IIM-Kozhikode launched its first satellite campus at Infopark here on Saturday. The campus aims to support growth and development of business in the region.

The satellite campus was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy. He has offered five acres of land for the campus in Kochi.

“The institution is striving and working towards excellence in the teaching and research space. Kerala is proud to have an IIM in the State. I envision two or three members in every Cabinet to be an IIM-K student,” Mr Chandy said.

The Chief Minister said that 38 young managers who passed out from IIM-K this year will join the offices of State ministers. The objective of the initiative is to effectively utilise the management skills of the young professionals for better governance.

Prof Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM-Kozhikode, said the Uttar Pradesh government has also approached the IIM-K to launch a similar initiative involving young managers in administrative affairs. The programme is on the lines of the Prime Minister's Research and Fellowship programme for young professionals, he said.

Courses on offer

The satellite campus in Kochi will initially offer one-year residential executive MBA programme as well as two-year part-time programmes in addition to several short- and long-term management development programmes.

As the campus is located inside Infopark, it will directly help the executives at the park to hone their management skills, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of IT sector and boost the IT sector growth, Prof Chatterjee said.

The expansion of IIM-K operations outside the Kozhikode campus is integral to the vision of Kerala as an emerging hub for young knowledge workers. The institute has chosen Kochi in line with the need to create the right environment to facilitate the transformation of Kerala into a business hub and a preferred investment destination, he added.

>sajeevkumar@thehindu.co.in

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