‘IIMs seat increase only in phases’

‘‘For affective value addition, our faculty feels that the size of the class should not be more than 40-50 students. In a large class, good interaction cannot take place,’’ he said.

Apte also pointed out that though there was fear of dilution of quality of these institutes because of the increase in the OBC quota, around 15-20 per cent of the students from the reserved category had made it to IIMs without using reservation benefits. ‘‘More than the dilution in quality, what bothers us is that two groups of students get created in the same campus. This is damaging for the IIMs and I do not know how to stop that,’’ he said. On setting up more IIMs, he pointed to the lack of quality faculty.

The IIM-Bangalore director urged the need for infusion of more funds in primary and secondary school education. ‘‘I feel that subsidisation of higher education should be stopped. This is because around 85-90 per cent of students pursuing higher education in Indian universities can bear their own cost,’’ he said. The need of the hour, he said, was better compensation packages for teachers so that bright students are attracted towards the profession.

Apte also released a journal of the college, which has been brought out in association with The Indian Express.

Ashok Kolaskar, former vice-chancellor of University of Pune, awarded the Scholar of the Year award instituted by Ness Wadia College to Apte.