A woman checks out the garments at a retail showroom at Sakchi. File picture

Jamshedpur, Feb. 12: When it comes to retail, the steel city would soon boast of more than just big shopping malls selling everything from groceries to hi-tech gadgets.

Organised retail in the steel city has now brought with it a host of courses for the new generation and opened up a new career option for students.

While only a few months ago, quite a few short-time retail courses were launched in the city, the coming months would see more advanced courses in retail management being launched.

These would range from full-time MBA courses to specialised retail programmes.

“There is a tremendous demand for people in the retail sector. Since the Jamshedpur retail market is growing, more job opportunities will be created. Therefore, we need courses, which can not only cater to entry-level jobs, but also guarantee jobs at a much higher level,” said Neetu Manikatalia, the centre director of Global Retail School, which opened its branches in mid-2007.

Come March, Global Retail School would launch two courses — a BBA in retail management and a BBA in marketing and human resource management — in Jamshedpur.

To be launched in association with Annamalai University, both the courses have been tailor made to cater to needs in the retail market. Even the human resource management course has been conceptualised with the retail sector in mind.

Global Retail School — which has been started in association with Bharti Resources, a subsidy of Bharti Enterprise — has branches all over the country and was one of the first retail schools in the city.

Right now, over 100 students are pursuing diploma and certificate programmes in retail management at the institute in Bistupur. Admissions for a fresh batch have just started.

“The students pursuing diploma programmes in retail management can join the degree programmes next year directly in their second year. They can pursue the degree along with doing their jobs. Moreover on completion of the course, Bharti Resources would also provide them with certificates.

Another institute, which is taking a step ahead in the sphere of retail education, is XLRI.

Having launched a one-year retail management course as part of its satellite classroom programme, the B-school is all set to launch an advanced management development programme for company executives in retail.

“There is a growing demand for such courses. Therefore, we are in the process of starting this advanced programme for company executives soon,” said Smithu Malhotra, a faculty member of the retail management course at XLRI.

Zakhir Hussain Institute, a small time institute in the city, too, has recently launched courses such as BBA and MBA in retail management in association with Sikkim Manipal University.

With courses flooding the market, can jobs be far behind?

All institutes in the city are now trying their best to place their students in the best possible companies.

While giants like Subhiksha, Wal-mart and Spencer’s Retail are looking at campus recruitment possibilities from XLRI, Bharti Resources will hold talks for possible placement with Global Retail School very soon.

“Visitors from Global Retail School would be sending their representatives to give our students a better idea of the industry. They would be discussing with students, the different opportunities available in the retail sector and will give them a few tips to appear for the interviews followed by a few mock interviews,” said Manikatalia.

The team is likely to arrive here in March.

Some of the companies where Bharti Resources has a stake include Field Fresh Foods Private Limited, Bharti Retail and a host of other companies.

Zakhir Hussain Institute, too, has tied up with Bharti and is almost at the final stages of clinching a deal with Reliance Retail.

“The negotiations are in the last stage and if finalised, our students would stand a good chance of getting placed at Reliance,” said Rishikesh Sanjeev, the centre co-ordinator of Zakhir Hussain Institute.

Spencer’s Retail, which would begin functions in Jharkhand by April this year, is also conducting interviews and recruitment for its centre.