New IIMs should run under existing IIMs

NEW DELHI: The six IIMs, planned to be started by next year, should be under the control of the existing IIMs initially which would help the new institutions to learn from their experience and would be more economical, a high-level government committee has suggested.

The government appointed IIM-Review committee in its report submitted to the HRD Ministry has said that this model would help the old IIMs to act as mentor institutes.

"This model will bring about a win-win situation for both the new and the old IIMs. They institutes can share experience, expertise, technology and teaching staff," committee chairman R C Bhargava said.

In the process of their growth, the existing IIMs have the experience in various areas including designing of campus to planning courses and managing faculty.

"If the new IIMs are started as separate entities, they will have to engage separate architectures for designing the building and other structures. But if they are managed by the existing IIMs, there will be proper coordinated efforts to design the campus thereby it will save the cost and help in better planning," he said.

The review panel is of the view that the new IIMs may find it difficult to function at the same level as the older IIMs immediately.

If the new IIMs fail to maintain the standards, it will dilute the brand image of the IIMs and lead wastage of public money, the committee said.