MIT starts a School of Government

Well, MIT is the Maharashtra Institute of Technology in Pune, India.  In a welcome development, the MIT group has decided to establish a school of government in India.  According to some reports MIT School of Government (MITSOG) is being modeled after the Kennedy School of Government (KSG) at the Harvard University.  The mission of MITSOG is :

...revolutionizing and setting new standards of performance in the field of social and political leadership by unleashing the power of India's greatest leaders of today for the benefit of the Indian leadership of tomorrow.

Former chief election  commissioner of India, T. N. Seshan will be the first dean of MITSOG. At present the school will only grant a masters diploma in government.

Remember that much of India's bureaucracy comes from Indian Administrative Service (IAS) whose recruits train at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), as well as state public service commissions. So, what kind of a role MITSOG is going to play in developing aspiring civil servants is unclear. MITSOG also wishes, however, to educate graduates who wish to make a career in politics or NGOs. I should say that this is going to be an interesting experience, and I wish MITSOG well.

Comments

[Ricercar]

the univs / colleges in pune have a really professional attitude. the one i went to offered medical, engineering, mba, architecture colleges all under one roof. college of government sounds very interesting. i wonder what exactly would someone go there to study and what kind of career will he get into

[Saheli]

Latecomer to the discussion, but I was chewing on this for a while and finally realized what my question is. I'm curious, what exactly is the sort of manufacturing process for young Indian politicians? What's the Indian equivalent of debate society and Model UN and student government and College Republicans and University Democrats and campaign volunteering and legislative internships? Is the Indian system the same? Is there as strong an overlap between future lawyers and future politicians? I guess, please Email me backdoor, if you think the comment is off-topic. . .( saheli AT-sign gmail , com). Thanks!

[Anup]

The politicians in India have changed dramatically since independence, and again since "Indira is India" times. More recently, Mandal and Mandir issues have brought forward an entirely different type of political leaders. Manufacturing process for Indian politicians is a very complex topic, and perhaps deserves a completely different post.

There are a number of different student organizations active on most college campuses throughout India. The largest once include the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP which is affiliated with the Sangh Parivar, and BJP), and the National Students Union of India (NSUI which is affiliated with the Indian National Congress). ABVP claims to have more than a million members.

Yes, there is also a lot of campaign volunteering, but in many cases universities ban active campaigning on campus due to tensions between different student groups. The 'internships' with the legislators are rather informal where college students will help politicians reach out to young people. I am not aware of a formal internship program which gives opportunities to students to know more about the work of the legislative branch.

There isn't a strong overlap between lawyers and politicians in India today, but that used to be the case during India's independence struggle. As I said above, the type of people entering electoral politics has undergone a sea change. Without having seen any data, I would hypothesize that the high number of lawyer-politicians in the US is a pretty exclusive phenomenon, but that could just be my perception.

[shroff sharath]

this is a great job to produce trained & suitable cadets to govern the country like INDIA.i am very much intrested in taking up course in this regard.so please send me the details.

thanks & regards
sharath

[Jawahar Mundlapati]

Since November 2003, I had been blogging on "How to become number one politician?" at http://politicalspecialist.weblogs.us/archives/000277.html and currently at
http://politicalspecialist.blogspot.com/

I am gladly appreciating MITSOG's excellent initiative.

[minhaj]

"where lok sabha session begins and Rajya sabha session ends" is T.N.Sesan.

Sir,
i like to know about this course please send me the details of the course.

[Kamlesh Thorat]

please mail as the informatio related to "pgd in government"(eligibility criteria, qualifiation, etc)

[pranjali kadhao]

it is a dynamic corse in indian politics and constitution.it has become imporant fo today's youth to get acknowleged with the govt. systems to be a complete citizen of a country. "where this turst fulfills is mitsog.be aware!!!"

[vignesh]

HI there,
I believe this is the one that I've been waiting for in a long time. I hope the course will meet the standards of the kennedy school of government and prove itself as a great source for inspiration to more budding politicians like me. Please send me the details of the course. Thanks.

