IIM-T to start functioning with its own faculty

Thirty three applicants shortlisted for 12 full-time positions

Prafulla Agnihotri, Director, Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchi. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

The Indian Institute of Management - Tiruchi (IIM-T) is poised to commence its Post Graduate Programme from June 2011 for the first batch of students with its own faculty.

Thirty three of the about 365 applications that have been received from countries like USA, France, Philippines and UAE other than India have been shortlisted for the 12 positions of full-time faculty.

Additionally, teachers will also be appointed on contract as the need arises. “We have already started the admission procedure for the first batch of students for the PGP,” the Director of IIM-T Prafulla Agnihotri told presspersons on Thursday.

Spelling out IIM-T's vision to “prepare young minds to contribute to the betterment of the global society, Dr. Agnihotri expressed enthusiasm over executing the task ahead to build the IIM-T as a world-class institution from the scratch, and raise its level to rank among the country's first ten business schools in the next five years. Towards preparing the country for global leadership, facilities for acquisition of knowledge, information and advancement of culture and Indian values to the Indian as well as foreign students would be provided. The IIM-T plans to make available facilities for research in all branches of knowledge. Facilities at the temporary campus in the National Institute of Technology – Tiruchi have been attuned to IIM standards, he said, hoping to move into permanent campus in the third year.

Dr.Agnihotri committed the support of IIM-T to other educational institutions in the State, and said the scope for offering short-term courses based on local requirements would be studied. He did not rule out offering a course on Family Business Management with a focus on small and medium enterprises.

The IIM-T, he said, aims at creating an environment that encourages students of diverse backgrounds to achieve excellence in the field of their choice through holistic, functional and relevant education. Dr. Agnihotri was keen on putting in place an educational process that promotes ethics, critical inquiry, creativity, and interdisciplinary approach for laying foundation for life-long learning. The IIM-T intends to maximise mutual benefit through its industry interaction, Dr.Agnihotri said.

Advocating a philosophy of ‘experiential learning', the IIM-T Director said students will be encouraged to learn through field work, projects and live assignments in industry along with case-based methodology.

Through inculcation of ‘data based decision making' and ‘spirit of collaboration', students will be prepared to work in and lead a global team of managers. ‘Integrity' and ‘ethical behaviour' will be the foundations of IIM-T, Dr. Agnihotri added.