The premier business school is considering a reduction in the coursework duration to one year, aiming to encourage intensive research among students. This shift is expected to facilitate greater international collaborations and exchange initiatives. IIMV has established multiple memoranda of understanding with esteemed global institutions, including a recent partnership with Monash University Malaysia.
The Institute has recently introduced an advancement in the formation of the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC), placing it in the second year of the PhD programme instead of the previous third-year practice. This alteration is intended to place a stronger emphasis on research within the scholar community.
IIM Vizag‘s director, Prof M Chandrasekhar, noted that the Institute inaugurated its first batch of PhD students in 2019. “The programme has been designed in such a way to contribute to the current body of knowledge, with a focus on both conceptual and applied knowledge. We have so far admitted 17 students in different specialisations like decision sciences, finance and accounting, production and operations management, organisational behaviour and human resource management, etc. We have ourselves limited the PhD intake. The Institute has designed a rigorous selection process to admit only those who have the potential to excel in advanced research and make a significant scholarly contribution,” said Prof Chandrasekhar.
IIMV PhD Chair, Prof B Srirangacharyulu, highlighted the accomplishments of their PhD students, including publications in prominent journals recognized by the Australian Business Deans Council. “Several students published their research work in top journals listed by the Australian Business Deans Council. The Institute has recently made the ‘business and research ethics’ a mandatory course for every PhD student. IIMV has also started enrolling PhD aspirants who have been awarded junior research fellowship. The JRFs will get additional benefits, which are not covered under JRF, at par with other research scholars being sponsored by IIMV. We admitted four JRFs in the PhD programme this year. Course-waiver is being given to those students who have completed their MBA from IIMs,” said Prof Srirangacharyulu.
The IIM Vizag Director added that the Board of Governors has expressed its interest in supporting the PhD students. “This will further strengthen the research ecosystem of IIMV,” said Prof Chandrasekhar.
Existing PhD framework at IIMV
- The duration of the PhD programme is generally five years
- The admitted students have to complete coursework for two years
- Securing a certain CGPA in coursework is mandatory to continue with the programme.
- The coursework will be followed by a written test and viva as part of a comprehensive exam.
- Qualifying both are mandatory to proceed further.
- Students will later work on doctoral dissertation under the guidance of a Thesis Advisory Committee.
- Progress and performance of the scholars will be reviewed every six months.
- Apart from monthly stipend, the students will get HRA, contingency grant, and international/national conference grants.