FPM-7

Re: Fpm 2008 - 21-03-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanand_Deodhar

Hi!
I also do feel that 'creating the next league' of mgmt faculty should be one of priorities for IIMs. However, I have my apperhensions about taking FPM intake as a measure to judge their ideas and priorities behind FPM.
Swan, i agree with what you said,
on the 1 hand, the IIM's might be under pressure to cater to the demand for more ....

mgmt faculty, but in the other hand they have to balance it with their own limitations in infra, faculty time & effort etc + ensure that the quality in in-take as well as output is maintained. The general perception is always that with larger numbers, quality could suffer, which could also be true. So it is a fine balancing act that is needed!

Again, to mentor a new mgmt faculty with a tag is not an easy deal, it is almost like giving birth to a new baby & weaning it and making him/her stand on their own. If we compare the time & effort of mentoring a doctoral student with alternate options like opting for Training, Research & Consulting- the tangible rewards are much higher for the later options. Again there is no guarantee that the Fellow might contribute to Mgmt Education & Research in the long run. So it is a tough call! The workload credit 1 faculty might get for mentoring a doctoral student can be easily offset by Research, by taking an additional paper or by consulting or training. So it is not easy at all!

But then, the fact that majority of the FPM's of yesteryears are Mgmt faculties at most of the institutes in India & abroad or contributing directly or indirectly to the development of the field, while still working in the market- is a testament to the sacrificial effort put in by the IIM & XL faculties of the past, in mentoring them.

The fact of the matter is, at the end of it, though there is money in it (considering the Training, Consulting & Publishing), Academics is a service first & then only a matter of profit/livelihood. At least that is my perception....

But then, perceptions do not matter much, perceptions do change!

Anyways, these are philosophical musings that I am doing here, a matter of vicarious catharsis, whereby we are reconciling the facts of our plans for our future- to the other would-be Doctoral aspirants, who might for many years to come, might visit these same threads (to help with their own thought & decision-making process) & to myself- by talking aloud! And this is especially since there is some more free time, and a couple more days we have to wait for the IIMB results to be out- so that we are clear on how the final picture stands. After that, it will be time for the ensuing interviews.

In case some of you ppl do not know, there are a set of Ph.D comics, which are very enjoyable and to which you will identify, once you have started the Doctoral journey. The link is: Piled Higher and Deeper

Enjoy! ;-)

Regards,
Aju John....

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...for I am crucified with Him...