IIM-A may align academic calendar with global B-schools

Move seeks to ensure premier B-school shares its timeline for conducting processes like admissions, internships and placements with that of institutes like Harvard and Stanford

A change in academic calendar seems to be imminent at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) with the institute mulling on aligning its academic calendar with other global B-schools, especially in the western markets.

According to institute sources, discussions have been ripe on whether to calibrate IIM-A's academic year for better linkages.  It has been learnt that such discussions are taking shape in the new review committees such as PGP review committee and executive education review committee, among others, that have been set up by director, Ashish Nanda.

The move is aimed at ensuring that the premier Indian B-school shares its timeline for conducting processes like admissions, internships and placements with that of institutes like Harvard and Stanford, among others.  

Academic year in Indian higher education institutes, especially B-schools, runs from July to June while that in western markets are usually in the October-September period every year.

"Globally, the academic calendar is such that summer internships, for instance, are held in July to September unlike in India where it takes place between April and June. Discussions have taken place in meetings of the review committee to mull over shifting the academic calendar. However, no final decision has been taken yet on calibrating IIM-A's academic calendar with that of global B-schools in the western world," a senior faculty member stated on condition of anonymity.

An emailed query to Nanda remained unanswered.  

If implemented, the move is set to help both faculty and student community alike at IIM-A.

"Not only IIM-A students can get to work side-by-side with students from other major global B-schools in their international internships but also participated in aligned student exchange programs. Even faculty can benefit from aligned conferences across global B-schools," said another faculty member on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, institute sources expect the calibration of academic calendar may take place either by 2015-17 batch of 2016-18 batch depending on how soon a decision is taken by the institute.