Future Group, led by its founder and Group CEO, Kishore Biyani, is one of India’s top business houses with multiple businesses spread across the area of consumption. Retail forms its major business activity. Its group subsidiaries are also present in consumer finance, capital, insurance, leisure and entertainment, brand development, retail real estate development, retail media and logistics.

Future Group has entered the education business through Future Human Development Ltd (FHDL), its comprehensive training, education and support services subsidiary. Future Innoversity is the academic initiative of FHDL.

Excerpts from the Interview:

Q. What is the reason for India’s leading Retail Company Future Group to enter the education and training domain?

A: Future Group entered into the education business by setting up Future Human Development Ltd.(FHDL) in 2008 with the primary focus of creating talent in the consumption industry, whether it is retail, hospitality, telecom or any similar industry.

Q: What is the relevance of pursuing two-year Post-Graduate Programs in Retail & Entrepreneurship? What are the prospects in general?

A: Revival of economic growth and increasing purchasing power of consumers outline the massive potential for growth of the consumption sector and the related segments like services and modern retail in India. The growth of the services sector and consumer-led industries like modern retail has created a huge demand for trained manpower to sustain and build upon this growth. Every company in the services and retail sector feels the dearth of skilled professionals which can be somewhat attributed to the lack of relevant and quality education in retail domain.

Q: What are the highlights and the key strengths of FHDL-IGNOU combined endeavor? 

A: IGNOU and Future Innoversity have taken the great initiative of offering graduation and post graduation programs with a distinguishing combination of academic excellence and industry relevance. They will offer both Undergraduate programs and Post Graduate programs under credit and few other short term programs under Non Credit.

Q: What makes the courses offered by you so unique? Could you provide the admission details? What will be the selection process?

A: A judicious mix of classroom teaching reinforced with on the job training allow students to critically analyze the retailing process, the environment within which it operates and the functions that are performed. Future Innoversity’s holistic education is not only based on the science of management but also on its cultural adaptation that has been applied and tested in the day-to-day running of business. These programmes have the latest management concepts and tools to transform students into tomorrow’s indispensable leaders

Q: What are the placement opportunities for graduates from your institute?

A: The students will be placed in any of the Future group formats after successful completion of their course. The company will provide salary at par with the industry standards and company policies.

Q: Are the programs - AICTE approved or, is Industry recognition enough?

A: The degree conferred by IGNOU is AICTE approved. Future Group will also give a certificate of field training. 

Q: Compared with other MBA programs offered in Retail sector, how are your programs different or unique?

A: Our management programs are the result of a collaborative effort of India’s leading retailer Future Group and world renowned university IGNOU. The MBA degree is awarded by IGNOU while the Certificate of Field Training comes from Future Group. These programs are a blend of academic concepts with proven contemporary practices with Future Group. Content is written by experts drawn from premier institutes and senior professionals from the industry. Innovative teaching methodology with ‘story telling mode’ and tools like ‘learning by asking’ will be put into practice. There will be full time on campus programs at the State of Art campuses at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi and Kolkata. Practical learning will be imparted through internship guided by experienced mentors in the company. The successful pass-out graduates will get assured placements in formats like Big Bazaar, Pantaloons and Central at several locations across the country.