As reported by Mathang Sheshagiri in expressbuzz.com on 30 October 2008:
IIM-B?s Singapore plans grounded in B?lore

IIM-B’s Singapore plans grounded in B’lore


BANGALORE: Guess what happened to the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore’s (IIM-B) mega plans of setting up a campus in Singapore? The institute’s dream of taking Brand IIM global is firmly grounded in Bangalore. More than two-and-a-half years after a committee was constituted to consider amendments to the Memorandum of Association (MoA), it is yet to submit the report. Inspection of various documents in this regard under the Right to Information Act, shows that the institute hasn’t been able to get the necessary approvals from the HRD Ministry as the MoA of IIM-B society is not suitably amended.

The Board of Governors, headed by Reliance CMD Mukesh Ambani, is still awaiting the report of the six-member committee first constituted in March 2006 to consider amending MoA to enable IIM-B to “expand/diversify the portfolio of academic research, training and other activities both within and outside India.” IIM-B’s request to approve setting up of the Singapore campus was turned down by the HRD Ministry on December 6, 2005, on the ground that the MoA and Rules of the IIM-B ociety did not empower the Board of Governors to set up an independent trust outside the country.

The Board of Governors at its meeting in March 2006, constituted a sub-committee to suggest suitable amendments to MoA headed by Pune University professor A N Kolaskar with AICT Chairman R A Yadav, former secretary to Government of India Samar Singh, Central Government standing Counsel of Karnataka Sarojini Muthanna and chairman and MD of IL & FRavi Parthasarathy as members. The committee was further re-constituted by inducting IIM-B professor Trilochan astry and IIM-B Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer Ketoki Basu as members on January 30, 2007.

IIM-B proposes to offer multi-tiered programmes at various levels including part-time MBA for middle-level executives, executive MBA for senior level executives and short-term programme for managers at the ingapore campus. The institute has sought the assistance of the Indian Trust which runs Bhavan’s Indian International School to provide 9,400 sq ft of space for the campus. The institute estimates to generate a surplus of 2,43,691 Singapore Dollars in the very first year of operation and 9,79,900 D by the end of three years.

The next meeting of the BoG is scheduled to be held on October 31.

WHY IIM-B WANTS A CAMPUS IN SINGAPORE

According to the project report submitted to the HRD Ministry, IIM-B is keen on setting up a campus in Singapore because of the following reasons:
* Executive education market in Singapore is an expanding market. Several universities from K, and Australia are offering a variety of programmes in Singapore. IIM-A and IIM-C are also contemplating entry into the Singapore market.
*IIM-B has an alumni association with membership of over 100 in Singapore. Many alumni are in senior positions in corporate sector and are willing to support the institute in establishing a presence in Singapore.
* The Indian Trust which runs Bhavan’s Indian International School has an eight acre campus and has agreed to provide 9,400 sq ft of built space and infrastructure facilities and support in setting up the IIM-B (Singapore)campus.

WHY HRD MINISTRY TURNED DOWN THE PROPOSAL

The HRD Ministry turned down IIM-B’s request to set up a campus in Singapore in December, 2005 stating the following reasons:

* The government does not have adequate resources for setting up of more IIMs in the country, therefore IIMs rather than going abroad are expected to concentrate first in the country itself and they should increase the intake to meet the demand of manpower in the country.
* It is apprehended any move like opening of campuses abroad is fraught with risks like dilution of IIMs brand.
* MoA and Rules of the IIM Bangalore ociety does not empower the Board of Governors to set up an independent Trust by the institute as the IIM-B itself is a Society registered under the Mysore Societies Registration Act XVII of 1960.

T I M E L I N E

October 28, 2004: IIM-B Board of Governors gives in-principle concurrence to start a campus in Singapore December 1, 2004: IIM-B director writes to HRD Ministry with a request to get the project vetted by the Ministry and also arrange to obtain clearances from all concerned departments
February 10, 2005: Ministry of HRD seeks detailed project report from the institute indicating rationale and benefits of the project; questions relationship and control of IIM-B BoG over the trustees of the proposed Trust in Singapore.
February 24, 2005: IIM-B director clarifies to HRD Ministry that a Trust will be created in accordance with laws in force in Singapore.
He states that there will be no outflow from consolidated funds of India and the programmes at Singapore will be self-sustaining.
June 16, 2005: MHRD writes to IIM-B after a board was seen on one of the buildings of Bhavan’s School in Singapore giving an impression that the ground work has been completed. It warns the institute not to go ahead with the project without obtaining the necessary approvals.
July 29, 2005: IIM-B writes to HRD Ministry with a request to approve to the Singapore campus plans so that the institute could commence classes in December 2005.
December 6, 2005: MHRD writes to IIM-B stating that “this ministry is of the view that it is not desirable of any IIM to set up its campuses abroad.” January 10, 2006: IIM-B director writes to Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Alhuwalia seeking his help to get the necessary approvals for the Singapore campus .
March 28, 2006: IIM-B Board of Governors constitutes sub-committee to consider amending MoA
January 30, 2007: IIM-B Board of Governors reconstitutes committee to consider amending the MoA.