The Indian Institute of Management - Indore (IIM-Indore) has dropped its plan to admit students straight out of school into a five-year management programme, after the HRD ministry’s rebuke. As per sources, the Centre summoned the IIM Director to the capital, for an explanation.
Few days back, the institute had proposed to allow students to leave after three years of undergraduation either with a diploma or a degree. Presently, the IIMs have decided that students are required to complete five years after school to receive a diploma in management.
Sources informed that the HRD ministry expressed its concern to director N Ravichandran. HRD minister Kapil Sibal is likely to sanctify the ministry's stand, which although innovative, has raised concerns over allusions for students and the IIMs.
In contrast to the IITs, which have been established under an Act of Parliament, the IIMs cannot grant degrees opposing to IIM Indore's claim on its website. Moreover, the HRD ministry is worried that students will not hold any degree, which may rule them out of many career opportunities.
Furthermore, sources informed that Ravichandran 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.