[than singh mawai]

hi there,
i m than singh did mba in hr. right now i m studying for civil services in delhi . but i m intersted in politics not like swagat bandan abhinandan type but like intelectual cell like leaders. could it course be helped me in this area. if yes then plz send me whole details of this course with intrance exams shedule and syllabus and mode of preparation for that.
thanks
sincearly urs
than singh

[Srini]

One can request some information on this from the link

INFORMATION -
http://www.myeducation.in/mitsogcourseoffered.do

I myself am confused on the prospects of completing this course. Does this course suit only those who are aspiring to be politicians? And if so how can one with no background in politics survive or carry on after completion of course?

[Sanjay Shashikant Aghav]

its a very interesting school trying something different to revitalise india political scenario. if theres a blog pl let me know as early as possible.
thank you,
sanjay

[Susheel Chandra]

Dear Friends,
Its regarding Master's Diploma In Government Program of MIT School of Government, Pune. The programme is not approved by any of university of india. further, i came to know that MIT people are saying verbly that they are son getting affiliation from HARVARD UNIVERSITY. Pls go thru the folloing mail from Mr.Rick Calixto, Director (Harvard)clarifying the status of AFFILIATION OF MITSOG, PUNE:

Dear all,
Thank you for your email to President Bok. It was forwarded to me for consideration.
I can confirm that Harvard does not affiliate itself with programs/ institutes in the way the official at MIT School of Government, Pune (India) has stated to you. Also, Harvard certainly would not affiliate itself with an institution that is clearly infringing the MIT trademark. I have forwarded this matter to MIT so they can also look into it.
Best Regards,
Rick Calixto, Director
Harvard Trademark Program
University Place
124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 570-N
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel. (617) 495-0380
rick_calixto@harvard.edu

[Susheel Chandra]

Dear Friends,
Its regarding Master's Diploma In Government Program of MIT School of Government, Pune. The programme is not approved by any of university of india. further, i came to know that MIT people are saying verbly that they are soon getting affiliation from HARVARD UNIVERSITY. Pls go thru the folloing mail from Mr.Rick Calixto, Director (Harvard)clarifying the status of AFFILIATION OF MITSOG, PUNE:

Dear all,
Thank you for your email to President Bok. It was forwarded to me for consideration.
I can confirm that Harvard does not affiliate itself with programs/ institutes in the way the official at MIT School of Government, Pune (India) has stated to you. Also, Harvard certainly would not affiliate itself with an institution that is clearly infringing the MIT trademark. I have forwarded this matter to MIT so they can also look into it.
Best Regards,
Rick Calixto, Director
Harvard Trademark Program
University Place
124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 570-N
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel. (617) 495-0380
rick_calixto@harvard.edu

[Susheel Chandra]

Dear Friends,
Its regarding Master's Diploma In Government Program of MIT School of Government, Pune. The programme is not approved by any of university of india. further, i came to know that MIT people are saying verbly that they are soon getting affiliation from HARVARD UNIVERSITY. Pls go thru the folloing mail from Mr.Rick Calixto, Director (Harvard)clarifying the status of AFFILIATION OF MITSOG, PUNE:

Dear all,
Thank you for your email to President Bok. It was forwarded to me for consideration.
I can confirm that Harvard does not affiliate itself with programs/ institutes in the way the official at MIT School of Government, Pune (India) has stated to you. Also, Harvard certainly would not affiliate itself with an institution that is clearly infringing the MIT trademark. I have forwarded this matter to MIT so they can also look into it.
Best Regards,
Rick Calixto, Director
Harvard Trademark Program
University Place
124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 570-N
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel. (617) 495-0380
email:rick_calixto@harvard.edu

[Surendra Maishra]

Is MITSOG really genuine ??

[Swetapdma]

WIll MITSOG really cater to the needs of India??
I fear, not..

[DPS]

MIT School of Govt - "M" for Mislead

The Telegraph- Mon, Nov. 05, 2007 Front Page

MIT: M for ‘misleading’- Who’s who of politics lend name to unrecognised institute
By: CHARU SUDAN KASTURI

New Delhi, Nov. 4: India’s education minister Arjun Singh and senior politicians from virtuallyall major parties are endorsing a private Pune-based institution that is not recognised by anygovernment authority but claims it is backed by the Indian government.

