"The faculty members at IIMA decided to go ahead with an Advanced Programme in Business Administration that would lead to the title of Fellow of the Indian Institute of Management (equivalent to a PhD degree). The advertisement for the programme was released on March 1, 1971."
The Institute's first Annual Report on a full year (1962-63) articulated IIMA's hope that a doctoral programme would be initiated. In 1968-69 the Institute approached the M.S. University, Baroda and the Gujarat University to allow IIMA faculty members to guide doctoral candidates enrolled at these universities. In the meanwhile, the Institute was making every effort to establish its own doctoral programme. At the 80th faculty meeting (February 10, 1971) the Director announced that a committee set up to examine the feasibility of launching a doctoral programme (headed by Dr. C. Rangarajan) had recommended a Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) that would be equivalent to a PhD programme. At that time, there was some talk of the IIMs at Ahmedabad and Kolkata (Calcutta) gaining degree-granting status, but it was not clear when this would happen. The faculty members at IIMA decided to go ahead with an Advanced Programme in Business Administration that would lead to the title of Fellow of the Indian Institute of Management (equivalent to a PhD degree). The advertisement for the programme was released on March 1, 1971. "For advanced study in Business Administration comparable to a doctoral degree programme. The programme will train students for teaching and research in Business Administration and positions in Industry. The students will be required to (1) take courses in all fields of management in the first year, (2) choose a field of specialization and take a number of advanced additional courses in the second year, (3) successfully complete the examination in the special field, and (4) submit and defend the dissertation. On successful completion of the programme, the title of Fellow of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, will be conferred."Advertising the first offering of the FPM, Times of India, March 1, 1971 The advertisement attracted a lot of attention: 278 applications were received, and 59 candidates were shortlisted for further evaluation and interviews. Six candidates were offered admission, out of whom four accepted the offer. However, two of these individuals lacked a prior degree in Business Administration, and thus, they joined the first year of the PGP. The other two were PGP graduates, and so had to study only a few additional courses in their fields of specialization.
2022-23 @ All Rights Reserved. Website developed and maintained by IIMA Archives under the guidance of Vikram Sarabhai Library, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad