Indian Institute of Management – Kozhikode (IIM-K) has enrolled 33% female students, this year. Since established, the IIM have been a male mainstay with hardly 10% female making it to the premier league till IIM-Kozhikode proved this year how one-third women can be taken that too without any reservation.
Debasis Chatterjee, Director of IIM-Kozhikode, has said that the provocation was a general remark by HRD minister Kapil Sibal about fewer women students in IIMs. He also added that they are happy to be the first IIM to have more than 30% women students. It is the worldwide trend among Ivy League and other top universities. Moreover, IIM-Ahmedabad, the oldest IIM, has taken only 10% and others also stay close in that range.
Mr Chatterjee also mentioned that an analysis of CAT applications showed that while 25% women take the test, only 8-10% make it to the final round. The simple question is why they get screened out. He said that the reason was not difficult to find. They are only looking at narrow levels. Therefore, IIM-K decided to introduce new parameters at the level of group discussion and interview.
Moreover, a new factor of consistency was brought in. Mr Chatterjee explains that they looked at academic consistency from class X and higher secondary onwards. It was found that girls are more consistent than boys. So they are doing better than boys.
Furthermore, he points out that the stress was more on gauging the student's social skills, emotional and cultural maturity as well as compassionate nature. The model of a good manager has changed in the past few years, but, the examination has not changed. There is no relation between the test ability and a good manager. According to Mr Chatterjee, when the final list was prepared, keeping in mind the two new factors, it was found that women candidates had done exceedingly well.
In addition, Mr Chatterjee said that just over 12 years old - IIM-K is already a trendsetter. He points out how the institute was the first one to implement OBC reservation even without waiting for the formal government order. Besides, he says, IIM – K is also the only institute is the only IIM to train SC/ST and poor children to prepare for CAT.
