IIM-A plans Cairo campus

Board to okay decision today.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, is poised to set up a campus in Cairo. This apart, it is looking at two more locations for campuses overseas.

The board of the institute's governors is meeting here tomorrow to approve the campus in Cairo as well as to take a final stand on fees.

"On invitation from the government of Egypt and subsequent discussions, the IIM, Ahmedabad, board is expected to approve the proposal for setting up a campus in Cairo when land and other infrastructure facilities are made available," said a source close to the institute's board on Friday.

The government of Egypt has been pursuing the proposal for some months but the institute could not apply its mind to it because of the drawn out controversy over fees.

"With a new government supportive of the cause of premier educational institutes, IIM, Ahmedabad, is looking at going global. The journey could start with the campus in Cairo. Other destinations are also being considered," the source added.

IIM, Calcutta, had earlier planned to set up a campus in West Asia, but decided to first set up another campus at Rajarhat near Kolkata's international airport.

IIM, Calcutta, has asked for 20 acres of land from the West Bengal government. The state government is working on the formalities for transferring the land for the Rs 12 crore campus.

The second IIM, Ahmedabad, campus, coming up near the existing one, is expected to start functioning soon. The IIM, Ahmedabad, board meeting will be presided by its governor, N R Narayana Murthy, who reached here this afternoon to hold talks with the institute's director, Bakul Dholakia.

"Apart from the fee issue, on which IIM, Ahmedabad, has said it will retain the fees charged in the last academic session, a plan for enhancing need-based scholarships for poor students will also to be discussed. Another issue is that of faculty members' earnings from consultancy services," the source said. Dholakia declined comment on the meeting's agenda.