Many top-tier private B-schools like Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad and International Management Institute (IMI) that MBAUniverse.com spoke to have decided to refund the total program fee. Nodal body AICTE had earlier issued a directive to over 1,400 B-schools to only charge a maximum of Rs 1,000 from students who withdraw from a course before the academic session begins.

The Army equipped me with tremendous manpower and equipment management capabilities, often under most unthinkable and trying situations: be it in Kargil or as part of the IPKF in Sri Lanka.However, there was more to be learnt and challenges to be undertaken -- even at the age of 51. At IIM-A, it was not enough to burn the proverbial midnight oil. One had to be mentally agile, as a commando in the Army would like to be, physically strong and able.

Speaking to MBAUniverse.com, Joel V. Basarich, Managing Director of LOMAs International Division, said, It is a program for professionals from the insurance and financial services industry. The books for the program will be available from August while the exam will be held later this year.

It wil be held at the ESSEC Asian Center of Singapore.The program aims to enable high-potential executives to work successfully with Asian collaborators, customers/suppliers and enhance their competencies. It is specially designed for high potential top and senior executives actively involved in formulation and implementation of strategies for Asia.

The Internet company was the most desirable place to work in a survey of MBAs this year, according to Universum Inc., a research company in Philadelphia, USA. McKinsey & Co., which held the surveys top position for 12 years, came in second.

Choices are between their dream IIMs and other top-tier institutes. The IIMs have announced that May 14 is the last date to confirm the seats by paying fees.

MBAUniverse.com spoke to several successful candidates to know their plans.

The Hybrid Certificate Program in Project Management of U21 Global is a 15-week online program committed to provide the companys employees with quality higher education as well as other benefits of online programs. It has been customized to suit specific needs of executives. The batch was launched by Mr V C Agarwal, director, HR, Indian Oil, and Managing Director, IBP Co. Ltd, in the presence of Mr B N Bankapur, director, Refineries, Indian Oil, Dr Mukesh Aghi, CEO, U21 Global and Mr Girish Rangan, Country Manager-India, U21 Global.

The contest began last January with 62 students teams. Eight of them made it through the various stages to the final round of presentations four teams in the traditional track and four in the social enterprise track, reserved for ventures with a primarily social agenda.

PSB signed MoU with Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, on April 30 to offer the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in India from the academic year 2007-2008.

Dr Ashutosh P Bhupatkar, adviser, Little People Education Society Gurgaon, a body from the Pearl group that will operate the venture, said, The session for our DBA program will commence from July 2007.

Earlier, he was a management consultant withMcKinsey & CompanyHe has over a decade of work and research experience in microfinance, and he holds a B.A. from Tufts, an M.A. from Yale, and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Akulas Ph.D. dissertation focused on the impact of microfinance, and he was named in Time Magzines 100 people of the year in 2006.