AI Monks OpinionBlog

Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics (PGDBA)-WILP by BITS Pilani: AI Monks’ View

Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics(PGDBA)-WILP by BITS Pilani: AI Monks’ View: The Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics(PGDBA) is a two-semester Work Integrated Learning Program(WILP) by BITS Pilani, designed for working professionals. People who aspire for rapid career progression in the high-growth areas of Big Data and Business Analytics and wish to stand out in highly competitive workplaces by acquiring a Masters-level qualification from a premier institution.

Who Should Apply?

The program is designed for management and technology professionals who wish to build specialized skills in decision sciences, and empowers them to use analytics in making strategic business decisions or recommendations.

About BITS Pilani

BITS Pilani dates back to the year 1901, and it has become one of the leading universities in the world thought WILP. Work Integrated Learning Programmes or WILP is India’s leading corporate education provider and the first choice for the cream of engineering professionals.

Let us find out more about WILP. 

WILP aims to provide working professionals with the highest quality education experience relevant to their specialization and opportunities to upgrade and stay relevant without giving up their job. At the same time, they strive to excel in a highly technical career. The program has been carefully designed to focus on industry practices so that the BITS program helps them prepare for their work and vice-a-versa. 

Is this course for you?

This PGDBA WILP by BITS Pilani is suitable for working professionals. Candidates must be employed in another organization at the time of applying. Professionals who are owners of a registered business can apply too.

Curriculum

The program has two semesters with the curriculum, including a total of 6 core courses and two electives. Students get to choose these out of a total of 11 electives. The following table contains the semester-wise subjects and a list of electives.

We can notice that the subjects are basically introductory in nature and don’t give in-depth knowledge of the covered topics.

As compared to ISB’s AMPBA, PGD in Advanced Business Analytics at IIMA, and Integrated Program in Business Analytics (IPBA) offered by IIM Indore, which has a completely analytics oriented curriculum, BITS Pilani’s WILP isn’t going to be of much help if you want to make a career transition. The three courses mentioned also have projects that allow students to experience what it’s like to work in the industry, whereas BITS clearly lacks that essential aspect.

Duration

The duration for the 2 Semester Business Analytics Program is 12 months.

Fee

The students have to pay INR 128000 for the 12 months, two-semester program, which includes the admission & application fee(INR 16500 & INR 1500 respectively) as well. Each semester costs INR 55000.

If we consider other online courses, IPBA from IIM Indore costs INR295000 for the 10 months course, ePGD ABA by IIMA costs 1000000 for its 16months program, and ISB charges INR 915000 for its 12 months’ AMPBA course. 

If we consider all this data, BITS’ PGDBA clearly steals the show as it is definitely more cost-effective than the others.

Faculty 

BITS has a highly qualified and experienced faculty hailing from excellent academic backgrounds. They have previously worked in the industry and can teach from their personal experiences. Moreover, they are heavily engaged in cutting-edge research and consulting in the analytics domain and can help students prepare for what the industry has to offer. 

Brand Name

BITS Pilani is an institute that prioritizes innovation and ideas over theoretical knowledge. The institute has been in existence for years and has made a name for itself across the country. Just being associated with BITS may help open doors for students, hence ensuring placements.

Interactive Learning

BITS conducts live lectures on weekends via online classes, offering similar levels of interactivity as regular classrooms. Students can access these lectures via the internet using a computer from any location. 

Experiential Learning

The program uses data analysis/ visualization tools such as Descriptive Statistics, Multivariate Analysis, Mining Algorithms, and Linear Optimization using R, Python, Excel, and Excel Solver to promote Experiential Learning. This allows students to apply concepts learned in class in simulated & real work situations.

Case Studies and Assignments

PGDBA takes up real-world cases & assignments for discussions and uses them as problem-solving exercises to better prepare students to solve real-world business challenges. Other courses mentioned above have internships and projects in addition to the case studies and assignments to give real-life experience to learn from rather than relying on theoretical knowledge.

Certificate

Upon successfully completing the PGDBA program, participants will receive a degree certificate from BITS Pilani, which could look good on your resume.

Research

The program promotes experiential learning and uses components such as Virtual Labs, Remote Labs, and Simulations to provide an on-campus-like experience.

Participants get access to portals that will allow them to access both Campus-based physical labs and cloud-based labs. Candidates will be able to perform experiments & run simulations using leading industry-recognized Programming languages, Simulation software, and Software tools to advance their knowledge.

Learning Continuity Assurance

LCA is a unique initiative that further empowers participants if they face any disruption in their pursuit of the program. If a participant needs to take a break in between the program, the LCA will help them rejoin later. And they can continue from where they left off. Hence, preserving the money invested. The other programs do not have this feature.

Placements

Since this is an entirely online course, you can not participate in BITS’ recruitment drive despite being a BITS student. This is clearly a drawback. But, since the program needs you to have a mentor from your workplace, it helps create an employer-employee bond. 

Conclusion: PGDBA by BITS Pilani-AI Monks’ View

The PGDBA-WILP by BITS Pilani is an extremely pocket-friendly, 12-months business analytics course. But if you are looking to make a career transition through this course, we don’t think that’s a very good idea since the subjects the course covers are limited. Whereas, if you have just started working in the analytics field, this program can help you get a better understanding and relevant skills. If you want to have a degree and want to learn it for your own sake, this could help you get a basic theoretical understanding of analytics. If you want to make a career transition, you could definitely look into ISB’s AMPBA, IIM Ahemdabad’s ePGD-ABA, or IIM Indore’s IPBA. But if you want to get your analytics career started or just gain an understanding of the subject, feel free to go ahead with this cost-effective business analytics program.

We hope that after going through Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics(PGDBA)-WILP by BITS Pilani: AI Monks’ View, you’d be able to decide better if you want to pursue this course.

If you want us to review any course, kindly write to us and join us on Telegram to stay updated with the Data Analytics domain.

Comment here