Centre mulls academic audit for IIMs, IITs

Audit exercise would evaluate efficacy of faculties and teaching methodology adopted in these institutes

The Centre is considering the  introducing of a system of ‘academic audit’ for reputed institutions such as Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) soon.

The audit exercise would evaluate the efficacy of faculties and the teaching methodology adopted in these institutes.

The modalities of the proposed system are being finalised and would soon be given final shape for implementation, Pankaj Gupta, co-chairman (education committee) of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who has been closely associated with the project, told Business Standard.

“The system is likely to begin from January 2015,” Gupta said.

Private institutions, however,  would not be mandated for such an audit, he said.  “They would opt for it voluntarily for seeking better ranking and accreditations.”

While, the audit system is still an alien concept in India, such processes were quite the norm in advanced economies, he noted.

Gupta, who has recently taken over as the Director General of Jaipuria Institute of Management (JIM), announced JIM was taking the lead to introduce ‘academic audit’. JIM has four campuses in Lucknow, Noida, Jaipur and Indore with combined capacity of 1,500 students and is amongst the top ranking private B-Schools in North India.

The Institute is setting up a Centre for Public Policy and Governance at Lucknow campus to offer orientation sessions for budding politicians.

“We would offer our management students for internships with political parties, which are now increasingly turning professional while preparing for elections and maintaining databases,” he added.

JIM would set up two more research centres viz. SME and Family Business Centre; and Holistic and Wellness Development Centre.