Kochi: In an attempt in gender diversity, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Kozhikode, has admitted close to 200 women, about 50 percent, in its Post Graduate programme of the 2013-15 batch, some of whom are national talents in various fields.

IIM-K’s PGP 17 batch has inducted 361 students of whom 165 are men and 196 are women, an IIM-K press release said.

The institute has admitted a diverse talent profile such as Priya Chandak, who represented India in the world Skating Championships, Prakriti Sharma, a national level swimmer and basketball player and V Lekshmi,All India CBSE Topper in 2007.

The batch has 85 percent students with Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and Technology, 11 percent from Commerce and Economics and four per cent from Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Agriculture.

Debashis Chatterjee, Director, IIM-K said the aim was to create a unique academic space that would challenge convention. “This year we have not only led in ensuring gender diversity but also admitted national talent from the field of sports, music, martial arts and the social sector,” he said.

He said ‘Our goal is to churn out not just a competent manager but a well rounded and a compassionate human being. In this endeavor, the current batch of students will be our pathfinders.”

This is another unique milestone wherein 54.29 percent women students are in the batch.

IIM-K’s intake of women started back in 2010 with 100 students of a batch of 371 which rose to 121 women in 2011 of a batch of 341. There has been a steady rise of this number from 31.5 percent in 2010 to 35.48 percent in 2011.

The 17th Batch of PGP comprises students with 0-24 months’ work experience and from all over the country – about 27 per cent from South India, 26 per cent from West, 19 per cent from North India and 12 percent from Eastern India.

Priya Nair of IIM-K said: “IIM-K is leading the way by creating classrooms with equal representation of young women and men thereby enriching their learning through multiple and diverse points of view that will help them shape a balanced society. Organizations that thrive on diversity of thought will certainly see value in our offering.”

IIM-K in 2011 slashed tuition fee by Rs 30,000 for its PGP – among the older IIMs, IIM-K charges the lowest fees of Rs 9.7 lakh for two years PGP.

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