IIM-Kozhikode plans interactive distance learning project

Ajayan in Kozhikode

The Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, (IIM-K), is set to create history through its proposed interactive distance learning project. This will be Asia’s first venture, according to IIM-K director Mr Amarlal H Kalro.

For the purpose, the institute will set up a digital studio for broadcasting using the latest in Net technologies to deliver the latest in education. It would be a two-way audio and one-way video studio. A pact for this would be signed by the end of November. Technical bids for this have already been obtained and the
evaluation process is on, says Mr Kalro. Two majors - Zee International and Hughes Escort - have bid for the project source for which would be entirely from within the organisation and endorsed by the Centre; IIM-K would provide only the intellectual capital.

In ten years from now IT should be the norm, says Mr Kalro. And in anticipation of such a change, IIM-K has developed the concept of a virtual classroom. Once this project is put in place, it would be a virtual classroom on the intranet. Software would be obtained from the public domain.

The institute plans to make the utmost use of IT. The student/personal computer ratio now works out to 2:1 and the hostel room too has connectivity. Even classrooms are hooked to the Net. The institute is also firming up plans for a digital library. The Human Resource Development Ministry is to aid this project which has a budget of Rs 1 crore. The library would have facilities for remote access to archival property. At present, the library subscribes to over 2,000 electronic journals. All facilities of the e-system would be used including the latest in light sensors and electronic signals.

The institute would be moving out to a new campus by the beginning of the next academic year, he said. The new campus would be coming up on a 96-acre plot at a cost of Rs 30 crore at Kunnamangalam, off Kozhikode.

The institute has several programmes on hand, including a pilgrim survey at Guruvayur. Intended to develop the infrastructure of the temple city of Guruvayur and have radical reforms, the project is to promote cultural tourism. Such projects had earlier been undertaken at Tirupati and Vaishnodevi in 1991-92.

The institution has also taken up community work for drinking water, minor irrigation and sanitation. Nearly 40 per cent of the population has no access to drinking water and many have very poor or no sanitation facilities. It has undertaken projects for water harvesting and geo-textile bhoovastra.

The institute has linkages with the industry not just in the country but also outside. It has 24 programmes sponsored by institutions like SIDBI. There are a few sponsored programmes aimed at restructuring PSEs, corporate governance and managerial development. There are 14 research projects which range from gender to applied works. The institute is out to expand its academic programme in the larger interests of the community. Intensification of competition coupled with a slowdown in the world economic growth had forced most businesses to rethink their competitive strategies, business processes and organisational practices. The dominant emphasis is now on change and IIM-K was readying itself to offer the best, Mr Kalro added.