NITIE Transitions to IIM Mumbai: Director Manoj K Tiwari Highlights the Transformation Journey

New Delhi: Earlier in August 2023, the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) acquired the prestigious status of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Mumbai. Manoj K Tiwari, the Director of IIM Mumbai Faculty, discussed how the institute transitioned from an engineering institute to an IIM, the two-decade endeavor to attain the IIM tag, and the subsequent changes in how recruiters view the institute. 

Speaking about the NITIE's transition to IIM Mumbai and the changes, the director highlighted the primary issue: the institute's limitation in conferring degrees, offering only postgraduate diplomas. 

He noted that since 2017, IIMs began granting MBAs for engineering. This created an identity crisis, whether the distinction between being a management institute or one specializing in industrial engineering.

Influence of IIM Tag on Placements

He added the observed effects on placements due to the changes. This year, 18 new companies have visited and this is due to the IIM tag that has attracted these companies; obtaining that tag automatically elevates the institution among top business schools.

Earlier, the companies sometimes sought clarification on why the institute offered PG diplomas when other IIMs were offering MBAs. With the grant of degrees, this issue no longer exists.

He added that there's a focus on emerging fields to meet Indian industrial needs, focusing on sustainability, fintech, tech-oriented logistics and supply chains, and expanding courses in digital marketing, among others.

He concluded by saying that this year, the institute has welcomed 18 new companies that had never visited previously and their interest is directly influenced by the IIM status

Read: MBA Placements in India; Check Here

Challenges to Get the IIM Mumbai Tag

Director Manoj Tiwari also mentioned the challenges that arose due to universities awarding degree awards, leading companies to inquire about NITIE's PG Diplomas in Management and other specializations. This resulted in a clear transition to a degree-granting institution.

The institute's endeavors to position itself as a leading business school, highlighting its excellence in operations and supply chain management, attracted interest from companies that had previously shown little response. Consequently, they noted an increase in project opportunities and received collaboration requests from various institutions, he said. 

He mentioned that more changes are underway as the institute is planning to recruit additional faculty specializing in finance, marketing, and various management disciplines. Infrastructure limitations have prompted efforts to expand the number of classrooms and hostels to accommodate a larger student population.

The director highlighted that during the 1980s, NITIE was often considered close with IIMs such as Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, attracting a similar level of interest. 

However, with the inception of more IIMs, students who used to choose NITIE started preferring IIMs like Lucknow, Kozhikode, and others. As a result, the institution experienced difficulty in attracting the same calibre of students as before.

Despite enrolling very capable students, there remained a difference in quality. Even students who initially enrolled at NITIE would eventually transition to an IIM. This was the challenge they aimed to address.

He shared the institute's journey towards gaining the IIM status started a while back. Initially, a request was initiated in 1998, but internal issues hindered progress. 

Another request in 2008 faced a setback at the higher management level, causing frustration. The continuous effort was to figure out ways to secure this tag. However, the current Ministry of Education has been very supportive, offering substantial assistance throughout the process.

Read: IIM Mumbai PhD Admission 2024 Open; Apply till January 31

IIM Mumbai Aims to Focus on Improving Infrastructure & Hiring Faculty

He expressed that their focus after they've become an IIM, is on enhancing the infrastructure and hiring faculty. The aim is to position IIM Mumbai as a top-tier institution in all aspects. 

Doubling the intake is part of the plan, considering they currently have about 400 students but can only accommodate around 160. The goal is to expand capacity to host approximately 3,000 students.

Moreover, being a 70-year-old institution, many buildings require maintenance, he shared that the plan is to have five or six sizable buildings and develop three or four hostels. 

Additionally, the institute is exploring the initiation of two-year online and blended-learning courses to achieve some financial autonomy. After a year, the government funding is expected to stop, necessitating self-sufficiency.

The director explained that while NITIE had established programs like the Diploma in Industrial Management, courses such as operations and supply management, were transformed into MBAs. The general MBA program comprises 300 seats, while specialized MBA programs, like sustainability management, retain approximately 30 seats.

Also, the plans are underway to commence certificate and Executive MBA programs starting this year, recognizing the growing demand among employed individuals for such degrees. With the increased recruitment of faculty and expanded capacity, there is consideration to introduce more programs.

Further, the institute's foundation was originally based on certificate and diploma programs, and they excel in these areas, which are deeply ingrained in their academic ethos.

Will there be a Fee Change for IIM Mumbai? 

He shared that earlier, the institute received Rs. 30-35 crore from the government, but this financial support will stop. Hence, the institute must become self-reliant from the upcoming year. To adjust, they aim to align the fees with those of IIMs sharing similar rankings, although it won’t be exorbitant. The final decision on fees is pending as of now. 

Moreover, he highlighted that IIMs like IIMA, IIMB and IIMC have considerably higher fees, and while aiming to maintain exceptional quality like them, the plan is to initially set slightly lower fees to attract more students. 

Their objective is to ensure that no student is unable to access education due to the fee structure, and they will organize provisions for loans, following the Government of India regulations to accommodate all categories of students.

IIM Mumbai in the Next 10 Years 

Sharing insights on where the institution sees itself in 10 years, the director revealed that the institution aims to concentrate on emerging sectors like sustainability, financial technology (fintech), tech-driven logistics and supply chains, and expand courses in digital marketing, among others, aligning with Indian industrial requirements. 

The goal is to capture all new advancements while maintaining their tradition of supporting the growth of Indian businesses. Noting the vast employment opportunities in fintech, they introduced several courses in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle business issues.He also mentioned their commitment to staying updated with any emerging field, primarily focusing on tech-oriented challenges, which he cited as their USP. Moreover, situated in Mumbai, this focus on these challenges will foster closer connections with key industries in the region.

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