Indian B-schools have been growing both in size and strength over the last full decade keeping in line with the spectacular advances made by the industry and economy in the same period.

An estimated 3000 B-schools are existing at present and the industry is growing in tune with the government policy, for e.g there were nearly 500 additions in just one year, 2010-2011 when the government regulator All India Council for Technical Educiton (AICTE) allowed engineering colleges to open B-school division. The growth as such is not predictable. A 10 to 20 per cent annual growth is predictable. The return on investment is also not easy to guage as almost theentire industry is run by charitable trusts that are expected to work on marginal costing basis. Though the industry estimates shows that in education industry there is more than 30 per cent profit year on year.

The pundits estimate that the education industry would add three to five times its present capacity in the next five years time. Phenomenal opportunities for investment, returns and careers exist. But before that a lot needs to be done in unshackling the B-schools from a repressive unimaginative policy regime and introduce them to the culture of self regulation for competency and capacity building to build confidence and support from stakeholders.

Building capacity with quality

B-schools are expanding their capacity, aligning with the global players through dedicated tie-ups, experimenting with global practices in pedagogy, curriculum, infrastructure building, faculty acquisition and training, building intellectual capital and so on.

Standards for Educational Advancement and Accreditation Trust (SEAA) has the support of a workgroup of professionals from academics and corporate to advance the cause of higher education quality in India. The idea is to bring self assessment process rather than government regulation to ensure quality in education. Business schools are the focus area of SEAA.

SEAA had fulfilled its mandate to a large extent in merely months after it was formed endorsing the underlying commitment and passion of its team.

SEAA MILESTONES

Formed in August 2008!

International Accreditation Seminar 2008 in November 10th & 11th, in association with AMBA's UK

Two Accreditation Roundtables at Delhi & Cochin in April 2009 with North Carolina Central University (NCCU) USA

Regional Accreditation Seminar - Pune 22nd July, 2009 with AMBA UK

Regional Accreditation Seminar - Bangalore 24th July, 2009 with AMBA UK

India Accreditation Benchmarks Conference - Hyderabad on August 27, 2009 with ACBSP of the USA

International Accreditation Conference 2009 - New Delhi in November 9 th & 10th with AACSB Intl, AMBA, EQUIS, ACBSP, IACBE & SAQS

Regional Accreditation Conference 2010 - Benguluru with AACSB International

International Accreditation Conference 2010 - New Delhi in November 8th & 9th with six featuring AACSB International, Association of MBAs, ACBSP, IACBE, SAQS and British Accreditation Council (BAC).

Roundtable CSUSB (California State University, San Bernadino US) - SEAA 2011 on "Advancing International Quality Through Foreign Collaborations" April 29 2011, New Delhi

International Deans Meet hosted by ACBSP at their annual conference at Indianapolis, USA bringing together around 35 Deans of Indian origin and others to discuss the roadmap for Indian business school education. June 26, 2011 at The Marriot, Indianapolis, USA.

Twin City (New Delhi & Pune) IACBE - Regional Accreditation Workshop 2011 jointly with International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) on July 11 and 13 respectively.

International Accreditation Conference 2011 - New Delhi in November 7th & 8th with six featuring AACSB International, Association of MBAs, ACBSP, IACBE, SAQS and British Accreditation Council (BAC).