the obvious counterquestion: why not 'colonize' singapore?
the iims are, as far as i understand, massively increasing their intake anyway.
so what's wrong with building the brand by starting up in singapore as well? i think it's a great idea.
people may not be aware of the fact that there are already a number of exchange programs, where students from the iims spend a semester abroard and vice versa.
since there is interest in india, this is a good time to build up india's education brand abroad. the us probably makes $100 billion a year on overseas remittances for education. yet that has absolutely not prevented the top us schools from opening campuses abroad, in fact these act as 'feeders'.
i think the writer of this article is exhibiting the usual 'koopa-mandhooka' mindset that troubles so many in india.
also, i suspect these are the same people who objected to the (admittedly hare-brained) idea of mm joshi's to reduce fees!
translation: the iims are "finishing schools for the middle-classes" subsidised by the poor! and the middle classes want it to stay that way!
the quote is from old prof anthony reddy of iit madras in the iit context. this is still more true of the iims
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Girish K
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan242006/editpage1417312006123.asp
Business schools of excellence
Why flee to Singapore?
By Vatsala Vedantam
The IIMs should provide education in socially relevant areas to poor and capable students who need it badly
The Government allots large tracts of land to establish them. It funds their infrastructure, maintenance and development. They take shape, grow and prosper. Their alumni find lucrative careers, mostly abroad. That, in short, is the story of India's prestigious professional schools. The IITs and IIMs — institutions built with the taxpayers' money — are the country's pride. In a manner of speaking, the country's shame as well. Students who graduated from these campuses and fled the country enrich other countries and universities. Some of them head Fortune 500 companies. While others help their foreign bosses to make a fortune. All this out of the education they received in their alma maters in India. The public helplessly watches this sad brain drain.
Now, what if the instutions themselves threaten to flee the country which nurtured them? The latest move by the IIMs to expand overseas defies all canons of ethics in education. When they were first conceived in a newly independent India, it was to professionalise management through teaching, research and training "in order to improve the working of the most important sectors of this country's economy such as agriculture, health, population control and public administration." Also to develop future teachers, researchers and other professionals in managerial skills that would improve different spheres of activity in India. Unfortunately, these objectives have made way to promote savvy business ends.
The first of these institutions (IIM-A) was established in collaboration with the state government in Ahmedabad in 1961. This was followed by others in Calcutta, Bangalore, and Lucknow whose maintenance and development expenditure was borne by the Government of India under a block grant scheme. This was modified in 2004 (when their fee structure was rationalised) to provide them greater functional autonomy and help them generate their own resources. However, the Centre made it clear that management studies ad research should be enlarged "within the overall parameters of the government policies and programmes." The IIMs have depended largely on the government since their inception for salaries and allowances, upkeep of buildings and libraries, student scholarships, travel and other contingencies.
They have also received grants under the Plan budget for creating permanent infrastructural facilities like lecture halls, student hostels and teachers' quarters. They have expanded their libraries and conference centres through some more grants. This steady increase in government funding has run into crores of rupees over the years. Not only are they the premier business schools in India today: they easily compare with the best anywhere in the world.
Country needs managers
If they now have surplus funds with them as a result of such state largesse, it would only be proper to enlarge their programmes first within the country where the demand for sound management education is high in all areas of production. Autonomy does not mean abandoning base and transferring resources elsewhere.
The role of the IIMs was not to churn out an elite band of white collared professionals. The country needs trained managers at different levels in several undermanaged sectors such as primary health care, agriculture and rural/urban development where career opportunities have to be opened up. The IIMs should start exploring such areas of employment, devise appropriate courses, and train students accordingly. So far, they have been identified as elite schools producing ace professionals.
Why not provide the same elite education to generate professionals who have a social relevance to this country's needs? There are several areas of such high priority. If the IIMs take up educational programmes relevant to these sectors, they will not only be utilising their resources meaningfully, but their faculty members would also get sufficient exposure and experience in new areas of teaching and research.
The IIM-B has taken up public systems as part of its post-graduate programme. It has already been advised to organise a separate stream in public management by choosing sectors like energy, transportation, panchayati raj or urban planning – all relevant to Karnataka. Similarly, each IIM could identify undermanaged sectors in their reach and launch management courses relevant to that particular environment. Public administration and rural development are always high priority areas that need to be addressed in this country. Where is the need to run to Singapore or anywhere else when so much needs to be done here and now? The IIMs could establish stronger links with industries to augment their corpus funds. Charging fees from prospective employers at the time of campus interviews and recruitment of students would also generate more resources. Admitting foreigners through a specialised test like the GMAT would certainly attract both good students and tuition fees. Better such strategies rather than transporting themselves abroad – either physically or virtually. Relocating to other countries would only divert their resources and dilute their programmes within the country.
