Five post-graduate programme (PGP) students of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) have set up a Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) club to help students get hands-on experience by involving PE/VC players from India and abroad. Unlike finance clubs run by most B-schools in the country, this club exclusively focuses on PE and VC funding.

The lack of opportunities and experience in the PE and VC space led five students to set up the club called ‘Leverage’. With around 50 students interested in being members, the club will be a forum for students interested in all aspects of private equity and venture capital.

“We came up with an initial skeletal structure of the PE club by looking at institutes like Harvard and others from the Ivy League. But the end product has been entirely our idea of how a PE club should be. Although we prefer to call it an interest group for the time being, we plan to run a full-fledged club with more activities soon,” says Anirudh Singh, a member of the club.

“PE as an industry has boomed in India and we plan to invite speakers to the campus, hold conclaves, workshops and other events to provide a platform for the students and corporates to interact. Also, we are looking forward to hold intra-institute events, where the students can write an investment proposal and a panel of faculty members can judge them.

We have no restrictions when it comes to corporates as we would be involving both top- and middle-level players to encourage more and more activities in the field of PE and VC,” says Gagandeep Singh, another member of the club.

As part of formalising the club, the students are holding the first intra-institute event called the ‘Zen of Investing’, where the club plans to invite alumni working in the area of private equity, besides involving the faculty and students for the activity.

The club also has plans to tie-up with Post-Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPX) students to getter a better perspective of private equity. “The PGPX students would be able to share their experiences about private equity and with their support, we plan to involve ourselves with the corporates in a deeper way through various activities, including projects and case workshops,” adds Anirudh Singh.

The club is in talks with a few corporates, who have shown interest in sponsoring the club.

“We are considering more options for funding besides the institute and the corporates we are in talks with. Currently, we are in the stage of gauging the responses from the people about the club,” says Anirudh Singh, before adding, “Although we have started out PE and VC, we may consider branching out to other areas like micro finance later.”

More : business-standard.com

A report has suggested that it is likely that British students considering taking MBA courses in the UK will find it increasingly hard to find loans to cover the cost of their post-graduate studies.

According to a report in the Financial Times, the appeal of MBA courses in the US had recently been increasing among British students, thanks to the weak dollar.

However, the paper has now learnt that the credit crunch has dramatically reduced the number of student loans available for those considering such post-graduate courses.

It pointed to research carried out by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators that showed that 50 lenders have suspended their post-graduate student loan deals.

“The cost of loan repayment is particularly high for students from outside the US who apply for loans from US institutions,” the paper explained.

“This is because credit references are not required and also the lenders find it harder to track down students on graduation if they return to their home countries.”

As a result, a British student looking for a post-graduate student loan in the US can expect to have to pay interest of around seven per cent.

With US MBA courses typically costing around $150,000 (£75,000) to complete, the rising price of loans could put many British students off, even though they know they will be able to secure high-paying jobs after graduation.

Source : gaapweb.com

Aaron F. Cooper II, a self-described worrywart, never thought his penchant for devising foolproof backup plans could translate into a calling. But that all changed when he signed up for an elective in risk management while at the University of Georgia’s Terry School of Business executive MBA program last fall. “It entails pretty much everything I’ve always been interested in my entire life, even before I knew risk management existed,” said Cooper, 27, a telecommunications engineer at AT&T (T).

Cooper is part of a new wave of students hitting business school campuses. For years, risk management—the process of analyzing exposure to risk and determining how best to handle it—occupied a sleepy corner in business schools, a subject mainly of interest to those who want to enter the insurance field. But with the recent turmoil in the financial markets and a push for more accountability, risk management has rocketed in status at business schools.

In the past decade, a growing number of B-schools have added concentrations in the subject, ramping up the number of classes they offer. Executive MBA programs are also incorporating risk management electives into their curriculum, responding to increased demand from executives and companies. In some instances, schools such as Georgia’s Terry are developing custom programs on the topic for top executives and boards of directors.

