One-yr MBA programmes flunk AICTE test

In a development that is sure to disappoint students wanting to pursue a one-year MBA course,the All India Council for Technical Education has turned down their demand to grant recognition to such courses.

In a development that is sure to disappoint students wanting to pursue a one-year MBA course,the All India Council for Technical Education AICTE has turned down their demand to grant recognition to such courses. The AICTE has said since the theoretical and practical content of the MBA course cannot be completed in a span of a year,it would not be possible for it to recognise such programmes.

The AICTE decision comes after some private institutions met the HRD minister Kapil Sibal,urging that the council examine the feasibility of granting recognition to a one-year MBA programme since theres huge demand for it and some developed countries do recognise such courses.

Theory can be completed in one year but the practical aspect of the MBA programme needs more time as it includes internships. We have not approved any one-year programme as every course needs to be seen vis-a-vis its practical component also, AICTE acting chairman SS Mantha told FE.

The council recognises only two-year MBA courses for freshers but most top B-schools globally have one-year MBA programmes. Currently,there are no one-year programmes for freshers but only 15-month programmes for working executives and they are also not recognised by the AICTE. This programme doesnt have much practical component as these working executives already have experience, said a professor from a second rung business school.

Around 20 institutes met the minister and discussed about the issue but the ministry has refused to accept such one-year programmes, said a ministry official.

Recently,Sibal lauded Hyderabad-based Indian School of Business of being ranked among the 12 top B-schools in the world in a span of 10 years and said this was even when the institutes programme was not recognised.

Currently,the Indian Institutes of Management IIM also offer one-year executive programmes in the country. IIM Ahmedabad offers PGPX which is a full-time residential programme for executives with substantial work experience leading to a one-year post-graduate diploma in management for executives. IIM Bangalore offers Mangement Development Programmes MDPs besides one-year Post Graduate Programme for executives,who have five years of work experience and a valid GMAT score. IIM Lucknow plans to launch International Programme in Management for Executives in April next year at its Noida campus. It is designed for mid/senior level professionals,to prepare them for leadership roles. ssThe programme is designed to develop business education that is grounded in the Indian and international business environment.

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Though we are not pushing for the one-year programmes,but globally,B-schools like ISB,Insead,Birmingham,Great Lakes,everyone else is going for it, said V Sivaramakrishnan,president,Manipal Education Service.