Besides, where is the need for the IIMs to sell themselves as a brand name? Their credibility is already established. Instead, why not follow the U R Rao recommendation of providing a good management education in socially relevant areas to more poor and capable students here who need it badly?
-
-
-
Business schools of excellence
Why flee to Singapore?
By Vatsala Vedantam
The IIMs should provide education in socially relevant areas to poor and capable students who need it badly
The Government allots large tracts of land to establish them. It funds their infrastructure, maintenance and development. They take shape, grow and prosper. Their alumni find lucrative careers, mostly abroad. That, in short, is the story of India's prestigious professional schools. The IITs and IIMs — institutions built with the taxpayers' money — are the country's pride. In a manner of speaking, the country's shame as well. Students who graduated from these campuses and fled the country enrich other countries and universities. Some of them head Fortune 500 companies. While others help their foreign bosses to make a fortune. All this out of the education they received in their alma maters in India. The public helplessly watches this sad brain drain.
Now, what if the instutions themselves threaten to flee the country which nurtured them? The latest move by the IIMs to expand overseas defies all canons of ethics in education. When they were first conceived in a newly independent India, it was to professionalise management through teaching, research and training "in order to improve the working of the most important sectors of this country's economy such as agriculture, health, population control and public administration." Also to develop future teachers, researchers and other professionals in managerial skills that would improve different spheres of activity in India. Unfortunately, these objectives have made way to promote savvy business ends.
The first of these institutions (IIM-A) was established in collaboration with the state government in Ahmedabad in 1961. This was followed by others in Calcutta, Bangalore, and Lucknow whose maintenance and development expenditure was borne by the Government of India under a block grant scheme. This was modified in 2004 (when their fee structure was rationalised) to provide them greater functional autonomy and help them generate their own resources. However, the Centre made it clear that management studies ad research should be enlarged "within the overall parameters of the government policies and programmes." The IIMs have depended largely on the government since their inception for salaries and allowances, upkeep of buildings and libraries, student scholarships, travel and other contingencies.
They have also received grants under the Plan budget for creating permanent infrastructural facilities like lecture halls, student hostels and teachers' quarters. They have expanded their libraries and conference centres through some more grants. This steady increase in government funding has run into crores of rupees over the years. Not only are they the premier business schools in India today: they easily compare with the best anywhere in the world.
Country needs managers
If they now have surplus funds with them as a result of such state largesse, it would only be proper to enlarge their programmes first within the country where the demand for sound management education is high in all areas of production. Autonomy does not mean abandoning base and transferring resources elsewhere.
The role of the IIMs was not to churn out an elite band of white collared professionals. The country needs trained managers at different levels in several undermanaged sectors such as primary health care, agriculture and rural/urban development where career opportunities have to be opened up. The IIMs should start exploring such areas of employment, devise appropriate courses, and train students accordingly. So far, they have been identified as elite schools producing ace professionals.
Why not provide the same elite education to generate professionals who have a social relevance to this country's needs? There are several areas of such high priority. If the IIMs take up educational programmes relevant to these sectors, they will not only be utilising their resources meaningfully, but their faculty members would also get sufficient exposure and experience in new areas of teaching and research.
The IIM-B has taken up public systems as part of its post-graduate programme. It has already been advised to organise a separate stream in public management by choosing sectors like energy, transportation, panchayati raj or urban planning – all relevant to Karnataka. Similarly, each IIM could identify undermanaged sectors in their reach and launch management courses relevant to that particular environment. Public administration and rural development are always high priority areas that need to be addressed in this country. Where is the need to run to Singapore or anywhere else when so much needs to be done here and now? The IIMs could establish stronger links with industries to augment their corpus funds. Charging fees from prospective employers at the time of campus interviews and recruitment of students would also generate more resources. Admitting foreigners through a specialised test like the GMAT would certainly attract both good students and tuition fees. Better such strategies rather than transporting themselves abroad – either physically or virtually. Relocating to other countries would only divert their resources and dilute their programmes within the country.
Besides, where is the need for the IIMs to sell themselves as a brand name? Their credibility is already established. Instead, why not follow the U R Rao recommendation of providing a good management education in socially relevant areas to more poor and capable students here who need it badly?
-
-
-
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1 comment:
My two bits worth.. theres no point in IIMB opening branches in Singapore, et al when there is not enough managment education in india. MBAs have become courses for the elite in India... I'm sure that was not why the IIMs and the IITs were created. It would be much better for IIMB to expand, take in more students, participate more in better local and central governance and social entrepreneurship than opening branches abroad.
BTW, I'm studing at IIMB.
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