Work experience must for IIM-B?

From 2012, Panel Suggests B-School Put Less Weightage On CAT Score

Mathang Seshagiri TNN

Bangalore: An internal committee of the IIM-Bangalore has proposed some radical changes to revamp the flagship two-year postgraduate programme.

The panel, headed by Prof C Manohar Reddy, wants the B-school to put less weightage on CAT score, make a 22-month work experience compulsory, summer placements optional and stress on leadership potential and ethical and social sensitivity. The recommendations, which will be finalized after receiving inputs from the faculty, may be rolled out from the 2012 session. At present, the classes of 2011 and 2012 have 23% and 28% of students, respectively, without work experience.

The committee also wants to increase diversity and has pushed for at least 10% of the batch to comprise international students within the next decade.

Its recommendation of making summer internships optional could face some opposition from the students. “Stop the practice of preplacement talks and interviews for the summer internship; instead, the selection of summer internship should be done on the basis of resumes, as was the case several years ago,” the report exclusively accessed by TOI states. The panel feels that placements should be taken away from the student committee and handled by the career development office.

Outlining the curriculum philosophy, the panel says the focus should not just be on “knowing”, but also on “being” and “doing”. It has mooted seven new modules/ courses, including a twoweek compulsory group social project, for induction into the programme. The future managers could be taught some new courses on responsible leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, integration, interpersonal skills and leadership. The panel also wants to do away with the norms of 75% compulsory attendance and online mechanism for course and faculty feedback.

New IITs hit by poor infra, says Sibal
Hyderabad: The eight new IITs that were permitted to set up in 2008 do not have the necessary infrastructure and are not up to the mark making it difficult for the country’s prestigious institutions to retain faculty, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said here on Tuesday. Sibal blamed the state governments for not allotting the required land for setting up permanent campuses for these institutions. “These new IITs are functioning in temporary campuses and unable to attract new faculties. Due to the same reason we are finding it difficult to retain faculties. We need commitment from state governments for at least 500 acres of land without any liabilities attached to it,” Sibal said. The ministry started these new IITs three years ago. Each institution should have at least 90 teachers from all disciplines. According to reports most of the institutions do not have the required number of teaching staff. These new IITs are yet to get permanent campuses and in some states like Andhra Pradesh, where land has been allotted, building and other infrastructure is not in place yet, the minister said. AGENCIES

MANAGING ENTRY

Recommendations of the IIM-B internal committee
Less Weightage On CAT score 22-month work experience Optional summer placements 10% international students within next decade Seven new courses with emphasis on leadership, social sensitivity Career development office to handle placements Doing away with 75% compulsory attendance Online mechanism for course and faculty feedback Innovation week for intensive course, special workshops & projects