The Hindu : Front Page : After CAT, it is RAT at IIM, Bangalore

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Saturday, Mar 15, 2008
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After CAT, it is RAT at IIM, Bangalore

Deepa Kurup

Test aimed at strengthening research programme; scholars to be paid more

It will make the job of candidates and the institute simple
Engineers, science, arts postgraduates are eligible

BANGALORE: In an attempt to strengthen its research programme, the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore (IIM-B) is all set to introduce the Research Aptitude Test (RAT) for its fellowship programme in management on the lines of the Common Admission Test (CAT) amid plans to double its intake, increase the stipend and attract more corporate sponsorships for doctoral fellows.

In an attempt to strengthen its research programme, IIM-B will conduct RAT, which will be modelled along the lines of CAT in terms of content and format, and the subsequent interviews are scheduled to be conducted on April 10 and April 11.

Previously students had to write the CAT, GRE or G-MAT and these scores were mandatory.

“We found that many candidates, especially those who are working, are discouraged from joining us because they do not want to go through these exams. From this year they will only have to appear for RAT to make their job and ours simpler,” says Deepak Sinha, chairperson of the Fellowship Programme.

Engineering graduates with two years of work experience or postgraduates in arts and science are eligible to apply for the programme.

Intake

The intake of students is also slated to double in the coming academic year, and the management has secured three corporate fellowships of Rs. 3 lakh a year from SAP Labs India, EADS and the Supply Chain Management Centre, in addition to the existing one sponsored by Infosys.

IIM-B will soon be on a par with IIM, Ahmedabad, in terms of facilities and research activities, he added.

IIM-B has received around 700 applications this year for the research programme which is completed in four to seven years. The financial assistance for research scholars will be extended to five years from four and the annual contingency for academic expenses will be doubled to Rs. 50,000 a year. Monthly stipends for students have also been increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 and house rent allowance goes up to Rs. 8,000.

“We will be looking at major expansion and at improving infrastructure and accommodation. Besides corporate sponsorships, we are looking at many ways to strengthen the research programme,” said Pankaj Chandra, director of IIM-B. To encourage students to participate in seminars and paper presentations abroad, an additional amount of Rs. 1 lakh will be given to each student.

Faculty research

“We have a good research programme, but we are not able to nurture faculty research due to the disparity in pay scale. I hope that the Sixth Pay Commission will de-link institutions like ours and help us upgrade our pay scales to be able to attract and retain talent,” said Prof. Chandra.

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