The Hindu : National : IIM (A) not to open overseas campuses

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Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006

National

National

IIM (A) not to open overseas campuses

Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD: Differing from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, has said it does not intend to set up campuses overseas.

Making its standpoint clear on the issue, IIM-A director Bakul Dholakia told mediapersons here on Tuesday that his institution did not subscribe to the view of opening campuses abroad.

"Conceptually we are not convinced about the need for overseas campuses," Mr. Dholakia said. "We have no plans to set up campuses abroad at least in near future."

Apparently subscribing to Union Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh's views in this regard, Prof. Dholakia said the institution already engaged in overseas activities through various training programmes and management development courses that did not require "physical infrastructure."

The debate gained currency after the HRD ministry denied the Bangalore IIM permission to set up a campus in Singapore, prompting the former Singaporean Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, to term the decision as a "huge loss" for the country to "make money."

Prof. Dholakia said the IIM-A had no qualms if other business schools in the country wanted to set up overseas campuses and would extend all assistance if needed. About the IIM-A's contributions to expand its management training base in the country as advised by Mr. Singh,

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