The Department of Commerce including Business Administration was established along with the Faculty in 1949, and in 1959 it began its pioneering leading academic courses in management as a core field of study. In 1977, the Department launched for the first time specialized courses at undergraduate level in the subjects of Marketing Management as well as Personnel and Industrial Relations Management. At present, the student graduates with a degree in Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing Management or Human Resource Management. We offer eight papers at M COM level. Four compulsory papers are taught at M COM: Previous level to provide exposure to the student to the varying evolving areas of Management with a major emphasis on Case Analysis and Group Projects as central pedagogical tools. We also offer super specialization at M COM: Final level in the subjects of Marketing Management and Human Resource Management. Ph. D programme is also being offered in the areas of areas of Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, and General Management. The Department launched the PG Diploma Course entitled PG Diploma in Business Administration [PGDBA] in the Academic year 2006-2007.
ACADEMIC ENDEVAOURS IN TERMS OF CHANGES MADE IN THE COURSES AND PROGRAMMES:
There are 4 core subjects viz., Principles and Practices of Strategic Management, Marketing Management, Organizational Behaviour, and Quantitative Techniques For Managerial Decision Making offered at M. Com (Previous), and 02 optional subjects at M. Com (Final) levels were introduced from 1999-2000 in the subject areas of Marketing Management and Human Resource Management.
Our Department was the first department in the whole of the M S University of Baroda in introducing the very first Self-Financed Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Programme in the year 1997 with a view to facilitate an integrated undergraduate module for M.B.A. aspirants. The BBA programme, which is now being run by the Faculty of Commerce, has today become the role models for other universities and other colleges and business schools in the surrounding regions.
The Department also launched the very first Self-Financed Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management [PGDBM] in the year 1996. We also launched Self-Financed Post-Graduate Diploma in Sales and Advertising Management [PGSAM] in the year 2001. The Department has revamped the Self-Financed PGSAM to be introduced as Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management [PGDMM] with effect from the Academic Year 2006-2007. The Department has also introduced a Post-Graduate Diploma in Services Management [PGDSM] with effect from the Academic Year 2007-2008. The Department has also introduced a Post-Graduate Diploma in Strategic Human Resource Management [PGDSHRM] with effect from 2011-2012.
Recently in a year 2021, faculty has launched M.Com(CBCS) In which department has offered six new subjects like Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship and Startup skills, HRM Processes and strategies, Behavioral Dynamics in Organization, Essentials of Marketing Management and Dynamics of Consumer Behavior .
Department has also launched 10 short term Skill Development Program from 2021.
PARTICIPATION OF FACULTY MEMBERS IN ACADEMIC & STUDENTS' COUNSELLING:
At present, 01 Professor, 7 Associate Professors, and 25 Assistant Professors are working in the department. 1 Associate Professor, 04 Assistant Professors are also appointed at M K Amin Arts & Science College and College of Commerce, Padra which is a constituent unit of the M S University of Baroda. Our faculty members also have a fair number of research publications to their credit. They are regularly participating in order to update the knowledge and skills by participation in the various State levels, National and International levels Conferences/ Seminars and Workshops. They are also engaged in research and extension along with basic teaching. It has well-trained faculty who are actively engaged in research work.
Our faculty members are continuously engaged in counselling and guiding the students for their B. Com, M. Com., and Ph. D Degrees. Besides, they teach various subjects in the self-financed BBA programme, and also in the various other Degrees, Diploma (UG & PG) and Certificate Courses being offered by Centre for Continuing Education, and various other faculties of the M S University of Baroda.
They are invited as a Resource persons' in the Orientation Programmes of the Academic Staff Colleges, and UGC's Refresher Courses. Some of them also render honorary services as a visiting faculty for IGNOU, as well as Dr. Baba Sahib Ambedkar Open University as well as other recognized courses being offered by other management institutions from time to time. They are actively involved with regional educational institutions as honorary Visiting Faculty members. Few of them also conduct Training Programmes for industry professionals.
The various courses are being taught by our faculty members using pedagogical tools like Role Play, Case Studies and, Business Games to provide students' an opportunity to critically evaluate class-room inputs with hard realities of business life in varying areas such as Communication, Group Dynamics, Conflict Resolutions, Decision-Making, Leadership Initiatives and Organizational Processes etc. For students benefits, we regularly plan Debates, Elocution Competition, Seminars, Guest Lectures, and Factory Visits. We regularly arrange Students Seminars, Case Studies, and Audio-Video Presentations to improve their communication skills. We regularly plan large number industrial visits of various big companies and small scale units as well as service firms and institutions. To mention few names, it included Vasu Containers, Ranoli; Sudha Water Plant, Dharmaj; Amul Dairy, Anand; Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, Anand; National Dairy Development Board Anand; IRMA and SEMCOM, Vallabh Vidyanagar, and Sardar Patel Memorial Trust, Karamsad etc for our students.
PLACEMENT RECORD OF THE PAST STUDENTS AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE DEPARTMENT TO THE STUDENTS' PLACEMENTS:
We have made continuous efforts to keep industry interaction and interface for the students projects, and placement. We are pleased to submit that our students especially PG ones are absorbed by various big companies, small scale units as well as service firms and academic institutions. This list includes companies such as ICICI Prudential, Alembic, ABB, HLL, Sharekhan.com, HDFC Bank, etc Besides; we also help local colleges/institutions for their requirements of faculty members each year.
THE MANAGEMENT STUDENTS; ASSOCIATION: [PG]:
Our department is the pioneer founder for setting up students association at the Faculty of Commerce. We have separately set up voluntary association of our students called as 'The Management Students Association' [MSA] for our UG and PG students respectively. It has a strong backing, support and guidance of faculties of our department. It is set up to create and sustain interactions with various corporate world. It regularly plans Management quizzes; Case studies; Group discussions; Debates, Guest lectures apart from organizing of Industrial Tours, and visits of various NGOs as well as other Academic Institutions. It also undertakes varying co-curricular activities such as Cultural and Sports Events. It persuades student members to participate in the Inter-Faculty Activities; Youth Festivals of the University, and various other Celebrations.
The MSA: UG publishes its Annual magazine called as NEEV, The Foundation for Success, and also organizes an annual Cultural Event.
The MSA: PG organized the one day State level seminar on Impact of Technology on Business [Issues, Opportunities and Challenges] on 7th January 2007. It also released souvenir consisting abstracts of selected papers received for it. It also releases Newsletter called as PRAGYAN at least twice a year. In the year 2021 MSA UG & PG organized webinar series in which 8 webinars were conducted. A large number of students participated and benefited gaining Knowledge from experts who were presenting across the country. We have already initiated efforts to set up Placement Celli as well Alumni Association of our department for the benefit of our students.