Despite IIM Calcutta legacy, West Bengal’s management education is stunted due to faculty crunch, funding woes

NEW DELHI: West Bengal has a puzzling gap in management education. Despite the value placed on education culturally and being home to the first Indian Institute of Management, the traditional focus has leaned heavily toward engineering and medicine.

"In our state, management education has not traditionally been prioritised. Historically, parents wanted their children to pursue engineering or medicine. There was little awareness about the value of management education, and this trend continues to some extent," said Saibal Mukhopadhyay, director, Institute of Business Management in Kolkata, affiliated to Jadavpur University.

The journey of management education in West Bengal began with the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM), founded in 1953. It was one of India’s first business schools, setting a benchmark in management education. Despite having that pioneer as a role model, the growth of standalone management colleges in the state has been slow.

West Bengal's number of AICTE-approved management institutions has hovered around the 55 mark for years – 56 from 2017-18 to 2020-21 and now, 55. Neighbouring Odisha has 120; Kerala has 98; and Haryana, 129.

According to Ananda Mohan Pal, professor of business management at the University of Calcutta, "The demand for management here among the students is less, comparatively."

However, that may be changing, albeit slowly. Many engineering graduates, tired of working IT jobs and seeking alternatives, are now looking at management. But that growth in demand is yet to be met by a robust framework for standalone management colleges.

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A key problem is faculty shortage. “Our state does not have the resources to come up with standalone management colleges, more specifically, the number of faculty for this purpose is very low,” observed Pal. This hampers the potential for new institutions to emerge.

The Department of Business Management at the University of Calcutta is set to face the same problem soon. Established in 1976, it offers postgraduate programmes and has a strong faculty but with many teachers on the verge of retirement. The Institute of Business Management at Jadavpur University also offers numerous programmes but faces challenges with attracting quality faculty.

Management education: Challenges

The difficulties in establishing standalone management colleges are intertwined with economic and political factors.

Swayan Ghosh, an MBA and an alumnus of Calcutta University’s management programme, strongly disagrees with the view that demand for management programmes is low.

“If you do a survey, 95 to 96 percent of people will say they would pursue an MBA,” he said. “The government does not have the interest to look at where the demand is.”

Plus, he believes it’s related to the general state of industry in West Bengal. “Why are investors not investing in West Bengal? It's because they are not getting anything from the state to set up any industry.”

This lack of investor confidence has resulted in limited quality job opportunities and a reduced interest in management education.

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MBA colleges in West Bengal: Gradual change

But teachers insist things are changing. Many engineering graduates find themselves in IT roles leading to burnout and a search for options. However, the financial viability of management colleges is a significant hurdle in Bengal – there are few colleges as they draw few students.

Mukhopadhyay said that both BBA and MBA programmes often cap their intake at just 60 students which limits revenue. High faculty salaries, ranging from Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1.2 lakh per month, add to the financial strain and make it difficult to attract and retain good faculty.

This has made it difficult for standalone management institutes to survive, let alone shift public perception on management as a field.

Only three institutions in West Bengal made it to the National Institutional Ranking Framework’s 2024 ranking of management institutions and two of those were IIM Calcutta and IIT Kharagpur – both central institutions.

Given below is a list of management institutions, other than those two, that experts spoke of favourably.

Notable B-schools in West Bengal

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West Bengal and industry

The political climate in West Bengal has not been conducive to private enterprise, which has slowed the growth of management education. “Yes, industry is also responsible,” said Ghosh, highlighting the connection between government support and industrial growth. “Industry will only come when the government will support that.”

Smaller corporate presence than Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore has hindered the growth of management schools as these institutions rely on partnerships for internships, placements, research and even teaching.

MBA colleges in West Bengal: Integrated programmes

However, business schools that have long existed are planning expansion. The department of business management at Jadavpur University is working toward launching an integrated programme by 2026, in line with the National Education Policy.

The affiliation of private management schools to the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) since its establishment in 2000 has also paved the way for change. MAKAUT has become the primary university for technical and professional education, allowing private B-schools to seek affiliation and gain legitimacy. For the 2024-25 session, MAKAUT listed 31 affiliated institutions offering MBA.

The future of management education in West Bengal depends on increased awareness, government support, and collaboration with industries. “If these areas are addressed, the state can unlock the potential for both students and institutions alike,” concluded Ghosh.