IIMs upset with report recommendations

IIM COMMITTEE REPORT IN PERSPECTIVE

Directors and faculty at the seven Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have so far maintained silence on the recommendations of the RC Bhargava report, but are privately in consultation with each other.

“We are not sure on how the pan-IIM board — a major recommendation — will work with the internal management of the IIMs. We have so far relied on our own boards to take major decisions,” said an IIM faculty member.

Key proposals

Creation of a pan-IIM board comprising 15 members. Five government nominees, and rest would be eminent individuals living in India or abroad.

The boards of IIMs should be reconstituted and consist of 11 members against the current 24-26.

To overcome faculty shortage, teachers could be on contract.

The MBA teaching programme should remain the core activity of IIMs.

Existing IIMs should mentor the six new IIMs.

The IIMs are also upset about the report questioning the institutes’ intention on the expansion of intake.

The report has also pointed a finger at the role of the directors in an IIM. “The directors have not played a lead role in formulating strategies for the growth and development of the IIMs possibly because they themselves have not been sure whether they are supposed to do so or not and whether they should look to the government or the boards for support as well as guidance in formulating policies. The directors have not been particularly effective in being able to influence the government to provide resources and support to implement the changes required to enable their institutions to respond to the changing times,” says the report.

While IIM directors refused to comment on the report’ s observation, insiders say that the top brass of the IIMs are upset at the dig.

Another IIM insider raised doubts about the research undertaken by the committee preceding the report. “As compared to earlier committees, none of the current committee members have had a direct contact with any of the IIMs for over a decade. Even the chairman of one of the IIMs is a recent appointee. Considering this, we doubt any proper study has been conducted to understand the needs of the IIMs before offering suggestions,” said the insider.

The IIMs are also finding several recommendations quite tough to digest. For instance, the report’s recommendationto move faculty and administrative staff residences to off-campus sites.

“It (the recommendation) clearly shows the committee has not understood the needs and basic structure of IIMs. The advantage of having faculty and administrative staff residences on campuses helps the students be in constant touch with them. If residences of faculty are moved to off-campus sites, the students will be deprived of such accessibility and might affect their performances as well,” the insider added.