JK Lakshmipat University (JKLU), Jaipur recently announced the joining of Dr Devi Singh, Former Director of IIM Lucknow as the new Vice Chancellor of JKLU. Dr. Devi Singh has succeeded Dr Upinder Dhar, who was recently elected as the President of AIMS.
Dr. Devi Singh has been a dynamic force of change at IIM Lucknow. The Noida Campus of IIM Lucknow came into being during his tenure as Director IIM Lucknow. There were several other important initiatives taken at IIM Lucknow in his tenure.
MBAUniverse.com interviewed Dr Singh on his long and fruitful innings at IIM Lucknow and his vision for JLKU.
Dr. Devi Singh, has been the Director of Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow for the last ten years and is a well-known Professor in the area of International Finance & Management. Dr Singh was also the Director of Management Development Institute(MDI) Gurgaon for four and half years before joining IIML.
Excerpts from the MBAUniverse.com interview with Dr Devi Singh follow:
MBAUniverse.com: How do you look back at your long association at IIM Lucknow?
Dr Devi Singh: I feel very satisfied with the progress made at IIML in last decade or so. The Institute has built a solid reputation in the world of management education globally. The alumni of IIML are today occupying positions of significant responsibility in Industry, Government and Academics in India and abroad. During the last 10 years, The Institute has witnessed all round growth in its academic programs and activities, research, corporate and international linkages, infrastructure and faculty strength. We mentored two new IIMs at Rohtak and Kashipur. We set up the infrastructure, developed academic curriculum and processes and ran their PGP for one full year.
MBAUniverse.com: From an institution building perspective, which areas were your strategic focus at IIML?
Dr Devi Singh: There were 3-4 key areas which had strategic focus at IIML in last ten years. They were enhancing Academic Reputation and International Visibility; Resource Mobilisation to facilitate innovation and experimentation; Governance through technology based systems and processes for overall transparency.
MBAUniverse.com: What were some of the key milestones?
Dr Devi Singh: There were many milestones.
In the area of Academic Activities IIML launched six new programmes including a two year PGP in Agribusiness Management (2005) and One year International Programme in Management for Executives( PGP-IPMX -2008) and a Postgraduate Programme in Sustainable Management (2014).
Student intake in PGP programme was increased from 240 in 2004 to 475 in 2014, highest among all IIMs. Student intake was also doubled in Fellow Programme in Management and Working Managers Program over the years.
Centres of excellence were established at IIML in different areas, prominent among them are Centre for Entrepreneurial Ventures; Centre for Business Sustainability; and Centre for Marketing Research in Emerging Economies.
Research has always been a thrust area for IIML. There has been consistent increase in number of International papers published (in top journals), number of Research papers published, number of papers presented in Conferences in India as well as abroad, number of books published.
The MDP revenues have gone up from Rs 3 crores in 2004 to Rs 40 crores in 2014. IML’s short term management development program enjoy a very good reputation in the corporate world today. We have consciously increased our involvement in public systems and social sectors .We have conducted many programs for sectors like education, Health, NGOs and Government.
We have almost doubled the faculty size in ten years and the current strength at IIML is 92.
So the ten years were very eventful.
MBAUniverse.com: What about Accreditation...
Dr Devi Singh: IIML has now been accreditated by AMBA and is in the process of getting accreditation with AASCB.
MBAUniverse.com: How is IIML doing on Financial Parameters?
Dr Devi Singh: Revenue at IIML has constantly been increasing during the last ten years. The total revenue of the Institute has gone up nine folds from Rs.17 crores in 2003 to Rs.145 crores in 2014. Fiscal discipline with cost effectiveness was maintained and expenditure on wasteful activities was avoided. While our revenues have grown at the rate of 30 percent annually, the increase in expenditure level has been only nominal in spite of inflation and increase in activities of the Institute.
We have spent more than Rs.200 crores in building new infrastructural facilities in 10 years. IIML currently has about Rs.350 crores in liquid investments as Corpus, Endowment funds and special purpose funds which is again highest across IIMs. We have received no revenue support from MHRD in last four years. Incidentally, fees charged by IIM Lucknow for its long term programs is one of the lowest among IIMs.
MBAUniverse.com: You started a trend of sorts by establishing a satellite campus - in Noida. What was the thinking, and how has it come about...
Dr Devi Singh: With a view to achieve IIML’s aim and objectives to help improve the management of corporate and non-corporate sectors and public systems through pursuit of excellence in management education, research, consulting and training, the IIML-Noida Campus was established in the year 2005.
Three-Year Post-Graduate Program in Management for Working Managers was designed for working executives, entrepreneurs and professionals. The Programme commenced in the year 2005 with an intake of 60 working executives. The current intake in this program is 120 annually. This Program has been very successful in helping Working Executives to become management leaders and change agents and take up leadership roles.
From April, 2008, a new one-year programme, namely International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX) 2008-2009 was launched at Noida Campus. This Program is designed for middle/senior level professionals, to prepare them for leadership roles in a global context.
The main highlight of the NOIDA is the National Faculty Development Centre. This Centre is being set up to train and upgrade management faculty which so awfully short in the country.
We have just finished the second phase of construction at the Noida campus. We now have close to 3000000 sq. feet constructed area with all modern facilities on this campus. The new convention Centre with a capacity of close to 1400 could become a major hub for academic and corporate events in Noida and Delhi.
Convention Centre at Noida is one of the largest facilities of its kind in Delhi NCR region consisting of five halls and with a capacity of 1350.
So Noida campus has become a great asset to IIML.
MBAUniverse.com: Coming to JKLU, why did you choose over many B-schools who would be keen to have you as their leader?
Dr Devi Singh: I chose JKLU for more than one reason. Primarily I wanted to get involved with an Institution where I would have greater challenge and flexibility to chart the future course and position it uniquely in the rather crowded higher education space. I have been involved with two well established B Schools for 15 years and I have seen and done it all I did not want to repeat the same thing. I somehow like the challenge and uncertainty about future. That gets the best out of me. Secondly I admire JK Group's commitment to education and their corporate values.
MBAUniverse.com: So, what is your Vision for JKLU
Dr Devi Singh: I want to create a unique model of higher education in the private sector. My vision for JKLU is to make it an Institution where academic excellence becomes a means to harness individual potential. The core education philosophy will revolve around creating opportunities for individuals discover their leadership potential. Ethics and human values will guide all our academic endeavours at JKLU.
My immediate focus will be to attract best possible faculty, improve the learning environment for students and create a strong corporate connection. In five years I see JKLU positioning itself as a place of choice for academics, students and recruiters.
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