NSHM Knowledge Campus is launching a course in retail management in Kolkata – a first for the city. The 18-month course, to start from July, will provide skilled manpower for the retail industry, said Krishnendu Sarkar, head of learning services at NSHM.
The course includes subjects like trends in global retail, logistics and supply chain management, visual merchandising and training in specific retail divisions like food, grocery and lifestyle. Students for the 60 seats will be selected on basis of CAT and MAT scores, followed by group discussion and interview.
The Retailers Association of India (RAI), a body of all major retailers in India including Shoppers’ Stop, RPG, and Reliance, are partnering the initiative. The association plans to provide internship, placements and visiting faculty. The RAI has already tied up with eight other colleges across the country.
“At present, about 1.8 million people are employed in the organised retail sector and the number will grow by another 2 million in next two years,” said Gibson Vedamani, CEO of RAI. From 2008, RAI will have a common test for all nine institutions, added Vedamani.
