Student Exchange Programmes: A Window to the World

The Indian Institute of Management - Bangalore seems to have found its own success mantra - global connect.

Although other management schools in India are also looking West, IIM-B has spruced up its Student Exchange Programme with "brother campuses" in North America, Europe and Australia, opening windows to the world.

And it works the other way round, too. Pankaj Chandra, director, IIM-B, said: "We are making serious efforts to enhance the quality of learning and research so that IIM-B remains the preferred management school for students with global aspirations."

Postgraduate programme student Pranay Shetty said: "My exchange programme at the University of Cologne was an experience of a lifetime. From living with students from across the world to backpacking across Europe, each day was a series of exiting experiences."

Every year, nearly 50 per cent of IIM-B students get to spend a term in partner institutes across 60 universities in 17 countries over four continents.

Then, more than 170 students from over 100 institutes in 26 countries undertake a term of study at IIM-B every year.

Ranked second in the second HT-TNS survey this year, IIM-B has other attractions as well - a sprawling 100-acre lush green campus and top-of-the-class faculty are just two of the most obvious.

The institute's efforts to develop a global brand over the years helped it bag an accreditation even from European Foundation for Management Education.

But the second rank, after IIM-Ahmedabad, hurts. For, in the Eduniversal Palmes 2009, in which 1,000 B-school deans from 153 countries voted for the B-school they would recommend in each country, IIM-B was awarded the highest recognition in India. It won 395 votes, and was followed by IIM-A with 345.

"It is surprising. Within India, we are ranked second, but the world finds us the finest B-school in the country," an institute professor said.

What the institute authorities value most is the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation. EQUIS-accredited institutions must demonstrate not only all-round high quality, but also a high degree of internationalisation. And that's where IIM-B scores.