The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B), is having second thoughts about its proposed

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Singapore campus. Instead, IIM-B may prefer to focus on research activities internationally.

Pankaj Chandra, director of the premier institute told Financial Chronicle that IIM-B is now not sure whether they want to have another teaching centre (Singapore) since the move would split the faculty capability.

“We are looking at other options because we definitely want to go international. This may take the form of research activities outside India,” he said.

While there have been some discussions, the institute is now waiting for approval from the ministry of HRD for its revised Memorandum of Association (MOA) which it has sent about 5-6 weeks ago, before deciding on a way forward. But even before the response came, IIM-B seems to have made up its mind not to go ahead.

In 2006, IIM-B had planned to set up its own teaching and research campus in Singapore, offering short-term programmes and executive certificate programmes for a 12-15 month duration. But the proposal got stuck since the HRD ministry objected to Indian educational institutions owned by the government, setting up campuses overseas. The ministry also wanted IIM-B to amend its MoA, which in its present form doesn’t allow for international expansion.

According to Chandra, “IIM-B’s strength is in emerging markets. So the research will focus mainly on emerging economy; new business models; logistics, public policy and markets; issues related to IT industry and international competitiveness studies.”

The institute already has about 100 tie-ups with foreign universities for student and faculty exchange programmes and research.

The director also ruled out the online option to cater to international students, saying that IIM-B would then become a mass player rather than a transformational institution. “Our strength lies in providing innovative technology and transformative education which can be done best in a classroom environment,’’ he said.