IIMs get more autonomy, collegium to pick directors

An independent collegium will soon be formed to choose the directors and board members of the country’s seven Indian Institutes of Management. The HRD Ministry also agrees to setting up of IIM campuses abroad. HT Correspondent reports.

An independent collegium will soon be formed to choose the directors and board members of the country’s seven Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

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It will comprise people from industry and eminent academicians.

“The collegium will suggest names for appointment so the IIMs don’t feel we are imposing our people,” Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister, told reporters after his meeting with IIM directors on Friday.

The number of people on the collegium and just how it will function will be decided at the directors’ next meeting with Sibal in Janurary 2010.

The RC Bhargava committee, set up last year to recommend improvements in the IIMs functioning, had suggested that a single council be formed comprising faculty from all IIMs to choose the directors and board members. The suggestion, opposed by the IIMs, has been rejected and the collegium decided upon in its place.

Sibal has also agreed to the IIMs setting up campuses abroad, be it independently, or in collaboration. “In principal the government of India has no objection to the setting up of IIMs abroad,” he said.

Sibal said IIMs have to be prepared for competition but assured that domestic institutions interests would be kept in mind.