ELITE INDIAN INSTITUTES OF MANAGEMENT (IIMs) -CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE
The issue of setting up of
branches of IIMS abroad
is likely to flare up again, with the IIM directors meeting human resources development minister, Arjun Singh, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Directors of the six IIMs at Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Kozhikode and Indore will meet the minister on the issue which hit the headlines after the HRD
ministry refused to permit IIM Bangalore to open a branch in Singapore.
The issue has also triggered a fierce debate in corporate circles on why the IIMs should not exploit their excellent academic reputation and become a global brand by opening
branches abroad. The HRD ministry had poured cold water on the IIMs' ambitions by pointing our that the Memorandum of Association of the IIMs did not permit opening of branches abroad.
The HRD ministry also stated that the IIMs should first fulfil the needs of students within the country before opening up branches abroad. However, the ministry later indicated that it may not have any objections if the MoAs are suitably amended. Given the sensitivity of the whole issue, the talks on Wednesday will be crucial. This is the second issue in the past couple of years over which there has been friction between the IIMs and the HRD ministry.
Whatever the outcome of the forthcoming talks, no one would want the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management to become victims of politics in India-it is everybody's ardent wish and yearning that inspite of several controversial issues, IIMs should continue to be the pride of India.
There is not a single parent who does not desire that his ward join IIM-there is no student who does not nourish a dream of an education from IIM.