INTRODUCTION

On 13 May 2018, Business Standard (Lights dim for B-schools) referred to a report released by Assocham, stating that other than premium B-schools such as IIMs, most others were producing “sub-par graduates” who were either unemployable or earned less than Rs 10,000 a month, if placed.

The study also stated that only 7 per cent of the pass-outs (excluding graduates from IIMs) are actually employable in India. Campus recruitments have gone down as much as 45 per cent because of low education quality coupled with the economic slowdown. Unavailability of quality faculty in tier-II and tier-III institutes, has also contributed to the bleak scenario.

The report went on to state that the quality of higher education in India, across disciplines, is poor and does not meet the needs of the corporate world.

RESEARCH

We spoke to some of our clients and were given to understand that even though fresh graduates and first-time managers claim to have Problem Solving as a key skill in their CVs, when it comes to proactively finding and defining chronic problems, they fall short of our expectations. Further, the claimed Problem Solving skill lacks structure in the methodology; and proficiency in the use of quality tools. Training individuals during induction consumes time and money.

DEVELOPMENT

Consequently, based on over three decades of experience in quality and innovation, Qimpro® designed Qimpro® Champions League (QCL) - a digital course for students that covers 4 Essential Tools for Quality Improvement and 4 Steps to Effective Problem Solving. After successfully completing the digital course, students are required to solve a problem as a team (3-5 students). Teams can then compete for the Problem Solving Prize.

Students who successfully complete their project are certified as Junior Qualitists^®. These Junior Qualitist^® will be equipped with the fundamentals of structured 'Problem Solving' before placement, have a project report to support their Junior Qualitist^® Certification, save employers millions by using this methodology to solve problems, and find themselves running up the career ladder at breakneck speed. 'Problem Solving' will no longer be a mere claim in the student's CV.

CERTIFICATION

Registered students independently complete the digital course. The course includes Essential Quality Improvement Tools and the Structured Problem Solving methodology. Each module is followed by a quiz.

Flow Diagrams
Cause-Effect Diagrams
Histograms
Pareto Diagrams

Problem Definition
Problem Diagnosis
Problem Remedy
Locking the Improvements

Students who successfully complete the digital course with a minimum score of 60%, get a star-rated digital Certificate of Completion.

60% and above - 1 Star
70% and above - 2 Star
80% and above - 3 Star

Students who complete the digital course will be required to solve a problem as a team (3-5 students). Each season will have a different menu of problems to choose from.

The projects should be submitted in a template available online. Completed projects will be reviewed and star-rated by Qimpro^®. Each team member will earn a Junior Qualitist^® Certification.

60% and above - 1 Star
70% and above - 2 Star
80% and above - 3 Star

Projects with 3 stars can compete for the Problem Solving Prize (min 25 project entries required).

A Panel of Judges will select the top three projects and reward the teams.

The Winner - Rs 15,000
1st Runner-up - Rs 10,000
2nd Runner-up - Rs 5,000

3 star projects will be featured in the Qimpro^® Knowledge Bank.

PROCESS

QCL is for students from all institutes in India
It is open to students from any stream
Minimum qualification is completion of Class 12
The fee of INR 700 per student is required in advance
Learning is to be done individually by each student
Implementation is to be done as a team of 3 to 5 students
Registration is valid for 90 days (from registration to project submission)
Requests for extensions will not be entertained
Submissions will be accepted in English only

Register online for QCL
Pay registration fee online
Receive login details
Complete digital course
Form a Team and identify a Team Leader (offline)
Request the Team Leader to register the Team online
Use the online template for the project submission
Projects can be submitted by the Team Leaders only
Projects will be assessed and rated by Qimpro^®
3 Star projects will be entered into the Problem Solving Prize competition
Panel of Judges will evaluate these projects and select the top three projects

E-certificate of completion at the end of the digital course
Junior Qualitist^® Certification for students whose projects receive at least 1 star
Projects with 3 stars will be featured in Qimpro^® Knowledge Bank
Cash prizes for the top three projects selected by the Panel of Judges
'Problem Solving' will no longer be a mere claim in the CV of a Junior Qualitist^®.
Junior Qualitists:
- are equipped with the fundamentals of structured ‘Problem Solving’ before placement
- have a project report to support their Junior Qualitist^® Certification
- can save their employers millions
- will find themselves running up the career ladder at breakneck speed.