After HRD snub, IIM-Indore junks plan

The Indian Institute of Management, Indore, dumped controversial components from its ambitious plan to admit students straight out of school into a five-year management programme after the Centre summoned the IIM director to the capital on Wednesday for an explanation. Charu Sudan Kasturi reports.

The Indian Institute of Management, Indore, dumped controversial components from its ambitious plan to admit students straight out of school into a five-year management programme after the Centre summoned the IIM director to the capital on Wednesday for an explanation.

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A fortnight ago, the institute had proposed to allow students to leave after three years of undergraduation —with either a diploma or a degree.

Now, students will need to complete five years after school to receive a diploma in management, the IIM has decided.

The HRD ministry conveyed its concerns to director N Ravichandran, sources confirmed to HT. HRD minister Kapil Sibal is expected to formalise the ministry's stand which though innovative, has raised concerns over implications for students and the IIMs.

The HRD ministry is not keen to interfere in academic decisions of the IIMs and maintains that the IIM can run any programme. But the ministry is concerned that the lure of the IIM brand may attract students without understanding its implications.

Unlike the IITs, established under an Act of Parliament, the IIMs, cannot award degrees — contrary to IIM Indore's claim on its website. The HRD ministry is concerned that students will not hold any degree — ruling them out of many career options.

But Ravichandran, sources said, told the ministry that he is exploring the possibility of affiliating the IIM to a university, possibly a Canadian university, to allow the institute to award degree at the end of five years.