The APH (approval process handbook) is probably common for all programs irrespective of the specific requirements of different programs. This itself speaks volumes about AICTE's (mis)understanding and improvement strategies for MBA/PGDM programs - which are treated with a standard set of directions and expectations similar to Engineering and other technical programs.
One can understand the requirement for a central computer lab for other technical programs, wherein the usage of computers/PCs or related work with computers have a certain pattern. For B-school pedagogy, things are very different and expecting students to go to a central common place to engage with PCs is remarkably wrong.
Laptops were in use since the 1990s in a lot of b-schools and still are a very intrinsic part of the DNA of b-school pedagogy and personal learning system amongst students. iPads (an Apple Product) probably will take over from Laptops very soon due to a host of factors, while providing the same (or better) kind of computing power and utilities required by an MBA student.
Even in organizations, there aren't any existing central computer labs wherein people are made to sit on PCs and complete their work (yeah..probably some Insurance companies have such PCs for their junior staff, but they aren't MBAs for sure).
So if I satisfy all norms and then design a very modern infrastructure for usage of laptops/iPads for delivering learning content or for students to use them for creating content as a part of the academic process, will I not get an approval without having a "1:2 capacity computer center"?
Why is there a standard operating handbook that needs to be followed by all programs who don't share many common strains in their DNA?
When will regulatory bodies like AICTE wake up to systems and processes that are world-class and modern and that are followed across the world (US, UK, China,etc)?
Why is it so difficult to have separate and updated guidelines and norms from regulatory bodies to keep pace with the requirements of current times and technological advancements?
This is just one such thing that struck me as out of place when one looks at the APH. I am sure more such disparities and gaps would be available for AICTE to address and solve those for a better future of our b-schools.
