Business Standard ( Kolkata Edition )

25th Oct, 2006

Research occupies a critical place in our institute

 IN CONVERSATION

           Set up by the government in 1963 to help the country's foreign trade management become more professional and increase exports, the Indian institute of foreign trade (IIFT) today figures in the league of top b-schools in India its director PRABIR SENGUPTA outlines the institute's initiatives to Business Standard. 

You branched out in Kolkata in august this year. Do you have any plans to establish a campus abroad too? 

There is a distinct reason for setting up the first campus of IIFT outside Delhi at Kolkata more that 30,000applications are received every year for the test conducted by IIFT for admission to the 2-year MBA (international Business) degree Programme .About 25 percent  of these applications are from the eastern and north-eastern states. There is clearly a need in the eastern region for more management institutes, particularly in the area of international business, which is the forte of IIFT. We will be able to think about opening campuses in other parts of the country after some time. We did get an offer from the Dubai government to start an IIFT campus in the knowledge city of Dubai but thought it better to use all our resources to expand IIFT educational facilities within the country itself. 

You started a programme for the SME sector which has been very successful. 

The centre for SME Studies in a management education school was a unique concept in it-self. One of the first attempts was to offer specific training programmes for the textiles and the processed foods sectors the two vital sectors in terms of the contributins made by SMEs  in the country 'international trade. These will be followed by other sector specific programmes. 

IIFT is a nodal institute for conducting training programmes for various ministries, state government and industry. What plans you have with regard to such programmes? 

Officials and executives need to understand the WTO and its specific implications. Our institute has responded by offering at least 10such programmes annually programmes conducted bye IIFT in specific areas within international business such as Business Logistics, Shipping, Management of international contracts, export-import procedures and Documentation, foreign trade policy, management of foreign exchange risks, etc. in the context of the evolving international business scenario are also receiving wide acceptance both within and outside the country. In December this year, the institute will offer a research based training programme in international business in Bangkok for the SME Sector for Cambodia, Vietnam and Lao PDR. 

What are IIFT''s plans to make it a research –driven institution? 

Research studies occupy a critical place in IIFT because of the institutional emphasis on a strong interface between research and training. IIFT has conducted a number of research studies in collaboration with international institutions like University of central England, Dalian maritime university, china, etc. A number of dedicated centres of research for carrying out sector specific studies have been set up at IIFT. 

We also conduct studies commissioned by international organizations like UNCTAD, Commonwealth Secretariat, etc. and national organizations for sectors like processed food textile, pharmaceuticals, etc. finally, IIFT carries out on its own important topics of social and economic importance like comparative studies of the automobile industry India south East Asia and china, Trade potential and future implicational for India-ASEANFTA and a firm-level analysis of select manufacturing sectors.