Autonomy for top edu institutions important: IIMB Director

Bangalore, Dec 6 (UNI) As autonomy is an important factor for any top educational institution to excel, the government will have to facilitate this, newly-appointed Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore (IIMB) Director Prof Pankaj Chandra said today.

Reacting to the recent 'tussle' between the government and IIM Boards on the question of autonomy, Prof Chandra, speaking to the media after taking charge on December 3, said though IIMs worked with government understanding, it was important that they be independent in decision making.

''Institutions of excellence, like IIMs will need the required autonomy. I don't believe that a government will not like to cooperate with such institutions in this regard,'' he said.

With two decades of academic experience, Prof Chandra, who was chairperson of Centre for Innovation at IIM, Ahmedabad, said the biggest challenge he faced after taking over the premier institution was that of faculty with required excellence.

''This will be the most important challenging task before me. I don't have any plans as yet but have some thoughts and hope it will work. We want to set up chairs to attract good faculty. Our aim is to work strongly towards nurturing, retaining and hiring excellent faculty globally and within the country. We are looking for qualified people who want to return to India,'' he said.

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