Ex-IIM Bangalore director lashes out at Govt

Mumbai: After outgoing IIM Ahmedabad Director Bakul Dholakia, it is now IIM Bangalore's outgoing Director Prakash Apte's turn to lash out at the Government for its interference in the functioning of India's premier B schools.

Apte stepped down from the director's post early October amidst much controversy about HRD Ministry's new stance of selecting IIM Directors by issuing advertisements.

The move has once again thrown up many questions about IIM's autonomy and the rift between the Government and the institution has deepened.

And this is not the first time. In past, the institute has had to fight many battles with the HRD Ministry be it the inclusion of OBC quota or deciding the fee structure of the institute.

Apte said, “HRD ministry must realise that IIMs are perfectly capable of taking care of the needs of the country and therefore they should absolutely minimize their interference. When it comes to funding we have told them management institutes don't need funding - they are able to operate on the revenues earned- we will see to it that no student will ever go back from the IIMs because of lack of financial resources. At the same time they should minimize their interference.”

IIM directors believe that the next step for the institute is to expand operations overseas and emerge as a global brand.

But the HRD ministry has different ideas. IIM Bangalore was not allowed to initiate an executive programme in Singapore. Their reason - with over 2 lakh students taking the CAT exam, IIMs should first cater to home demand.

Little wonder then that the prime minister has promised seven new IIMs. But ailing with a severe faculty crunch are IIMs headed towards a brand dilution?

“The most imp problem is compensation package. The whole point in having a doctoral programme is to train bright young people to take up faculty positions in similar institutions but our own students are reluctant to take up faculty positions because the industry offers them 3 or 5 times more the salary, “ Apte added.

And if the OBC quota is implemented, coping with a 54 per cent increase in number of students will be virtually impossible if faculty strength is not doubled.