organization expects us to do’. They may seem different but are tightly linked. KSRM course curriculum is adequately designed covering almost all facets of the professional horizon – from marketing to finance, from human resources to commodity trading, from economic analysis to climate change and so on. Adding to it are three attachment trainings with industries. Organizations are mostly focused towards one or few thematic areas based on their vision. A lot depends on what your top picks at B-School and where you landed as an employee. If they match, it is a win-win scenario.

Careers360. How do you think your MBA (RM) programme has added value to your life, both professional and personal?

Anurag Ajay. On the professional front, there are obvious contributions of MBA (RM) programme. Basic knowledge of industry-relevant subjects and desirable skill sets were the primary contributions. Creating set-up through field segments to accumulate experiential learnings, was another but very important contribution by the programme. I had done my three field training sessions in Bihar, Maharashtra and UP. All the three organizations were completely different in terms of size, nature of operations and organizational culture. They indirectly taught me a lot.

On the personal side, one of the traits that I must attribute to the MBA (RM) programme was ‘pushing my limit’ or ’going the extra mile’. For instance, once I thought all classes of the day were over and I was fully exhausted then I came to know there is an extra class to attend. Something like, preparing for a class exam for the next day and you get a case study to finish in between. These kinds of habits were inculcated that are now helping me overcome real-life challenges. It developed a trait that is a right blend of smart and hard work culture.

See Also: KSRM Facilities

Careers360. What was your initial thought process when you joined your MBA (RM) programme?

Anurag Ajay. My thought process was simple and positive – if I maintain a good academic performance in MBA (RM), it will reflect in my professional life. I was determined.

Careers360. You must have had a memorable time at your B-School. Do you miss being a part of it? Share a few good memories.

Anurag Ajay. There were many such occasions but the one I admire most was a daylong village tour in Dhenkanal district. It was an academic trip wherein all students of our batch (2008-10) were taken to a village to conduct participatory rural appraisal (PRA), a tool to collectively map the village. It was my first exposure to an Odia village. It was overwhelming to experience a village set-up and the way villagers generate their livelihood. I do belong to a village in Bihar but what I saw there (food, clothes, house types, farming practice, natural resources, etc.) were completely different and distinct.

Quick Link: KSRM Placements

Careers360. Briefly take us through your life at the campus, the activities you used to do and your routine life.

Anurag Ajay. Morning time was a kind of rush hour to get ready for class and finish breakfast on time. I still remember most of us running to the classroom with a tea/ coffee paper cup in hand. In the evening, we used to spend time in the cafeteria and library. The next study slot was generally kept from 9:00 PM after finishing dinner patiently and taking a long walk around the pleasantly lit campus.

Careers360. Apart from academics, what were the other activities you were involved in and how did it enrich your life?

Anurag Ajay. I always loved cricket and never missed a chance to put-on batting gloves. Although class schedules and MBA (RM) assignments did not allow much leisure, we loved to spend time at the cricket ground on Sundays and Holidays. The 2-3 hrs time spent on the playground was a wonderful stress buster, energizer and medium to strengthen bonding with schoolmates.

Careers360. You are a proud alumnus of this top B-School. What is the best part of KSRM from a student's perspective?

Anurag Ajay. The best part of being a KSRM student is that you get into a campus with all possible facilities. To me, the hostel was perfect, the library was great and the sporting facilities were marvellous. As a student, I was not expecting anything more. That was of course an advantage of being part of KIIT University.

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Careers360. What is your suggestion/ guidance for MBA aspirants?

Anurag Ajay. MBA widens your horizon and offers you wonderful career opportunities. Within MBA, the Rural Management sector has huge potential and is consistently growing. To become successful in this field, I have only one thing to say – Reading. I love the quote by Margaret Fuller: "Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader."

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