It's a move that may just widen the rift between India's premier business schools, the IIMs, and their sponsor, the Government of India. With the terms of the directors at IIM-Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta coming to an end in September this year, the Ministry of Human Resources now wants to be the one that decides the new appointments. Traditionally, search committees within the IIMs have selected new directors, usually from within the school itself.
That's a long-winded way of saying that directorial appointments at the IIMs will henceforth be done by the Ministry, just as it appoints directors at other government-funded institutions.
Understandably, the three B-schools in question (IIM-A, B & C), which have also taken on the government over its 27 per cent seat reservation for students from other backward classes (OBCs), are upset. "The greatest disadvantage of selecting IIM Director through advertisements is that the most suitable candidate may not respond and apply at all," fears Prof. Anindya Sen, Dean, IIM Calcutta. The Directors of IIM-A and b are putting up a slightly braver front. "We don't perceive any threat to the pre-eminent position of the institute despite the confusion over appointment of directors," says Prakash G. Apte, Director, IIM-B. Adds Bakul Dholakia, IIM-A's Director: "I think the experience of existing faculty and a strong board can also be leveraged internally before drawing up a final list." Finally, of course, a headstrong master will have his way.
(With Ritwik Mukherjee)
