IIMs to focus on quality PhD programmes

QUALITY PHD PROGRAMMES WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF FACULTY SHORTAGE OF INSTITUTES

The ministry of human resource development and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are working on the possibility of expanding doctoral programmes. Prakash Javadekar, union HRD minister, said last week that creating more quality PhD programmes will address the problem of faculty shortage in institutes.

And for creating more PhDs, better avenues of fellowship will be offered to willing candidates. The minister also said that in line with the IIT Council, where it has been decided to award PM’s scholarship for PhD programme, government approval will be sought for PM’s scholarship for best of PhD scholars in IIMs.

A final decision will be taken with the Cabinet’s approval. IIMs will actively participate in creating content for SWAYAM which is an information technology platform hosting open online courses.

The institutes will also provide high quality education on various subjects from Class 9 to undergraduate and postgraduate students covering all disciplines.

SWAYAM is a free course which can be availed online and shall be a complete channel of new open learning system comprising of lectures, reading materials, tutorials, mid exams, final exams and certification.The IIMs have also been asked to submit plans for expansion of their intake capacity, so that more students get the opportunity to enroll themselves.

Directors of IIMs have discussed this possibility in a meeting with the HRD minister last week. IIMs will participate in a new initiative to make 20 world-class universities/institutes.