Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the owner of the popular global GMAT exam, opened its office in India in February 2011. Ashish Bhardwaj was appointed the Managing Director, Graduate Management Admission Council (India) Private Limited. Ashish Bhardwaj is also responsible for GMAC’s operations in South Asia.

Ashish completed a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Raipur in 1995 and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University in 1997. Ashish joined GMAC as a Regional Director South Asia in February 2010 after several senior stints in prominent multinational companies.

MBAUniverse.com recently interviewed Ashish Bhardwaj to know more about his plans for the growth of GMAT in India, as well as South Asia. We also asked him about the new features in GMAT examination.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q. GMAC has just recently opened its India office in the NCR. What significance do you see of this development?
A. GMAC has opened an office in India to work closely with current and potential business school partners, and to support the candidates taking the GMAT exam with more information about the GMAT and graduate management education per se.

This announcement underscores GMAC’s commitment to candidates as well as business schools in South Asia. As more candidates are taking the GMAT in India and more business schools in India are accepting GMAT scores for admission, we are helping candidates find the right programs and business schools; and realizing their potential. International candidates are excited about the prospects that the Indian economy offers and top business schools in India can draw from the finest candidates across the world now. GMAC is here to support and facilitate this free flow of intellectual capital.

Q. What are the reasons for the increased focus of GMAC on India?
A. India is a vibrant and exciting market for graduate management education. It brings together a culture that embraces and encourages excellence in education, top quality business schools and an economy that needs high quality managers in large numbers. Add to that India’s entrepreneurial spirit and a youthful population where 50% are under the age of 25 and you have a management education space that serves a critical need and will become even more robust in time. The establishment of the India office will allow GMAC to serve our clients – business schools and students – better.

Q. The number of programs accepting the exam globally has now exceeded 5,000 for the first time, and to this the major contributors are non-US countries. What are the factors that are leading to further expansion of GMAT exam in non-US countries?
A. There is a great need for managerial talent and skill across the world as economic activity is truly globalizing. Fortune 500 companies have businesses across the world and consequently, require high quality managers across geographies. Successful new transnational corporations are emerging in Asia, Africa and other parts of the world.

In response to the demand that this hectic economic activity is placing, leading global business schools have established campuses on many continents and the quality of business schools in all parts of the world is continuously improving. In sum, GMAC is now serving the needs of top global schools and top local schools and the gap, if any, between the two is steadily narrowing.

The emergence of business schools in Asia over the last two decades and the continued improvement in economic activity beyond the traditional powerhouse economies such as the US, UK, Germany, France etc. have been important contributors towards the growth of GMAT acceptance at programs and business schools in non US geographies.

Today’s candidate is truly global in perspective - willing to study, learn and immerse in a different culture and country; and pursue a truly globally mobile career. The growth of GMAT acceptance in non US countries is also proof of the growing global aspirations of GMAT test takers.

Q. More and more B-schools in India are taking membership of GMAC. What advantages do you see for these B-schools?
A. GMAC member schools represent the leading business schools in the world and the most significant advantage for new member schools is the opportunity to interact with and exchange ideas & initiatives with the best among their peers globally. Member schools have special privileges in terms of access to customized market research from GMAC as well as participation in GMAC’s Professional Development Forums and Conferences at a great value.

Q. GRE is also on the way to increase its focus in India. What competition do you see with GRE? In what ways is GMAT superior to GRE?
A. The GMAT is the most widely used assessment for admission to management programs across the world. The GMAT’s acceptance at over 5000 management programs at over 2000 business schools globally is backed by multiple validity studies that establish that the GMAT is a good predictor of performance at business school. Therefore, admissions teams at business schools know that the GMAT is an assessment that helps them identify students that have the aptitude to succeed in their programs.

In fact, the GMAT was created because business schools wanted an exam that was developed specifically for business and management programs. The GRE is designed as a general test for graduate programs. Business school faculty have worked with GMAC over the years to fine tune the exam to measure skills that are necessary for success in business and management programs.

Q. You might have studied the CAT computer based test as well. How do you rate the CAT test interface and the overall examination?
A. I have not studied the CAT computer based test. However, I am well aware of the CAT’s reputation and its popularity with management programs in India. Clearly, the CAT is a very popular test, with both business schools and candidates in India.