IIM-C to offer satellite programme

B-SCHOOLS: Even as the quota system hogs the limelight, a lot of interesting foreign tie-ups are taking place at the country's premier management institutes.

The Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) is planning to offer a satellite programme for management executives next year in collaboration with NIIT. Anindya Sen, dean, programme initiative, said, "Previously, IIMC has offered satellite programmes, but this would be on a more sound footing and in-depth teaching and interaction with candidates."

Sen explained that faculty members would be delivering lectures from a central studio and candidates would be able to interact with lecturer through personal terminals. Course materials would be uploaded for the enrolled candidates, he noted.

The course is likely to be a one-year programme and classes would be held during the weekends, Sen added. The course is likely to entail nearly all the areas that are covered in the regular MBA programme, he hinted.

The programme was primarily targeted at top and senior management with few years of work experience very similar to structure of IIMC's long duration programmes, Sen said. The programme is likely to be launched in early 2007. He further added that previous satellite programmes has witnessed candidate inflow to the tune of 200.

"IIM-C is in the process of finalising the modalities of the arrangement with NIIT. Though the details are yet to be chalked out, some courses "� primarily computer courses "� might also be delivered by the NIIT faculty," an IIM-C source said. It also has an arrangement with Hughes Escorts Communication for providing connectivity, the source added.

Meanwhile, IIM-C's one year full-time 'post graduate programme for executives' (PGPEX), will be starting this December. B B Chakrabarti, professor, finance and control said, "We are in the process of making final selection for the course. The response has been very good." We will have around 40 students, he added.

In addition, the calendar is packed with offering from IIMC under its 'management development programme' (MDP). The number of offering under MDP would be over 40 between July 2006 and February 2007.

Few of the courses in the offering would be marketing skills for bank and financial institutions, project management, futures and options, self development for global managers, improving managerial effectiveness in community and sexual health, stress management in learning organisations, supply chain management, managing domestic and cross-border logistic for global competitiveness amongst several others.