Kathmandu, September 25:

Tribhuvan University (TU) is planning to start Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with the public and private partnership from February 2006. TU, Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the government have agreed to work together for launching the programme under the Faculty of Management. The government has agreed to provide Rs 50 million to build necessary infrastructure. Dr Parashar Koirala, dean of Faculty of Management, TU, said the two year MBA is being conducted to produce skilled and more practice oriented students who can cope with the increasing demand for the market. “The by-laws and all the necessary documents has already been formulated and have been forwarded to the TU vice-chancellor’s office for approval.”

“Government has agreed to provide Rs 50 million for building necessary infrastructure while the TU will provide land and the FNCCI will provide institutional partnership such as ensuring placement for internship to the graduates,” said Dr Koirala, adding, “TU will look after the academic part while FNCCI will provide institutional support.” Classes will start as soon as the TU executive council approves the by-laws, Dr Koirala said. “Students who have Bachelor’s degree with minimum three year duration in Management will be eligible to sit for the entrance examination but the selection process will be very strict,” said Dr Koirala. “It will have 25 students in the first intake and will be practice oriented,” said Dr Koirala. This is the first time that TU is starting MBA class with the private partnership. “The fee for the course will be affordable to a middle class income group,” said Dr Koirala. “Without internship in the reputed business houses, the theoretical knowledge will be of no use and therefore, the proposed MBA course will be more practice based exposing the students with more cases and problem analysis skill and on the job training.”

The Masters in Business Studies (MBS), currently run by the TU, is more theoretical and research oriented,” said Dr Koirala. Teachers will be hired from All India Institute of Management for taking short term courses, he added. Professor Dr Mahendra Singh, Rector at TU said the university is very positive about launching such market-oriented programmes.

“The draft by-laws will have simple modification and will be endorsed by its executive council very soon,” he said, adding, the TU has plans to allocate Rs 10 million for the development of infrastructure.