More : businessweek.com

The Faculty Council of Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C), Tuesday, a petition before the Supreme Court for impleading itself as co-respondents in the case of PIL against cut costs, for HRD on the Union in all Department of IIMS Government of the European Union.

Hearing on PIL is scheduled to begin on 16 April.

The IIM-C Faculty decided to representation, whoever may be made by the Board of Governors of the Institute. Prof. Asish Bhattacharyya, Dean (planning and management) of IIM-C and spokesperson of the Faculty, said the Business Line, there is a clear difference between the opinion of the Faculty and some members of the Board of Governors Tax on the issue of interface and the exercise of autonomy of the Institute.

The Faculty Council felt that the independence of representation should be addressed to bring the case before the Court of art.

“The Faculty feels that some members of the Board of Governors can not exercise their independent judgement in the interest of the institute. It is therefore responsible for the faculty, for the interests of the Institute, its teachers and students present and future, “Spokesman.

The Faculty Council, in its application at the end of court, said that “autonomy have so far by the Institute in the pursuit of excellence, not by any political or bureaucratic influence, it would be possible to l ‘Institute, to achieve their current status.

The Faculty is therefore every interest in ensuring that these non-interference in its affairs under way should continue, so that the Institute could be the target, without distraction. ”

Prof. Bhattacharyya also stressed that for the question of standing was concerned, has always questioned, the respondents in the previous hearings, the Institute of the Faculty was better placed than the Alumni Association of the IIM - C. He said, however, were Alumni of transition assistance of the Faculty.

The IIM-C Board of Governors In the meantime, was unable to formalize its response to the Apex Court directive last week for a model to 16 April.

According to some sources, the technical problem of convening a meeting of council is therefore a period of 15 days.

The director of IIM-C and the chairman of the Governing Council understood to have discussed issues related to the Institute’s response to the edge Court directive also as a form adoption of the resolution drafted by the presidency.

The fate of the planned meeting between the Faculty and the president on 15 April seems uncertain, given the evolving situation. Informed sources suggested that IIM-C could try for some time by the Court of art for its presentation, but is optional.

How IIM, Ahmedabad, the Supreme Court today for some cases, pressure on IIM-C, for a formal presentation.

THE faculty council of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C) on Monday decided to move the Calcutta High Court challenging the validity of the 164th meeting of the board of governors, which took place on March 26, 2004.

Prof Asish Bhattacharyya, Dean (Planning & Administration) and spokesperson of the faculty council, told newspersons that the validity of the said meeting was being called into question since four members had been replaced or substituted just before the crucial meeting to decide on the fee cut issue.

The council has also recommended that the Director of the institute provisionally maintain the fee structure for the forthcoming session, which begins in May.

Prof Bhattacharyya said that the council has suggested that since the board of governors has not been able to take a decision on fee reduction as directed by the Union HRD Ministry, the continuation of the same fee structure was advisable in view of smooth functioning of the institute as per the curriculum.

In the just concluded two-year session, IIM-C had charged a total of around Rs 2.5 lakh. The payments were obtained in various stages. The initial payment was around Rs 48,000.

“We have also suggested to the Director, who was present at the council meeting today, that fee received in excess of what might be finally decided by the board of governors or the Supreme Court be refunded with interest to the students.”

Prof Bhattacharyya also said that it has been the practice at IIM-C that before every session the faculty would recommend the fee structure and the board would take it up for approval. The council has also suggested that the Director, in the absence of clarity, might keep aside the Central Government’s proposed grant of Rs 4 crore for 2003-04 on account of non-Plan expenditure.

“The fund has not come in yet. But if it comes, the council advises that it should not be used until the matter is resolved by the Supreme Court or through a process of dialogue.” Meanwhile, the IIM-C faculty council has requested the Ministry that it be included in the process of dialogue on the fee revision issue.

The council has decided to form a three-member committee consisting of two faculty members and one alumnus for the proposed dialogue.

