Friday, August 14, 2009

HRD dampener on IIMB’s Singapore campus hopes

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BANGALORE: The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore’s (IIMB), long standing dream of setting up a campus in Singapore will remain just that for some time now. For the dream may not turn into reality until the institute implements the OBC quota completely by 2010. And also fill alll vacancies in faculty positions.

The Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purnandeshwari had announced in the recently concluded Parliament session that IITs or IIMs were not allowed to open campuses in foreign countries for now.

She had said, “It may not be immediately feasible for the IITs and IIMs to open campuses abroad, as they are facing faculty shortages and have to undertake 54 per cent expansion in their intake to implement the OBC quota.” Besides raising the point on diversion of resources, the Minister had also said that the Memorandum of Association (MoA) did not empower these institutes to open campuses abroad.

On its part, IIMB is yet to finalise its proposal for the amendments to the MoA, despite a sub-committee being formed almost three years back.

The sub-committee, currently headed by IIMB Dean (Academics) Prof Trilochan Shastry is still to submit its report to the Board of Governors (BoG), which is chaired by Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani.

The amendment to the MoA is a pre-requisite for setting up campuses outside the country, as the existing MoA and Rules of the IIM Bangalore Society does not empower the BoG to set up an independent Trust by the institute.

The IIMB is a Society registered under the Mysore Societies Registration Act XVII of 1960.

After the MoA amendment proposals are ready, it will then have to go to the HRD Ministry for approval. A Board member told Express that there might be further changes required to the MoA as the HRD Ministry would like it be consistent with other IIMs, including the six new IIMs.

“It will take some more time for the Singapore campus to fructify,” the Board member said.

While the HRD Ministry had rejected setting up of the Singapore campus on the grounds that the MoA and Rules did not permit it, former HRD Minister Arjun Singh was also known for his disapproval of the idea. The future of the Singapore campus is now likely to rest with HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, who is yet to take a definite stand on IIMs starting campuses abroad.

Other amendments proposed to the MoA are directed towards implementing the long-term Vision document of the institute, which includes proposals such as setting up an IIMB Emerging Market Research Centre in China, and deepening of partnership with reputed universities.

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