Nagpur Today : Nagpur News
Nagpur: Even before an Indian Institute of Management could come up in the state , heads of several business schools have slammed the government’s decision to “gift” it to Nagpur. The location of the institute will determine its future, say experts.
“An IIM in Mumbai or Pune will take it to the level of the IIM-A in about a decade. But if there is political interference right from the start about the location of the institute, then the very first step is in the wrong direction,” says a former IIM director.
“The location for an IIM matters immensely. At odd places, it is difficult to get visiting faculty from the industry to travel to the campus,” says IIM-Trichy head Prafulla Agnihotri. ”
Even though some academicians are reportedly unhappy over Nagpur getting a centre, there are many in city who make a strong case for one. Local business management colleges are in fact pitching for the biggest competition they could ever get, more vocally than others.
Nagpur Today got a open letter from Israr Qureshi, professor at Management School in Hong Kong, originally from Chandrapur (Maharashtra) who suggests China-centred studies for the proposed IIM at Nagpur.
Below is the letter of Mr. Quershi:
I am professor at Management School in Hong Kong . I am originally from Chandrapur (Maharashtra).
I am writing you in connection with recent announcement of starting IIM at Nagpur. I am excited to learn that finally there will be a world class institution of management education in Nagpur.
I have three management degrees from three continents (MBA in General Management from India, MBA in eBusiness and IT from Netherlands, and PhD in Business Administration from Canada). I have taught management students in Canada and Hong Kong, and I regularly visit premier institutions globally as well in India. I have conducted workshops and research seminars at Indian School of Business, and several IIMs (Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Indore, Lucknow, Udaipur) as well as other management institutes in India (BIMTECH, GIM, IMT, MDI, IRMA etc). This have provided me rich insights into management education globally as well as in india.
The central location of Nagpur is suitable for conducting Faculty Development Programs and Research Training Programs for doctoral students. Renowned professors from various global elite institutions can be invited to conduct these workshops. Doctoral students from other IIMs and management schools can attend these workshops due to wonderful air and railways connectivity of Nagpur with other parts of India. I have various other ideas to help improve research credentials of IIM, Nagpur.
Being originally from Vidarbha, I would like to contribute whatever I can to the development of IIM (Nagpur) at its early stage of growth. Some of the possible activities could be
· China Exposure workshop could be held in Hong Kong through PolyU Institute for Entrepreneurship (to which I am associated), where faculty members from Faculty of Business (FB), PolyU, China Industry experts (based out of Hong Kong and Shenzhen), Faculty members of IIM (Nagpur), and Indian Industry experts may take part. This workshop can be held in May-June, 2016 (or at other convenient time). Similar workshop could be held at Nagpur on reciprocal basis (if feasible)
· Faculty of Business, PolyU (FB) may help conduct methodology workshops for PhD students either at PolyU (HK) or at IIM (Nagpur). This will require further discussion. This collaboration can be further extended to Faculty Development Program.
· FB may be able to create a joint supervision scheme where faculty members at FB may jointly supervise (based on available expertise on the research topics) PhD students at IIM (Nagpur). There is also a possibility (depending on approval of the scheme) that these PhD student may be able to visit Hong Kong for six months. PolyU may be able to fund part of their trip and provide some stipend to cover their cost of living in Hong Kong (modalities need to be worked out over time).
· Individual faculty members at FB may travel to IIM (Nagpur) for workshops, short courses, research collaborations etc. This can be done at individual faculty members’ convenience.
· Any other collaboration that IIM (Nagpur) might deem possible and mutually beneficial.
Once again, I am excited that an IIM is opening at Nagpur and would love to do whatever I can to help it become a world class management institute.
Israr Qureshi, Ph.D. (Ivey)
Nagpur IIM can benefit from tie up with Hong Kong University, opines Academic with Vidarbha origins