Calcutta: It’s management practices rather than a me-combat. Faculty members of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, want the status quo on tuition fees will be maintained at least for the next academic year.

Faculty members say that the Institute of authorization to issue letters of a fresh cargo of students from next week, in which tuition fees must be clearly indicated.

The decision of the IIM-C’s Faculty meeting on Monday, is a clear defiance framed by resolution YC Deveshwar, president of the IIM-C’s Board of Governors.

The President of the European Union has HRD ministry bar annual fee of 1.25 lakh RS RS 30000

“Given that tuition fees should be clear to new students, the Council may decide that the fees issue and negotiate director Shekhar Chowdhury. We also proposed that the segregated funds, where money may be filed. If the fee is to bar the Apex court, we students money back with interest “, Ashish Bhattacharya, IIM-C-dean of planning and management said.

The director is expected to inform the Board of Governors of the Council decision. The Council also approved the decision of the ability to move high court on Tuesday.

It is responsible for the HRD ministry of the decision on their own people to participate in the 164 Board of Governors’ meeting, on March 26 are available in some members of origin. A new teams up with a Alumnus and two members the ability to ensure that the HRD ministry has initiated a dialogue with members of the Faculty in the bar fees discussion. “The Supreme Court, the ministry believes that discussions with the IIMS to solve the problem of honoraria. In case of IIM-C, the Board of Directors and members have the option of opposing view and, therefore, we ask that the Ministry held separate discussions, “Bhattacharya added.

The Council said that the RS 4 crore kitty sent by the Observatory at low tide on any deficit are not currently used. “We believe it is in a separate account and can not handle now. We will wait until the Supreme Court to take a decision on the question that we decide how it is used,” said Bhattacharya.

The government wrote to the training center to initiate the coast of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mangalore.

G. Giridhar Prabhu, president of the Chamber of Commerce Kanara and head of the Committee on sectors Coastal Agenda Task Force (CATF), said the Hindu on Friday that the Minister for large companies, RVDeshpande a meeting with representatives of LUCF in this context, on Thursday.

Mr. Prabhu, thanked the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, AKMonnappa, and the president of LUCF, N. Vinaya Hegde said IDECK Ltd had proposed three sites in Baikampady in Dakshina Kannada, Padubidri in Udupi District, and Agsoor near Ankola in Uttara Kannada district.

The government has shown interest in it “in principle” to the draft authorisation for private sector participation.

The government would only play a mediator. The government is not interested in what the circle and management KCCI area to recognize and develop, in collaboration with the CATF.

Mr. Prabhu said that there were now mandatory for the Centre to ask their own countries SEZ Act. He said the CATF, a copy of the Bill of Maharashtra SEZ on the Prime Minister and LUCF, he assured that the State of extending “legal cover” for the formation of the SEZ. However, on the coast SEZ is unique.

The coasts of the belt of Karnataka was known for his immense reservoir of human resources and have a huge potential for SEZ in the area of trade and services.

The OECD countries and developed countries had a lot of NIC in the services sector, which could be replicated in Mangalore, if these SEZs born here, the concept paper on the SEZ said.

The SEZ in Mangalore would be first to find trade and service companies. But it would also have an area of production, conservation, taking into account regional differences in the chemical industry.

Units could clean SEZ.

The approach paper KCCI, said the work units, such as clothing, toys, paper conversion, change packaging and specialty packaging, value-added in agriculture and cultivation of plants Horticulture, spices, rubber, coconut and arecanut based products should preferably be in the of the SEZ. Production units specialized in all entries to the Indian cuisine as masalas, finished preparations of dried vegetables, ingredients for and entrances, maize, sugar, rice and rice, wheat, potatoes and onions, vegetables dried and other processed foods and be considered for SEZ. The approach document cites the target markets of SEZ in West Asia, East and West Africa, Asia-Pacific and Russia.

