Role of IIM Shillong in the regional development of the north eastern part of India

Abstract

The IIM Shillong is the seventh Indian Institute of Management set up by the Government of India, located in the north eastern state of Meghalaya. The institute has set itself the ambitious target of not only offering conventional PGDM degrees but also introducing students to the concepts of sustainability. To this end, each batch of PGDM students undergo a two week compulsory foundation course on sustainability taught by internationally renowned faculty drawn from all over the world. Students who graduate from this institute are expected to be not only good managers but also better human beings. Students for the Master course are chosen after a rigorous country-wide selection process called CAT (Common Admission Test) and the Shortlisted candidates are screened through a process of personal interaction with an expert panel constituted for the purpose. The majority of the students come from an engineering background (BSc), some of them have working experience in industry as well. In addition to the MBA course, the institute also offers short term programmes with high regional relevance. These courses are designed to act as catalysts for the socio-economic development of the region and to inculcate better management techniques and skill enhancement to the existing work force drawing from both the government and the private sector. The institute and the faculty members are at the forefront of an effort to help both government and industry to streamline their work and to ensure greater productivity and effectiveness. In this regard, a number of departments of the government and industrial sector approach the IIM for help in the form of consultancy. It may be said that the IIM Shillong provides a yeoman service to the country and the region by bringing about desirable social economic change to a region that is generally considered backward in relation to the rest of India. Keywords: role of universities, regional development, application (CAT) system, India, IIM Shillong, infrastructure, education, third role of universities, triple helix