IIM Ahmedabad: Proposal to Award Degrees Instead of Diplomas Put on Hold

Director of IIM Ahmedabad, Mr. Errol D’ Souza revealed that the premier management institute is likely to reconsider/ review the decision to award management degrees instead of diplomas. IIM Ahmedabad is waiting for detailed guidelines and instructions from the HRD Ministry in this regard, he added.

The IIM Act that came into force on January 31, 2018, empowered the premier management institutes to confer a master’s degree instead of PGP diploma to the students who successfully clear two-year management course. However, the government is yet to frame guidelines and rules regarding the IIM Act.

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Errol D’ Souza further pointed that the decision to award degrees has to be reconsidered if the government laid down a rule that the degree would be granted only if it was approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC) or some other authority. If the government comes up with such regulation, it will essentially mean that another layer of regulation will be added to the IIM Act, he explained.

Director of IIM Ahmedabad also expressed gratitude and happiness for the government’s support in all the aspects including granting autonomy.

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Some IIMs, including IIM Ahmedabad, wanted to call the PG degree as ‘Master in Management’. As per UGC regulations, PG management degree is called as MBA degree/ Master in Business Administration degree. On the other hand, majority IIMs are willing to call the PG management degree as MBA. Therefore, it is necessary for the government to give clarity in this regard.

Recently, HRD Ministry had informed the IIMs that it was necessary to follow the UGC Act in offering the master’s degree. However, detailed guidelines are not framed yet.