Welcome to the world of Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM), one of the Garden City's newest temples of learning, which is bound to become the country's ultimate destination to pursue a career in plantation management.

Nestled on a sprawling 5-acre campus in Jnanabharathi, IIPM is now all set to usher in the first batch of students the coming academic year. The institute, which is the only one of its kind in the country, acts as a think tank and an intellectual resource base for the plantation sector. Set up as an exclusive sectoral school of management by a core group constituted by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, in 1990, IIPM will now cater to the soaring needs of modernization of the plantation sector through its new programmes.

In November 1993, the Institute was registered as an autonomous educational institution of higher learning, under the Karnataka Society Registration Act and jointly sponsored by the Coffee Board, Rubber Board, Spices Board, Indian Tea Association, United Planters' Association of Southern India (UPASI), etc. Because of its close links with industry, the institute has the support of many leading corporates such as Tata Tea Limited, Goodricke Group Limited, Williamson Magor Group, Tata Coffee Limited among others.

The Reach Out Model

This model is based on the concept of on-site education. Between 1994-2000 the institute has extensively experimented with the reach-out model to test a string of new man-ideas and conceptual frameworks. The essence of the reach-out model can be metamorphically captured through the idea of the guru going to the shishya, which is a reversal of the traditional concept of the shishya going to the guru.

Course

The Institute's one-year PG Diploma in Plantation Management aims at providing management education to the entrants in the plantation sector. The programme is aimed at combining the grass-root action with global competition and equips the candidates for managerial positions in plantations and related agro industries management.

In order to integrate technical, managerial and leadership aspects of management with a fusion of skills, qualities and value, the programme is divided into four terms and field visits of five weeks duration. Further, by taking an appropriate mix of courses, students can specialize in frontier fields such as Environment Management, Biotechnology Management, Entrepreneurship and Micro-enterprise Management, Institution Development and Management, NGO Management, Rural Management and IT for Agri and Rural Development depending upon their area of interest.

Eligibility and Admission

Graduates in any discipline who possess substantial interest in the subject with at least 50% marks in their graduation are eligible to apply. All candidates have to appear for the Institute's Professional Aptitude Test (PAT). Final selection will be made on the basis of past academic record, PAT scores, GD and an interview.

Fee and Expenses

Institutional fee for the programme is Rs 1 Lakh, which is to be paid by the individual/Sponsoring organization/Sponsoring person. However, candidates admitted under Open category can pay the fee in two instalments, at the beginning of the first and third term. This is not inclusive of mess charges, expenses on books and reading material, expenses on field visits and other personal expenses.

Teaching methodology

The Institute uses a unique 3-D (Discussion, Dialogue and Discourse) approach for teaching, in addition to case study and cyber learning. The Institute also undertakes idea generation and knowledge building activities by arranging symposia, seminars, and workshops centered on various themes of interest to plantation managers.

Facilities and Programmes

An essence of perfect amalgam of modernity and nature runs across the campus. Spacious classrooms, well-stocked library, a state-of-art computer centre, open-air cafeteria, bank and a hostel block is all set to greet the debut batch, come July.

The institute shares a close relation with the industry to provide placement assistance through a placement cell. IIPM has tie-ups with banks for loan assistance to the candidates admitted to the programme under open category. The debut batch could look forward to the adventure in new areas of management, for which they would be opening new doors in the era of globalization.

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