IPMX @ IIM Lucknow

Well, I had heard about the concept of peer learning in B- schools. What I did not know however, was the sheer strength and impact of the same, especially in a case based pedagogy! What we have here is a pool of 48 students with work experience ranging from 6 years to 23 years across diverse sectors and industries, each carrying an enormous knowledge base. An average work experience of around 9.5 years makes it 450 years of experience and wisdom to be assimilated within a short span of 1 year!

We all have sat in classrooms before, but the learning that happens here goes three steps beyond that:

First, we are expected to read the text as well as the relevant case before coming to the class. This is good enough considering that we may have already experienced this or familiar with/ can relate to/ understand such a situation.

Then, there is a group based discussion (typically 6 members in a team) to literally dissect the case apart and leave no page unturned or concept/idea/meaning/reasoning/ strategy that is not understood. Wow, we are at a different level of learning already, one that we had not envisaged or expected to achieve.

Finally, the subject is taken up in class, the discussion/ learning facilitated by a superb faculty, and it just hits you! There is so much more in there........Why, your entire thought process may be required to be turned around. Well, you may be perfectly aligned and start feeling so pleased with yourself at having hit the nail and understanding what management really is. There is so much excitement around... to listen, to share and to enhance the knowledge levels spilling over any boundary that you may have considered.

We may not know it consciously, but we are getting there. The level of emotions due to attachment to particular beliefs runs really high, but the passion to learn surpasses everything as we get absorbed, yet stand out!

At this point in time, I would not trade this year of mine with anything else, more so now after experiencing the sheer delight of being present amidst a brilliant pool of comrades and teachers. Thank you God, for giving me this opportunity at this juncture of my life, and thank you my family, for completely supporting me.

- Parul Agrawal