The MIT School of Government, accused by students of duping them into thinking its courseshave official sanction, has also raised concerns at the Massachusetts Institute of Technologyfor its “misleading” use of the MIT name.

The MIT-SOG—MIT here stands for Maharashtra Institute of Technology —claims on itswebsite and prospectus that it is “commended by the ministry of human resourcedevelopment” headed by Arjun.

The ministry has replied to Right to Information appeals by The Telegraph saying it does not“commend” any institute, and has no discretionary powers to recognise any diploma course.The only course the MIT-SOG currently offers is titled “masters diploma in government”.

Government recognition only comes from bodies like the University Grants Commission, the All India Commission for TechnicalEducation and the Medical Council of India, which first ensure that the institute meets certain quality norms.

Investigations by this newspaper have revealed that the MIT-SOG is not recognised by any government body.
Rather, a parliamentary committee had hauled up the school in 2005, soon after it was set up, when it was caught using agraphic image of Parliament for publicity.

But Arjun, whose ministry regularly stresses the need to ensure strict standards of quality in higher education, wrote to MITSOG founder Vishwanath Karad this January, calling the institute’s work commendable.

“The dedicated and committed efforts being made by you and your institute towards the cause of education are reallycommendable and deserve all the encouragement,” Arjun wrote in the letter, a copy of which is with this newspaper. Arjun isalso listed as a “faculty” member at the institute.

The HRD ministry has fought battles with the commerce ministry to prevent the “commercialisation of education”. It is drawingup a lawto regulate private institutes that it says often dupe students.

Arjun’s office, when contacted, appeared surprised that the MIT-SOG is not recognised by any government body, and said itwould look into the case.

The MIT-SOG, however, says the letter is equivalent to being “commended by the MHRD”.

“We are endorsed by the MHRD. The letter says as much,” Pardeep Kumar, the MIT-SOG’s associate director, said.
Thirteen other ministers in the current government, L.K. Advani and some other BJP and Left leaders have also writtencongratulatory letters used by the institute to woo students.

Many of these leaders are also listed as faculty members on the MIT-SOG website.

Several students who joined the institute under the impression that it was indeed supported by the Government of India have said they were even led to believe that the institute was tying up with Harvard University.

Many students have left the course midway, conceded Kumar, who doubles as spokesperson for the Indian Youth Congress.

“Many of our students leave halfway through the course when they realise the institute will not guarantee them jobs,” Kumarsaid, emphasising that the institute was being run despite financial losses because of the founder’s commitment.

Kumar, however, denied that the institute had ever told students it was seeking a tie-up with Harvard.

In an email, Rick Calixto, Harvard’s director, trademark programme, has written that the university “would certainly not affiliateitself with an institution clearly infringing the MIT trademark”.

Harvard has forwarded its concerns to MIT at Cambridge, Massachusetts, which has said it is “concerned” about the“misleading” use of the MIT name by institutes such as the MIT-SOG and has taken “active steps to enforce the issue”.

-----------------------------

The Telegraph:Tue, Nov. 06, 2007 Front Page

Quality check for ‘quack’ institutes

CHARU SUDAN KASTURI

New Delhi, Nov. 5: Institutions like the Pune-based MIT School of Government may soonhave to undergo compulsory government evaluation of their academic standards,administrative efficiency and infrastructure.

The University Grants Commission plans to make this mandatory for higher educationinstitutions to expose those who dupe students with false claims and promises.

Failure to get accredited might earn the institution the tag of an education “quack”, top UGCofficials said.
A new law, being considered by the UGC and the human resource development ministry, aims to terminate once and for all theoption of remaining unevaluated by the government.

“We are going to make accreditation mandatory. The law, we feel, may be necessary for the purpose of enforcement,” a seniorUGC official said.

Colleges and universities currently have the option of seeking recognition from the government, which, if obtained, increasesthe credibility of the institute.

