Strengthening MBA Industry Readiness Through Expert Project Evaluation

DGTL Innovations was invited as an external evaluator to elevate the quality and industry relevance of MBA summer internship projects at Shri Balaji University, Pune.

Sri Balaji University, Pune

Shri Balaji University, Pune (SBUP) is among India’s leading management institutions, known for its rigorous academic structure and strong emphasis on industry-aligned learning. With students undertaking intensive summer internships, SBUP focuses on ensuring that every project meets real corporate standards.

Engagement Overview

Role: External Evaluators – Summer Internship Project Review

Evaluator: Neha Kapoor, Senior Marketing Strategist, DGTL Innovations

SBUP invited DGTL Innovations to provide an unbiased, industry-led evaluation framework to strengthen student output and bridge the gap between academic research and practical business execution.

Objectives

To assess the research quality and practical application of student projects
To evaluate projects using industry-driven marketing frameworks
To enhance student presentation, structuring, and storytelling abilities
To offer actionable improvements that increase corporate readiness

Why Shri Balaji University Chose DGTL

DGTL’s team regularly works with enterprises across marketing, automation, and digital strategy, giving evaluators strong practical insights
Proven experience in conducting academic bootcamps, corporate trainings, and industry evaluations
Need for an external, unbiased evaluator who could offer industry standards—not classroom theory
Neha Kapoor’s expertise in marketing strategy, research frameworks, and brand communication, making her an ideal evaluator

Our Evaluation Approach

Our role at Shri Balaji University went beyond simply “checking” internship projects — it was about helping students understand how their work translates into real industry expectations. As the external evaluator, Neha Kapoor brought a practical, corporate lens to each presentation, ensuring students received guidance they could genuinely use in their future careers.

Instead of following a rigid scoring sheet, we adopted a conversation-driven, mentorship-based evaluation style. Each project was first reviewed for its research depth, clarity of problem understanding, and use of relevant marketing frameworks like STP, SWOT, AIDA, 4Ps, and digital marketing funnels. Rather than pointing out gaps, Neha helped students understand why certain insights mattered and how they could make their project more outcome-oriented.

Every student received individual, personalized feedback. These interactions focused on strengthening the storyline of the project, improving the logic behind recommendations, and sharpening the structure of their slides. Students were encouraged to move beyond textbook explanations and think like real marketers — validating data, building stronger arguments, and presenting solutions that businesses can actually implement.

A key part of the approach was ensuring industry alignment. We guided students to reflect on how their internship learnings linked to real organizational challenges, encouraging them to bring in digital perspectives, market realities, and measurable KPIs. This not only improved their projects but also gave them a clearer understanding of how companies evaluate strategy and execution.

The Detailed Framework

1. Structured Assessment Framework

Each project was assessed across:

Research depth & data credibility
Understanding of industry problem statements
Application of marketing frameworks (STP, 4Ps, AIDA, SWOT, digital funnels)
Feasibility of recommendations
Presentation clarity & storytelling

2. One-on-One Student Guidance

Neha Kapoor conducted focused, individual feedback discussions to guide students on:

Strengthening insights vs. reporting data
Making the project more business-outcome oriented
Improving slides, narrative flow & visual communication
Refining conclusions and strategic recommendations

3. Industry Alignment & Real-World Relevance

Students were guided to:

Align their findings with actual industry challenges
Integrate digital and modern marketing perspectives
Present solutions that are measurable, actionable & revenue-linked

Outcome

Stronger Project Quality: Students refined research accuracy, visual clarity, and strategic depth
Better Industry Readiness: Exposure to real-world marketing thinking, frameworks, and expectations
Enhanced Presentation Skills: More structured, concise, and impactful delivery
University Benefit: SBUP strengthened its industry-academia partnership, delivering a more professional project evaluation experience

Conclusion

The evaluation at Shri Balaji University was not just an academic exercise — it became a meaningful learning experience for every student involved. Through structured guidance, industry-focused insights, and constructive one-on-one feedback, DGTL helped students elevate their internship projects from classroom assignments to business-ready presentations. Our engagement strengthened their analytical thinking, refined their marketing approach, and prepared them to communicate with clarity and confidence. This collaboration reaffirmed DGTL’s commitment to nurturing future talent and supporting institutions in bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world expectations.