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Updated on: Monday, February 14, 2011

In order to bring about transparency and put an end to erratic capitation fees, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to regulate post graduate diploma in management (PGDM) programmes in India. As per the new guidelines, the fee and curriculum would be decided by committees and councils of the respective state governments. In a move to standardise the admission criterion, selection of candidates will be made through common entrance tests such as CAT/MAT and other state-conducted examinations.

The regulations are likely to affect over 500 AICTE-approved institutions offering a one-year certificate/diploma programme in management. Says Prabhat Kumar Sahoo, regional director, AICTE, Western region, "There is no reason to think that the state government is taking over. They will just regulate the fees and the admission process to ensure transparency. Common admission tests demand a CAT high standard and that is good for students."

However, H Chaturvedi, alternate president, Education Promotion Society of India ( EPSI) is of the contrary view. He says, "The AICTE regulations are likely to stifle management education at a time when it is heading towards globalisation. Also, the Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have already notified that a chunk of the students will be from the respective states."

Calling the proposed directives as regressive in nature, Pranabesh Ray, dean (academics), XLRI Jamshedpur, says, "There is a need to segregate the top-10 management institutions and give them the freedom to prove their autonomy. We have established ourselves as a brand. We will lose that once the admission is controlled by the state-government."

According to Bakul H Dholakia, former director, IIM-Ahmedabad, "Autonomy and quality go hand in hand." He adds that out of the 390 institutions that impart the PGDM course, more than half are misusing the power in the name of autonomy. However, he reiterated that a one-size-fits-all approach is unwarranted and the directive would damage the credibility of the institutions that have been doing a good job.

It is easier to monitor the progress once everything comes under a regulatory authority, but the quality of students remains a national concern. "It will probably be easier for students to focus on their institution of choice by restricting the number of entrance exams. Exams like CAT are recognised globally, so the selection process can be made more centralised. But the issue of fees can be debated upon as resources are needed to ensure quality faculty, exchange programmes, and modern infrastructure," says Devi Singh, director, IIM-Lucknow.

Shobha Mishra Ghosh, director, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), points out that any regulatory move should be facilitating in nature. "A fixed fee structure might restrict B-schools from providing adequate resources to students to maintain academic excellence."

With the institutions sceptical about the regulations, bodies like Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) and Education Promotion Society of India (EPSI) are ready to approach the Prime Minister to apprise him on the matter and win government support.

"If the matter is not resolved soon, we may resort to the legal route and approach the Supreme Court," Chaturvedi concludes.

Times of India

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