IIM-A outsources foreign student training to alumni

AHMEDABAD: The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) has outsourced a part of its management curriculum for the first time. The institute, which is strained with faculty shortage and many more students, has roped in the alumni to provide field training to foreign students of management development programmes (MDP)



January 2013 onwards, IIM-A's alumni based in Ahmedabad will offer industry training to the students of its various exchange programmes, thus saving the faculty's time. Usually, foreign students visit IIM-A for a week, which includes five days of theory and two days of practical exposure. While the faculty members will offer theoretical sessions in the first five days, the alumni will take care of all outdoor management training sessions, which include industrial and factory visits, offering operational level learning and an understanding of local business culture and giving a perspective on the corporate system in India.

The institute recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the IIMA Alumni Association, Ahmedabad chapter to handle all outside classroom training for foreign participants of MDPs for two days.
To begin with, the alumni will train participants of about five MDPs in 2013 with 30 participants in each programme. In return, the alumni will be paid a part of the fees from the exchange programmes. Nayan Parikh, president, IIMA Alumni Association, Ahmedabad chapter, said, "Through this initiative, the alumni will also get another opportunity to give back to its alma mater."
Students and management programmes at IIM-A have doubled in the last 10 years, but the faculty number has been almost the same. Between 2000-01 and 2012-13, the number of students has gone up by 117% compared to an increase of 10% in its faculty strength.

"It will be a win-win situation for us as our managers will also get to meet working managers from abroad. I will not be surprised if we hear of some joint ventures and other shared business ideas out of the interactions. As the comfort level with this initiative increases, we look forward to train more participants in the future," said Parikh, who came up with the idea along with IIM-A director Samir Barua.

Source:The Times Of India