The Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, has already had visitors from nearly 230 companies who have come scouting for candidates, and the institute is expecting many more will come calling soon.

The premier southern institute is said to have got about 100 international and 600 domestic offers for its batch of 425 students. ISB rules mandate that each student will get at least two offers.

The final placements, which started in mid-December, will be completed by March 31. Last year, around 200 companies visited ISB for placements.

Most firms calling have been from traditional sectors such as consulting, finance and technology. But there have been some from the real estate, pharma, healthcare and retail sectors too who have made offers to the students.

M R Rao, dean of ISB, said, "The placement has been very robust this year. So far we have done well with new sectors also taking keen interest in participating in the placements."

To encourage students to take up entrepreneurial ventures, ISB is planning to institute a scholarship for students who opt out of placements to set up their own companies.

The scholarship will take care of the financial needs of the students by way of monthly stipends.

ISB is in talks with some companies to fund the scholarship. The institute also plans to give these students a two-year placement holiday where they can return to participate in placements after two years if their entrepreneurial venture fails to take off.

The Hyderabad business school does not see any effect of the sub-prime crisis on the dollar salaries its students are offered.

V K Menon, director of careers and advancement services, said, "We initially had qualms about the sub-prime crisis having its effect on the pay packets this year, but it has not been the case. We believe that the requirement is for lateral talent and companies need good professionals. They will not compromise on the quality even at a higher price." 

The highest international salary offer to an ISB student last year was $2,69,000 and the highest domestic salary offer was Rs 43,91,000.

This year, the institute expects those figures to go up further, with several students also from medicine, shipping, the media, financial services and IT.

Last year at ISB, one of the companies recruited two groups of 4-5 students as core management teams to run standalone businesses -- setting up the projects from ground zero, to leading them to success.

This year too, the school may have some three teams that would plan similar ventures.