Charting its own course

Education Times talks to Arindham Chaudhuri, Dean, Centre for Economic Research & Advanced Studies at The Indian Institute of Planning & Management, New Delhi, (IIPM) to know about his vision on education.
What are your views on the Government’s policies on education in India?
There is a total confusion about Government’s initiatives on the education front.Nobody knows what has been done till date and what more needs to be done. In fact, nothing has been achieved so far, when one comes to think about that only 34 per cent population is literate in the country. I feel NGO’s can play a great role in educating India.
Could you throw light on the management courses that you offer?
IIPM is an academic research-based institute and hence offers only two management courses for students, one at the undergraduate level - bachelor of business administration and the other at the postgraduate level - master’s in business administration (MBA). The focus of the BBA and MBA programmes is on national economic planning. Most importantly, BBA students of IIPM, after working for two years in the industry, are automatically awarded the MBA degree. This brings the BBA students on a par with those pursuing the MBA programme.
Are IIPM programmes recognised?
We have signed an MoU with International Management Institute (IMI), Belgium, which is one of the world’s leading business schools. So, students get their diplomas from IIPM as well as degrees from IMI. IIPM management programmes do not fall under the purview of AIU, AICTE, UGC and similar national institutions. Students in Delhi and Mumbai campuses have the option of transferring their credits to IMI Belgium and continue their studies there.Besides, BBA, MBA, fellowship and executive education programmes of IIPM alongwith the GOTA programmes are supported by organisations like United Nations (Geneva), World Bank, ILO, Nestle S A Vevey, INSEAD, IMD Lausanne, Credit Suisse among others, to create some of the highest standards in the management field.
What are your views on Education Times?
It is a very informative supplement giving information about different career opportunities. Despite carrying advertisements, it doesn’t give a stingy look. The content it carries is fabulous.