As the country's finest B school, Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A), prepares for its final placements starting Wednesday in the background of global recession, there might be an 11 per cent fall in the number of companies participating in the final placement process this year.

There were mixed feelings among students on the campus. While some students, in a bid for last-minute preparations, excitedly conducted casual discussion sessions with batch mates, others were relaxed as they adopted a wait and watch policy. With the fall of major investment banks and the ongoing economic turmoil, the placements scenario on the campus this year is bound to witness some changes.

According to sources, around 250 students are going to take part in the final placements. Despite reduction in fees charged by the institute from participating companies, their number this year has fallen by around 10. Reliable sources claim only around 80 firms have confirmed participation as compared to 90 firms last year.

Sources said with the absence of investment banks in the institute's placements this year, the major sector among the visiting companies would be that of consulting and general management. Around four public sector undertakings (PSUs) would also be taking part. The exercise would go on for around eight days this year as against seven last year. The placement process has been advanced by around two weeks.

However, the IIM-A officials in charge of placements maintained strict secrecy over the exercise. Student coordinator of placements in IIM-A, Mihir Lal, said, "We won't be talking anything about the final placements till the end of the process."

With the global recession upsetting the whole campus placements scenario, students continued to keep their fingers crossed, even while being in a positive mood. A student said, "Recession would, of course, affect placements this year, but the latter would not be a disaster." Students also seem to have reined in their choices for placements. Asked about his choice sector in which he would prefer to be placed, another student said, "It is difficult to be choosy at this time. We would be choosing from what is offered to us." He continued, "The best option is to grab the best of what comes our way and wait till the economy revives."

Of the students graduating this year, around 20 plan to become entrepreneurs. However, around half of them would appear in interviews to gain experience. The rest, around 10 students, would not appear in interviews. However, these students denied that their choice of becoming entrepreneurs has anything to do with placements or recession. "An almost similar number of IIM-A students have always preferred to become entrepreneurs. Current economic slowdown or placements scenario have nothing to do with this decision" said a student.

Dayananda Meitei/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication