Indian Institute of Management Bangalore woos retired bureaucrats to up its research acumen

The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) is wooing retired diplomats and bureaucrats to join the institute as senior fellows and faculty members.

The IIMB expects that a seasoned bureaucrat or diplomat would have important contributions to make in research and policy making.

A senior official said that the top B-school was scouting for talent and experience from within the ranks of the bureaucracy. The institute is evolving, and there is need for innovation, the source said.

“The institute will be hiring diplomats and bureaucrats to help in research,” said an official. However, the official declined to disclose the numbers of high profile appointments likely in near future.

A first step in this direction has already been taken. Former secretary (east) in the ministry of external affairs, N Ravi, has joined the IIMB as a senior fellow. Ravi, also an alumnus of IIMB, joined the Centre for Public Policy (CPP) in November.

Professor Trilochan Sastry, dean (academics), IIMB, confirmed that Ravi was only the first diplomat to join the institute. “He will be mostly engaged with research, and will also take classes once in a while,” Sastry said, adding that he brings years of experience gained while serving in the Indian Foreign Service. “In his new assignment, he is well-positioned to contribute to the national and international public policy assignments handled by the CPP. The association also demonstrates the ability of the CPP to involve experienced professionals in policy making,” said Sastry.

Ravi retired from the IFS in 2009 after 37 years of service. He graduated from the IIMB in 1982, winning the chairman’s gold medal for best all-round performance that year. In October 2009, Ravi was honoured by IIMB with the distinguished alumnus award.

The institute is currently looking for people with experience in management and public policy, including corporate strategy, marketing, organisational behaviour, human resource management, entrepreneurship, finance and accounting and communications.

The top-B school currently has 150 faculty members, around 100 are full-time members.