Boards of all IIMS to be reconstituted

The process of constitution of Boards for the IIMS, which have been given full powers of running the institutions, is a major development PRAKASH JAVADEKAR , Union HRD minister

NEW DELHI: India’s top business schools are set to get new Boards of Governors by next month with the human resource development (HRD) ministry on Monday approving the process for reconstitution of these bodies in all twenty Indian Institutes of Management (IIMS) in keeping with the new IIM Act passed last year.

The Boards are authorized to decide fee structures, create posts in both academic and administrative sections and can also set up new departments. The previous thinking in the HRD ministry was to retro-fit existing boards but the law ministry advised against this.

The government announced that the process of identifying the new boards would kick off with the three ex-officio members – the director, a representative of the state government and a representative of the Centre—picking a chairperson. In most cases, the existing chairperson is likely to be retained. The chairperson and the ex-officio members will pick five alumni. At the first meeting of the board, these nine members will frame regulations for the selection of four eminent persons, and two faculty members, for the board.current eligible board members are likely to be re-elected.

The Centre also decided to immediately withdraw its other representatives, in excess of the provisions of the IIM Act. This will pave way for complete control of the institutions by reputed academicians and alumni, the HRD ministry said in a statement.

“The process of constitution of Boards for the IIMS, which have been given full powers of running the institutions, is a major development that signals complete autonomy of quality institutions in higher education and will ensure quality expansion of higher education,” union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar added in the statement.

The IIM Act provides more autonomy for the premier B-schools. The process is likely to be completed by December 15, the statement said.

“Giving comprehensive autonomy to institutions of higher education is of course a very welcome step. That such an autonomy is being given to IIMS is a path-breaking step. However, it must be understood that academic and administrative autonomy is heavily dependent upon availability of financial resources and freedom to spend it in an autonomous manner,” said former UGC member Prof Inder Mohan Kapahy