Mohit Mamudi is Founder and CEO of the Centre for Development Management Studies (CEDEMAS), a UK-based non-profit institution dedicated to the enhancement of management education and training in developing nations. He has an MBA from Boston University, USA, and more than 30 years’ experience in development and implementation of management and marketing strategies for some of the most successful global companies. Mamudi has held various executive positions and consultancy roles with more than 20 Fortune 500 corporations as well as governmental institutions in the UK and some of the most dynamic and challenging emerging markets such as Brazil, China, Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East. He was in the city recently for the formal opening of CG-CEDEMAS Institute of Management (CGCIM) – the first internationally managed business school in the country – in partnership with the Chaudhary Group of Nepal. In an interview with New Business Age, Mamudi laid out the nuances of CEDEMAS’ management education philosophy in Nepal, which will be delivered through CGCIM. Excerpts:

Can you tell us about CEDEMAS?

CEDEMAS was established to lead and direct global efforts for improving the quality and relevance of management education and training in developing countries. We are confident that this would enhance managerial capabilities and effectiveness in both the public and the private sectors in these countries.

Many academics from around the world have underscored the need for a new type of training programme for managers in developing countries, based on their respective cultures and requirements. Therefore, our mission is to create a learning environment for independent thinking, creativity and self-reliance, for the benefit of a new breed of managers and entrepreneurs.

There are scores of management schools around. What is it that distinguishes you from others?

I strongly believe that only a new management mindset can initiate change and persuade departure from established norms in managing the affairs of the state and industry in many parts of the world. We, at CEDEMAS, have realised that management education must recognise diversity and promote social and cultural awareness.

How did your affiliation with Chaudhary Group come about, to establish CGCIM?

We brought this idea to Nepal and were lucky to meet Mr Arun Chaudhary of Chaudhary Group. We explained our goals to him which excited him as he thought it was absolutely necessary to have such an institute in Nepal. He was willing to be the local partner institute for us and make a contribution towards the educational sector of the country. Together, we have joined hands to further this noble cause.

We have already had our first group of Nepali academics who successfully completed the Advanced Certificate for Business Faculty (ACBF) programme at CGCIM after two months of intensive learning and were awarded the ACBF Certificate. These academics were already teaching in other colleges and universities but we brought them in and trained them in the way that we want them to teach. They are now ready to work alongside international professors to deliver our programmes here in Nepal.

Please, tell us about your programmes internationally.

We have already established a partner institute in Iran apart from Nepal. A partner institute in Ukraine is in the final stages of planning while negotiation for a Sri Lankan partner is in the planning stage. We have also had fruitful discussions for setting up partner institutes in some other developing countries such as China, India, Ghana and Zambia among others. We know that we stand to face competition from existing management institutes in these countries. However, we are confident that our uniqueness will set us apart from others.

Which are the programmes that you will be focusing in Nepal through CGCIM?

We have three key programmes for Nepal. The first one is the Faculty Training Programme in which we train faculties of other colleges in teaching management courses. The second one is Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Management where students who already have a degree join us. We teach them about development issues that are related to Nepal. Besides these two, we also have a general Post-Graduate Programme in Management which is like an Executive MBA – developing managers for businesses.

We will always have people from the UK supervising the programmes here. There will be professors visiting here from different parts of the world – the US, the UK, and France among others. We are very certain that quality control is the most important part, so, we will be working towards that.

Will the methodology for CGCIM be the same as the one at your London campus?

Yes. The methodology that we will be applying here is especially developed by CEDEMAS. It’s called PEDAL (Plan; Engage; Do; Analyse; Learn) system of learning. In traditional universities and colleges, it’s all about lecturing. Instead of using bookish theory, we make our students practise what is taught to them so that they get the lessons registered in their minds forever. The system allows the learners to experience a wide range of exposures and outcomes as a result of their decisions and actions.

How acceptable/recognised will be these courses internationally?

Our programmes are UK Level-7 which is Post Graduation and conforms to the standards of UK accreditation agencies. If our students here in Nepal wish, we can even make arrangements for them to complete a 3-4 months thesis in the UK and obtain a dual masters after finishing their programme at CGCIM. 

Is there great saleability associated with the courses as far as the job market is concerned?

We are going to guarantee that anybody taking our programmes will be employed even before they have finished the programme. The companies are going to notice our students while they are still studying through work placements and case studies etc.