The programme, which had a modest beginning in 2001 with 3 foreign partner universities and 6 outgoing students, now boasts of 21 partner universities of repute. This year, a record 53 student of IIM Lucknow are heading to foreign universities as part of the Student Exchange Programme. Both in terms of the numbers of students and partner institutions, this year's group is the biggest contingent leaving IIM-L.
The institute will also play host to 34 foreign students from across the globe in the coming months as part of the programme.
Says IIM-L, "Student Exchange Programme at IIM Lucknow gives an opportunity for IIM Lucknow students to get a perspective of the international management education. The students going to the foreign partner universities will leave as 'ambassadors' of the country and their institute. They will return as 'agents of change.”
Some of the leading Foreign Universities are partnering with IIM-L include ESCP-EAP, France, St Gallen's, Switzerland, ESSEC, France, EBS, Germany, HHL, Germany, REIMS, France, CBS, Denmark, UCL, Belgium, UJM, France, JIBS, Sweden, McMaster, Canada, IECS, France, ESADE, Spain, ESC Bretagne-Brest, France and ESC Toulouse, France.
Prof. Debashish Dasgupta gave insights into how the institute views the student exchange programme. He says. "Our students have been given the task of observing ways in which the courses taught in foreign institutes are different than the ones at IIM-L. Is there a need for change? Is some benchmarking required? Students have been given a form, which they will fill up during their study abroad and then come back armed with ideas how to better the teaching and course curriculum here." Prof. Dasgupta also explained how a number of offers from the U.S. and Australian Universities for partnering for the exchange programme had to be turned down due to the timing constraints.
Nishant Wason, a finance student, who is heading to Bocconi in Milan, Italy, is overwhelmed by this opportunity. Said Nishant, "It's a really good opportunity for us, the future managers, to go and learn how business is taught and applied internationally. And going and studying in a good institute in Europe has always been a dream."
IIM-L will also play host to 27 students from foreign varsities under the programme. Already, seven foreign students are on the campus. More will fly in soon. IIM-L will also be hosting European dinner for its foreign visitors along with European Cultural Evening in which the guests would participate.
