The Hindu Business Line : Ministry `no' to IIMB's Singapore campus not to hit revenues

THE Human Resource Development Ministry's bid to spike the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB)'s attempt to set up its first overseas campus is unlikely to impact the institute's revenues.

Though the Singapore campus is ready for executive education programmes, IIMB had not yet begun admissions at the Singapore campus. "We had not even worked out on how much revenues it would accrue to the institute or on the number of admissions," Dr Prakash G. Apte, Director, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, told Business Line.

Last March, IIMB had tied up with the Bhavan's India International School campus in Singapore to conduct management programmes there. Intentions to conduct four programmes for executive management education were also announced by the institute last year. Sources at IIMB said that this campus was conceived for executive education programmes for executives in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, etc, from where the institute gets a lot of enquiry.Management development programmes have increasingly filled the institute's coffers in the last few years. According to sources, this year the figure is expected to touch Rs 15 crore.

When asked to comment on the next course of action, Dr Apte said, "We'll have to wait and see what to do next." According to sources at the institute, the board of directors of IIMB is scheduled to meet on January 20 to discuss the issue.

Sibal flays Govt decision

THE Union Science and Technology Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, on Thursday criticised the HRD Ministry's decision to stop IIMB from opening a campus at Singapore. It's very important to release higher educational institutions from the control of the Government, he said, adding that institutions such as IIMs and IITs required greater autonomy if India has to emerge as a major knowledge power.