Nirma to offer one year prog for execs

After Indian School of Business (ISB) and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), Nirma Institute of Management (NIM) is also planning to introduce a one-year post graduate programme in management for executives.

“Post graduate programmes for executives are the next best thing in business education.Many expats are using it as an opportunity to return to India to pursue further education after gaining work experience for some years,” said Upinder Dhar, director of Nirma Institute of Management (NIM), on the sidelines of its annual management conclave, christened ‘Prayaag 08’.

The institute, since its inception in 1996, has been holding such events, inviting eminent corporate personalities and experts from various fields of management. This year’s theme for the conclave was ‘Technology driving business’.

The institute has submitted a proposal before Nirma University for approval of expansion in infrastructure before commencing the programme.

“We cannot commence the course unless we have necessary infrastructure like dormitories and additional classrooms. The programme will be similar to those running at premier institutes like IIM-A or ISB, Hyderabad. We intend to offer one year programme for executives with work experience of around five years or more. However, the nitty gritties of the programme will be decided once we get it approved,” said Dhar.

Meanwhile, NIM is also planning to initiate training programmes under its Service Innovation Cell (SICELL) formed under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and IBM.

The objective of SICELL is to develop a repository of knowledge pertaining to service sciences, engineering and management. The service cell aims at enhancing service skills to increase employability.

“While so far research work used to be carried out at SICELL, we are now planning to conduct training programmes in the near future,” added Dhar. The beneficiaries will be trained in integrating technology with their service skills.

While ISB’s one year programme is called full time post graduate programme in management, IIM-A runs post graduate programme in management for executives (PGPX). Those who have been working for several years are lured to management schools by the advantages of a one-year management programme.