In this interview, Dr Saxena also speaks on the fate of passing-out students who have been traced for securing admission on forged identity, the impact of the episode on the next NMAT season, association with NMAT testing partner Pearson Vue, and intelligence measures for next NMAT.
Q: About 80 finally selected candidates have been found cheating the Admission office with their forged identity. Will you release a fresh merit list for admission year 2013-15?
A:
We had the entire merit list ready before we identified these candidates. The merit list has a long list of waiting candidates. So, they will move up in the final list and we will offer admission to them. We don’t propose to release any fresh merit list for admission to this academic year.Though the candidates who have been identified for forging their identity are large in numbers, it is not even one percent of 2,500 candidates who appeared for Personal Interview process. Therefore we have enough candidates in the waiting list and they will be offered opportunity to take admission.
Q: What action will be taken by the NMIMS against those who forged their identity to get into the final selection list? Will they be allowed to take next year NMAT?
A: No. they will not be allowed to next year NMAT. They will be blacklisted and will not be allowed to take NMAT ever. Further, the cases have already been reported to the police and they are taking action against those involved in such unscrupulous practices.
Q: There are reports that similar discrepancies have been noticed in the passing-out batch of NMIMS also. How NMIMS will tackle that issue? What is the possible action/punishment for those students?
A: Yes. As many as 22 students have been traced.
We are in the process of taking legal opinion on the same. Since they have graduated and already passed, we have to keep the Supreme Court orders in mind in this area. There are some conflicting orders and once we are clear on the legal course available to us, we will consider the possible legal action.
Q: How do you plan to strengthen the testing process for next NMAT season?
A: There are multiple steps that we are going to take on security part. First is that we have taken a decision to set up our own admission centres across the country. Second, we will have more vigilance on test centres. We are going to introduce more intelligence hardware and software to trace any such fictitious candidate. We may also bring in spy cameras and other modern technology to stop such cases.
Q: Will you also review your association with your testing partner Pearson Vue?
A: Everything is being reviewed in the entire testing process. But so far, fortunately our testing partner has done a good job. It is their ability to have that kind of strong video visuals that helped us to capture and unearth such thing. I think the only answer to this is that we will have to apply more vigilance.
Q: Do you think Single day test pattern will help weed out such cases on such a large scale?
A: No, I don’t think single day test or multi-day testing window is the issue here. Such things can happen even on single day test. The only answer is stronger vigilance.
Q: What should be the collective approach of B-schools on such issues?
A: The B-schools should come together to report such kind of malpractices if they trace any. They need not to be secretive about this. Also, the Test Prep coaching centres who are found engaged in such practices must be collectively condemned in no uncertain terms.
If you are a strong institution, there is no harm in confronting this upfront. We need to take strongest possible action and stand together to weed out such practices from the system.
Q: What is your message to the MBA Aspirants who are going to take NMAT this year?
A: I will suggest them to give their best shot for entrance test preparation. Please do not indulge in any unethical practice. They should come straight and come honest. They should give their sincere best and ensure that they get selected. Those who deserve will definitely get in.
But if they are found engaged in such practices, we will take strongest action against them during their selection process, stay in NMIMS or even after the degree has been awarded to such candidates.
NMIMS conducts an annual all India based Entrance Test – NMAT, for admission to its different MBA programmes. This year, around 69,000 candidates took NMAT for 600 seats in MBA programmes.
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