A body under the UGC, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), independently accredits colleges anduniversities. But this is not equivalent to recognition. It merely tells the institute whether it meets the standards required forrecognition and the government to assess the overall status of higher education in India.

Neither recognition nor accreditation is mandatory for an institute to offer courses.

But with the demand for higher education far exceeding the supply, government officials say an increasing number of privateinstitutions successfully “sell education profitably” without bothering about official evaluation.

“Even a fraud institute that markets itself well is likely to get students willing to shell out lakhs of rupees as fees. Dupingstudents by a play of words is an often-used tactic,” an HRD ministry source said.

As reported yesterday, the MIT-SOGclaims to be “commended” by the ministry, while the government has clarified it does not“commend” any institute.

Students fromthe institute, which is not recognised by any government authority, had complained that they had fallen prey toMonday’s report in The the MIT-SOG claimthat the HRD ministry endorses it.

Ironically, HRDminister Arjun Singh had written a congratulatory letter to the institute. Letters of support from several other toppoliticians were also used by the institute to woo students.

According to the latest statistics available with the UGC, there are 398 universities and 18,064 colleges in India. Of these, only140 universities and 3,492 colleges had been accredited at the last count in March this year. Most have remained beyond thescanner of the government.

Now, the onus will be on the institute to get accredited or face what some in the HRDministry are calling “negative recognition”.

A deadline will be issued, by when institutions have to send in applications for accreditation.The NAAC will first target institutes already recognised by the government.

“A one-time recognition is not enough. The NAAC will first evaluate all the recognised universities and institutes,” an officialsaid.

Next, it will be the turn of unrecognised institutes —like the MIT-SOG— to be scanned by the NAAC.

----------------------------

The Telegraph:Thu, Dec. 27, 2007 Front Page

Corrected: Arjun ‘error’
CHARU SUDAN KASTURI

New Delhi, Dec. 26: Pune-based MIT School of Government (Mitsog) hasdropped claims that it was backed by the human resource development ministry.

The Telegraph had reported on November 5 that the institute had noofficial support.

The institute, which names some of the country’s top politicians on itsfaculty, was using a congratulatory letter by HRD minister Arjun Singh toclaim it was “commended by” the Centre. The same letter was used byMitsog to list Singh on its faculty.

Several students at the institute had complained that they had been misled by the term — “commended byMinistry of HRD”.

Following the report on November 5, the minister wrote a letter to the institute, demanding the removal of thetwo claims.

“We have decided to remove the ‘commended by’ phrase from the prospectus and from all officialdocuments. We have also removed the minister’s name from the faculty,” said Pardeep Kumar, Mitsogassociate director.

The words, “commended by”, were removed immediately after the report was published, Kumar said, addingthat the institute never intended to mislead anyone.

In his reply to the minister, Vishwanath D. Karad, the founder of Mitsog, accepted the institute’s “error”.

“I would like to humbly submit that we shall delete the name of the Human Resource Minister from the list offaculty. Similarly, as regards the issue of using the words ‘commended by MHRD’, these words have alsobeen deleted from our new prospectus and brochure.

“I would like to assure you this error will not be repeated. I feel extremely sorry for the embarrassmentcaused to you in this regard,” Karad’s letter said.

But the “commendation” and the faculty list with the minister’s name figured on the Mitsog website latetonight. Kumar said the institute was “unaware” of it and would correct the content.

Higher education regulatory authorities accepted that Mitsog’s “error” was an example of the government’sfailure to verify claims made by fast-proliferating institutes.

---------------------

[Tejdipty Pawade]

Hello Sir,

I wanted to look out for the new course you have started for the political leaders. If could plz send me the link which will give me the details of the course, would be grt help to me. Awate a positive resopnse.

Regards,
Tejdipty Pawade,Pune.

[sanjay kumar]

I am so chutia to take admission in this course.Actully MIT-SOG need some chutiya student like me to fulfil their organisation objective.2 year are passing,but MITSOG do not change alumnus life depite continuous marketing and high level drama.They make student CHUTIYA.