IIM corner: Smart classes, foreign students & spa!
A lot is happening at the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) off-late. Apart from discussions on creation of IIM’s umbrella body doing the rounds, other interesting issues are also making headlines.
According to latest reports, IIMs are planning to hold smart online classes and also attract foreign students through innovative road shows abroad. Directors of the 13 IIMs are scheduled to discuss these and various other issues at a meeting with HRD Minister MM Paalam Raju in New Delhi on Monday, April 1, 2013.
Directors of IIMs will brainstorm about smart classes to be held through online sharing of faculty resources. Lately, the IIMs are being plagued by shortage of faculty, with nearly 30 per cent posts lying vacant. The meeting seeks to address this issue by looking at how to share faculty by using information technology. According to the plan, videos of lectures can either be shared online or broadcast through video-conferencing. IIM Bangalore already provides such a facility on its portal, OCW@IIMB. The IITs too have started a similar project through National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning.
According to sources, the IIMs also plan to push for tax breaks for philanthropic institutions by contributing to their endowment funds (reduce taxable income by donating to charity) and discuss about the draft bill for converting IIMs into institutions of national importance through an Act of Parliament. Furthermore, the meeting will address the topic of institutes awarding degrees instead of diploma.
IIMs are also looking to attract international talent and create a global mark, towards making the country's top business schools operationally and financially more autonomous, To this effort, the institutes are planning to conduct road shows. Currently, foreign students are studying at some of the IIMs, but the number is expected to get a boost after the proposal of awarding degrees instead of diplomas gets approved.
To cater to more international students, the IIMs plan to upgrade residential facilities and standards of faculty and academics, particularly at the new IIMs. Finance will be available either through a grant from the UGC or through interest-free loans. According to sources, the HRD ministry is keen to set up Rs 300-crore fund to attract world-class faculty to the newer IIMs. Suggestions of IIMs holding workshops in improving fundraising potential every year is also doing the rounds.
The IIMs also plan to bring out a management journal, IIM Business Review, to attract global students. The effort will be spearheaded by IIM Bangalore while IIM Calcutta will hold a world management conference during May 31 to June 1, 2013.
Other issues to be discussed include external peer review, and improving the quality of faculty and teaching.
Now a spa experience at IIM-K
IIM-K has incorporated ayurvedic spa facilities, for the benefit of participants, in its new complex to house its management development programme (MDP).
Now corporate honchos from across the country, will be able to rejuvenate and de-stress during the programme. Situated on a hillock, the new MDP complex offers a resort-like experience with 120 well-appointed rooms, including 30 suites. The complex is expected to be fully operational within six months.
