Ministry of I & B strategic plan 2011-17 includes new IIMC campuses, upgrading the campuses to IIMC Delhi level, and making them institutes of national importance
(Thanks to Debi Sarangi for the pointer.)
The strategic plan is available at http://www.cable-quest.in/pdfs/StrategicPlan%20of%20I&B%20ministry.pdf. Following are some relevant excerpts.
(viii) INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MASS COMMUNICATION:
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in the field of communication teaching, training & research. The Institute was set up on August 17, 1965, as a department of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India in response to a need felt to evolve a methodology for effective use of communication resources as part of the country’s overall development strategy. The Institute was registered under the Societies Registration Act (XXI) of 1860 on 22nd January, 1966 and receives grant-in-aid from the Govt. of India through the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to meet its recurring & non-recurring expenditure. While IIMC provides knowledge and skills to communicators in a variety of disciplines, including print, photography, radio & television, development communication, communication research, advertising & public relations, the Institute also collaborates with national & international agencies in conducting seminars, training, workshops, etc. It also undertakes joint research projects and organizes short- term courses to meet the specific needs of the industry, government and public sector organizations. The Institute presently have a branch at Dhenkanal in Orissa and propose to set up four new Regional Centres in the States of J&K, Kerala, Mizoram and Maharashtra.
(v) Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) (http://iimc.nic.in/)
Run courses with the objective to produce well-equipped communication professionals sensitive to needs of changing mass communication scenario; Conduct of short term specialized courses to meet the professional training needs of media personnel working in the Central/State Governments and Public Sector Organisations;
Conduct of seminars, symposia and conferences on various themes of communication with a view to contributing better understanding of communication in the context of India and other developing countries; Provide consultancy services on request to Central/State Government Departments and Public Sector Undertakings, in designing and organizing training and research programmes related to Development communication.
(a) The following steps needs to be taken –
1. First step
* Up-Gradation of One-Year PG Diploma Courses into Two-Year Advanced PG Diploma Courses.
* Seeking of Equivalence to Masters Degrees for the Two-Year PG Diploma Courses from Ministry of HRD.
* Introduction of at least 2 new Two-Year PGD Courses: in Development Journalism and in Corporate Communication & Media Management.
* Setting up of 4 new Branches ofIIMC in J&K, Mizoram, Maharashtra & Kerala.2. Second step
* An Act of Parliament to declare IIMC an ‘Institute of National Importance’ such as the IITs, AIlMS, NIFT, etc., thereby also giving it Degree-granting powers.
* IIMC proposes to continue using its established and well-recognised Brand arne, as in the case of the above Institutes.Upgradation of branches to full-fledged Institutes offering all Courses at par with IIMC, Delhi.
* Provision of Buildings, Infrastructure, and expansion or Technical Equipment and Human Resources at the 4 new Branches of IIMC (DPRs to be prepared after allocation of land by State Governments and in-principle approval of the Planning Commission).
* Dialogues with various State Governments for opening of new IIMC Branches in their States and pursuing them to allot at least 10-15 acres of land free of cost and also made available temporary accommodation for start of the courses from 2015-16.3. Third Step
* Introduction of Specialized and Niche Courses (a) At least 2 new Two-Year PGD Courses
(i) Development Journalism
(ii) Corporate Communication and Media Management (b) More extensive Courses leading to better job prospects for students (c) Advanced academic programmes such as M.Phil and Doctoral Programmes (d) More Post Graduate MA, M.Phil. and Ph. D. Programmes
* Enhanced National and International recognition of IIMC and its programmes and enhanced interaction with the best international Universities and institutes in the field.
* Access to research and training funds from National and international funding bodies.
* Creation of IIMC Affiliates abroad.* Correspondence with International Media Institutions/Government for opening of Centres in their Countries.
(b) Requirement of resources (i) Financial
* IIMC has already been sanctioned an outlay of Rs. 51.50 Crores for the activities mentioned in the first step as above
* Based on the current trend of requirements, provision of buildings, infrastructure and expansion of technical equipments for a branch for establishing a permanent campus will be approximately Rs. 100 Crores, excluding the cost of land, which would be provided by the State Governments free of cost ( Total Requirement for four branches will be Rs. 400 Cr)
* Financial requirement for the introduction of various Advanced Courses, M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. will be approximately Rs. 10 Crores
* Financial requirement for introduction of new branches in other States will be approximately Rs. 5 Crores in temporary accommodation to be provided by State Governments free of costTotal Requirement : Rs. 415 Cr
(ii) Human Resources –
* 150 personnel will be required to achieve the activities detailed in the first steps* Additional 25 personnel per branch will be required for fulfilling the activities given in the next steps
July 4th, 2011