Establish the “Indian Management & Skill University” to make Standalone B-schools NEP 2020 ready; Allow PGDM B-schools to offer Undergraduate Diploma in Management, equivalent to BBA: Indian Management Conclave Whitepaper recommends to AICTE
Mumbai : A recommendation paper titled “Pathways for Standalone B-Schools for NEP 2020 Implementation” was released today by AICTE Chairman, Shri (Prof) TG Sitharam at the 13th Indian Management Conclave organized by MBAUniverse.com in Mumbai.
While releasing the IMC Whitepaper authored by Amit Agnihotri, AICTE Chairman Dr Sitharam said, “As highlighted in the Whitepaper, size of Undergraduate Management Education in India is as big as Post Graduate MBA/PGDM programs. Since approval for all PG management programs is already being given by AICTE for many decades now, we will bring the approval of UG Management programs, like BBA, into the purview of AICTE. This will facilitate better integration between UG and PG management programs in India and give impetus to management education in India.”
As highlighted in IMC Whitepaper, while 6.37 lakh students are enrolled in BBA and similar UG Management programs in India, about 6.05 lakh students are enrolled in PG programs like MBA. One the key recommendations of Whitepaper is to allow 500+ PGDM and Standalone B-schools to offer AICTE approved Undergraduate Diploma programs. This will facilitate B-schools to increase student size, a key requirement of NEP. Currently PGDM B-schools like XLRI Jamshedpur and MDI Gurgaon can offer only Post Graduate and Executive management programs, not undergraduate programs. IIMs are allowed by the IIM Act 2018 to offer both UG and PG programs, and five IIMs including IIM Indore are already offering both UG and PG programs.
Based on policy research, and roundtable deliberations with almost all Top 50 Standalone B-schools over the last six months, IMC Whitepaper lays down many recommendations on how standalone b-schools, such as XLRI, MDI, SPJIMR among others, can either become Universities or Autonomous colleges as envisaged in the NEP 2020. Among the top recommendations outlined in the white paper, below are the key ones that were formally presented to Chairman, AICTE
Recommendation #1: Recognize management institutes in the ‘Distinct Institution’ category
The UGC Notification 2023 mentions that an existing institution or an institution starting from the beginning with the focus on teaching and research in unique disciplines and/or addressing the strategic needs of the country or engaged in the preservation of Indian cultural heritage or preservation of the environment or dedicated to Skill Development or dedicated to Sports or languages or any other discipline(s), so determined by the Expert Committee of Commission, will be considered under ‘Distinct Institution’ category. Such Institutions will be exempted from eligibility criteria to become Universities. Whitepaper recommends that Standalone B-schools meet these criteria and qualify to be categorized as ‘Distinct Institution’. Hence, they should receive the relaxations as the UGC notification to become a muti-disciplinary University.
Recommendation #2: Establish the “Indian Management & Skill University”
Whitepaper recommends that AICTE may establish/sponsor/facilitate “Indian Management & Skill University (IMSU)” with all PGDM Institutions as constituent degree-granting institutions. IMSU should be established on the lines of IIM Act 2018. All PGDM B-schools shall come under the purview of ISMU and shall be classified as Degree-granting Autonomous College (ACs), as outlined in NEP 2020.
Recommendation #3: Allow PGDM institution to offer UG Diploma programmes
An important recommendation of the Whitepaper is that AICTE should allow PGDM institution to offer UG Diploma programmes.
Currently, AICTE approved standalone PGDM institutes are not allowed to offer undergraduate diploma programmes in any management or other stream, although they are offering AICTE approved Post Graduate Diploma in Management. As such these standalone B-schools, should be allowed to introduce undergraduate programs without immediate commitment to full-fledged degree-granting status. This gradual shift will help institutions adapt to new regulations and academic requirements smoothly and take them close to NEP requirements
Making an important announcement while releasing the Whitepaper, Prof (Dr) TG Sitharam, Chairman AICTE said, “As highlighted in the Whitepaper, size of Undergraduate Management Education in India is as big as Post Graduate MBA/PGDM programs. Since approval for all PG management programs is already being given by AICTE for many decades now, we will bring the approval of UG Management programs, like BBA, into the purview of AICTE. This will facilitate better integration between UG and PG management programs in India and give impetus to management education in India.”
Mr Amit Agnihotri, Founder, Indian Management Conclave & MBAUniverse.com, and the author of this white paper said “The Indian Management Education will stand transformed post NEP 2020 implementation. B-schools must prepare themselves for NEP implementation and this white paper outlines three considered pathways in that direction.”
250+ B-school Directors & Deans attended the 13th Indian Management Conclave at SPJIMR, Mumbai. The event brought together Policy Makers, Thought leaders & Business Leaders. Top CXO’s (Google, HDFC, Deloitte, EY, ICICI, HCL among others) made Industry Sector Case Study Presentations followed by Panel Discussion on Management Education by top Academic Leaders from IIM Ahmedabad, XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, IIM Nagpur, BIMTECH among others.
About Indian Management Conclave (IMC)
IMC is India’s biggest annual MBA Education Conference & Awards Platform. Organized by MBAUniverse.com in partnership with India’s top B-schools and knowledge Organizations, INDIAN MANAGEMENT CONCLAVE (IMC) is India’s definitive annual Management Education Conference & Awards Platform.
IMC is hosted by India’s leading Institutions who contribute as Knowledge Partners. Past Partners & Hosts include: ISB Hyderabad (2015), IIM Ahmedabad (2016), IIM Lucknow (2017), IIM Bangalore (2018), MDI Gurgaon (2021) and IIM Kozhikode (2022). Hon’ble Former President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind was the Chief Guest for 12th IMC 2022.