VISAKHAPATNAM: The much awaited IIM-Visakhapatnam seems to be facing birth pangs, as the government is gearing up for commencing its operations from temporary premises in Andhra University campus. The intake of the new premier management institute for the academic year of 2015-16 is likely to be reduced to 40-45 against the initially proposed 60 seats due to lack of proper facilities including infrastructure, faculty, laboratories, hostels and less placement prospects.
After the foundation stone was laid for the new campus of IIM-Visakhapatnam, the government decided to commence operations from AU, as a temporary arrangement though, from the ensuing academic year with the regular intake of 60 students and also made an announcement in this regard. But, it later discovered that except for a building for conducting classes, the premier institute do not have proper infrastructure.
“We have already allotted the Andhra Bank Management Building on the varsity premises to run classes. The search is on for flats in the vicinity to provide hostel facility to the students. However, neither the AU nor IIM-Visakhapatnam will have any connection with the hostels and students have to stay on their own. Moreover, the faculty appointment is yet to be finalised,” said AU officials.
The faculty members are to be deputed by IIM-Bangalore, which is mentoring IIM-Visakhapatnam. AU is also likely to lend its professors on an hourly basis everyday as a temporary arrangement.
Under these circumstances, highly placed sources confirmed that the intake could be limited to 40 to 45 students, as it is the first year of the IIM. Facilities like faculty, hostels and even campus placements play a key role in students’ interest in choosing an institution, they added.
When contacted, AU vice-chancellor GSN Raju admitted that a final decision on the admission would be taken by the Union HRD Ministry after consultations with IIM-Bangalore. However, he said that the faculty appointment would be carried out by IIM-Bangalore. “If necessary, we are ready to lend our faculty without causing inconvenience to our students. The classes at IIM are likely to start from August,” he added.
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