Colleges' MBA dream to end prematurely?

CHANDIGARH: City colleges aspiring to introduce MBA course from the next academic year are likely to face some disappointment. In a big blow to these institutes, a committee constituted by the vice-chancellor has advised against introducing the management programme in its affiliated colleges.
The committee, consisting of Dinesh K Gupta, AK Vashisht of UBS and AK Saihijpal of UIAMS, upheld the recommendations of the previous panel that met on November 2, 2006, and reiterated that the colleges did not possess requisite intellectual resources to meet the demands of an MBA programme.The committee also highlighted that the university had already enhanced the number of seats in MBA programmes in University Business School, Chandigarh. Moreover, it had started sectoral MBA courses at newly established University Institute of Applied Management Sciences with roughly 200 seats.
PU had received applications from some colleges, seeking permission to start MBA course from academic session 2009-10. Following this, a committee was formed by RC Sobti to prepare the feasibility report. With the panel submitting its counsel, Syndicate would take the issue during its meeting on February 28. From the city, DAV College, Sector 10 and SD College, Sector 32 had applied for requisite permission.
Disappointed with the outcome, DAV College principal BS Josan said, ������We have better infrastructure than the university. Despite that, if PU has found some loopholes, we���re ready to fill them, provided permission is granted to begin the course.������
Undeterred, he added in case they were turned down, the college would approach Punjab Technical University for permission. ������Introducing MBA from 2009-2010 is our top priority,������ he said. The institute had planned to start the course with 60 seats but is now ready to lower the number.
In another setback, if suggestions of a joint meeting of academic, administrative committees and board of control of department of biotechnology, PU, are approved, the BSc course in the department would be discontinued from session 2009-10. In a relief, seats in MSc course would be increased from six to 25. The committee has also suggested a hike of fee from Rs 31,762 to Rs 40,000 for the MSc course.