The Government in its letter, said the CSEZ would be ideal for a port based on the establishment in the medium term, highlighted in the Export Strategy 2002-07.

The Union Ministry of Industry and Commerce noted that NMPT as a strategic location for the port of India in the implementation of the study Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.

How does the youth look at the general budget? For most college students it’s no more than ”just another political gimmick”.

Said Nishat Ahmed, a second year English (honours) student of Hindu College: ”The budget, like any other political announcements, shouldn’t be taken at its face value. It takes time for political promises to translate into substantial action. The annual budget for me is just another political stunt.”

A BA (pass) final year student of Kirori Mal College, Anil Sharma, felt that students do not usually face the repercussions of the budget. ”Most students don’t earn, hence we are not affected by increasing taxes,” he said.

While some students did express some interest in the budget, they also confessed that the curiosity was more academic in nature. Harman Dhillon, a final year MBA student at the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), said: ”As a management student, I look for insights into the possible repercussions that it may have on companies and consumers.”

How does the sight of young people from the general budget? For most students, it is more als”nur another Gimmick”policy.

Nishat Ahmed Said, a second year English (Honours) from the Hindu College Student:”The budget, like any policy announcement should not be at their nominal value. It takes time to translate political commitments into action essential. The annual budget for me is just a more political turn.”

A BA (PASS) students graduating Kirori times College, Anil Sharma, felt that students are not generally against the effects of the budget. ”Most students do not deserve that we are not affected by higher taxes,”he said.

While some students have expressly some interest in the budget, also confessed that curiosity was more academic. Harman Dhillon, a final year MBA student at the Faculty of Economics (FMS), said:”as a management student, I see a glimpse of the potential impact that perhaps on businesses and consumers. “

A forum was recently on the AVC College of Engineering in Mayiladuturai in the district of Nagapattinam, in the interest of personality development and improving the communication skills of students.

Dr.Arun V. Parwate, Principal of the school, the need for students to improve communication capacity to face interviews for placement.

Dr S. Rama Nathan, Director, Department of Management Studies at the university, to coordinate the activities of the Forum stresses in a oratoire Honing’s capabilities and recalled that the forum would focus on this aspect.

The Forum has ambitious plans, many training programs to negotiate self-confidence among students. The current generation of engineering graduates should try to improve their communication skills to achieve employability, Dr.Ramanathan said.

The PG-Department of Computer Science, Hans Roever Than Thai College, Perambalur, the campus has organized an interview last week for its students, has just been passed out of college.

Of the 100 graduates fresh MCA, M.Sc. Science, M.Sc. Information Technology skills, participated in the interrogation by the Nagpur-based Software Development Firm-Master-Software, ten candidates were approved by the company to its partners are working on sites in Tamil Nadu, as a trainee software engineers with a package of wage moderation. The company recruits Freshers exclusively for software management College, promised on the recruitment of candidates with skills in Hindi, in its development based Nagpur in central and northern India. The provision of training and troubleshooting.

The Master Marketing Executive Sivakumar software, and Software Engineer, Nitin Dange the interview conducted in the presence of the Principal, V. Ganesan, director, Duraisamy. The company also announced its plans for the recruitment of qualified candidates in the basement of the college for data entry.

The activities of the association Chemistry - Resonansone Club - JJ College of Arts and Science, Namanasamudram, Pudukottai district, was inaugurated in a function held recently.

N. Kalaiselvi, scientific, Advanced Battery Division, CECRI, Karaikudi, a conference on “Next Generation” current sources green “on the occasion.

A stated Dr. Kalaiselvi lithium batteries play an important role in various electronic devices. With the scratch, “said Dr Kalaiselvi the various potential candidates for secondary batteries. She gave an exhaustive account of the different types of lithium batteries, which could be regarded as the next generation of energy sources environmentally friendly. His briefing the various activities of the CECRI. Several models of lithium batteries have been an opportunity for students and was surprised to see a little size batteries to play an important role in food.