Classified into three parts, the White Paper covers the Evolution of Management Education in India, Select Initiatives & Measures for Quality Enrichment of PGDM education and Submissions of the PGDMs with regard to the AICTE notification.

On February 7, 2011, the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) and Education Promotion Society of India (EPSI) successfully held the ‘National Convention of PGDM Institutions’ in New Delhi.
 
A key highlight of the convention was the release of the White Paper on Indian Management Education titled “PGDM: An Indian Innovation in Management Education,” prepared by deans and directors of leading Indian B-schools.
 
Classified into three parts, the White Paper covers the Evolution of Management Education in India, Select Initiatives & Measures for Quality Enrichment of PGDM education and Submissions of the PGDMs with regard to the AICTE notification.
 
Presenting the White Paper to the gathering of Deans and Directors of leading B-schools from across the country, Dr. JD Singh, Director General, Jaipuria Group of Institutions, emphasized on updating of curriculum, removing over-regulation by adopting quality assurance and global benchmarks, culturally contextualizing the MBA programs, strengthening of alumni networks and adopting international accreditation processes. All these need to be done to revive the desired credibility of B-schools, said Dr. Singh during his presentation.
 
The White Paper also provided an outline of the evolution of Management Education in India, detailing how XLRI was the first institute to be set up by private initiative way back in 1966, followed by a quantum jump in the number of B-schools that mushroomed in the 1990s due to the indiscriminate approvals that were handed out by the AICTE and thereafter, explored the origin and contribution of the 2-year full time PGDMs.

Highlighting the contributions made by the PGDM institutions Dr. Singh read the excerpts from the White Paper, “Firstly, it has been stated that the PGDM institutions in India have significantly contributed to intellectual capital on a continuous basis. Secondly, it is pointed out that the PGDM institutions have worked autonomously and earned top slots in B-school rankings from 2007 to 2010. Also, PGDM institutions have emerged as a most preferred choice with the students and recruiters.”

“Examining how the top MBA courses are ranked abroad, the White Paper reveals that among the top 10 MBA courses in USA, as many as 70% are privately funded Universities in spite of the existence of a large number of well-established public funded universities," Dr. Singh informed the gathering.

The White Paper also reiterates the response of the PGDM institutions with regard to the AICTE notification that was issued on December 28. As per the information published in the White Paper, the PGDM institutions have responded to the AICTE notification in the following manner, “Regarding the stipulated duration of 24 months, the PGDM institutions express that 21 months is the duration universally. On admission tests, the PGDM institutes want to follow the five national tests that have been allowed by the AICTE, such as CAT, MAT, among others. The autonomy of the institutes, with regard to model curriculum, admission processes, fee fixation and conducting examinations, should be maintained. The State Governments have no authority to conduct admissions of private unaided management institutions, as has been established by judgments in T.M.A. Pai Foundation and P.A. Inamdar.”