Manipal University, Bangalore Campus

In 2007 Manipal University (estb.1942), arguably the country's most respected private varsity, inaugurated its Bangalore campus to provide media and entertainment degree programmes

That the highly-rated Manipal University (estb.1942 as Manipal Academy for Higher Education and awarded deemed varsity status in 1993), arguably the most respected private varsity offering profes-sional courses in varied disciplines such as medicine, engineering, business management and nursing to 17,000 students, has a Bangalore campus, may come as a surprise to students, if not academics. Despite its promoter Manipal Education Group (MEG) being based in Bangalore and having promoted three universities (Manipal University, Sikkim Manipal University and American University of Antigua) and 30 education institutions across India, Dubai, Malaysia and Antigua with an aggregate enrolment of 300,000 students, its long promised Bangalore campus became operational as recently as 2007 — and that too with little fuss or fanfare.

In August 2007, Manipal University’s media and entertainment (M&E) divi-sion — sited in the Bangalore suburb of Yelahanka — admitted its first batch of 18 students into its 36-month bachelor of animation degree programme. Since then, the number of students on the university’s Bangalore campus has grown to 400, with the division adding two MBA degree programmes (in media and entertainment; and media, adver-tising and communications) to its academic menu. The MBA programmes are currently offered on a second campus in Indiranagar. The two-year MBA in media and entertainment is in partnership with Whistling Woods International, Mumbai and the L.V. Prasad Film Academy, Chennai. Under the collaboration agreements, students spend 18 months at Manipal’s Bangalore campus and the remaining six months on the WWI/L.V. Prasad campus in Mumbai/Chennai, to acquire hands-on training.In keeping with the Manipal tradition of supporting modern and stimulating academic environments, the M&E division is equipped with advanced laboratories and computer facilities on its campus in Yelahanka. The 13,000 sq. ft campus houses ten classrooms, three digital labs with 75 computers, a lighting room, a drawing room, a cell animation studio with high-end equipment, an exclusive workshop studio where students practice their craft, a 75-seat auditorium, and a library containing over 1,000 volumes.

“Our objective is to produce highly skilled graduates in media and entertainment who are industry ready. To this end we have designed specific study programmes which combine theoretical knowledge with intensive practical training in 21st century study environments. We have invested heavily in modern labs and studios with the latest animation software, and are the only institute in Karnataka to qualify as an Apple and Autodesk — world leaders in creating 2D and 3D design software — authorised training centre. Moreover our full-time faculty is supplemented by visiting faculty from top corporates such as Sony Enter-tainment, Adlabs, Balaji Telefilms, Big Animation, and Red Chillies Entert-ainment,” says S. Madhusudhan, the Bangalore-based vice president and head of MEG’s M&E division.

In 2008, MEG diversified its Bangalore operations with the promotion of the ICICI Manipal Academy (IMA), a joint venture between ICICI Bank and MEG. IMA’s mandate is to train and upskill the bank’s newly appointed probat-ionary officers (POs). Under the terms of the joint venture, the bank’s POs are enroled in a one-year postgraduate diploma programme designed and certified by Manipal University. After acquiring a diploma, POs can either exit the programme or (within a period of six months) register for an online MBA of 18 months duration with contact programmes held on weekends across 44 ICICI bank branches which serve as study centres. ICICI Bank pays a stipend of Rs.2,500 per month to its POs and bears the entire training expenses including tuition fees, board and lodging.

“IMA provides end-to-end training to probationary officers of ICICI Bank to enable them to become workplace ready. POs are trained in ICICI Bank’s best practices including e-banking and soft-skills. We admitted our first batch of 366 students in 2008, and now have an alumni base of 3,000, all well placed in managerial positions in ICICI bank branches countrywide. Currently IMA has an enrolment of 1,200 POs nurtured by 50 highly-qualified faculty, most of them former bank managers. In the next six months we intend to increase this number by an additional 600,” says Sunil Kishore, the Bangalore-based vice president of MEG’s corporate solutions business unit.

Sited in the Bangalore suburb of Chokkanahalli, the IMA campus is spread across 212,000 sq ft. It houses a wi-fi enabled academic block, separate residential facilities for men and women with an intake capacity of 1,097, five computer labs with 300 PCs, and a well-equipped library with 15,000 books and 40 journal subscriptions.

With both professional education diversifications on its Bangalore campus running smoothly on stream, the M&E division and IMA managements have an ambitious expansion agenda. While M&E plans to introduce new undergrad and postgraduate programmes in visual effects, game art, new and interactive media and graphic design, IMA is negotiating to sign up similar employee training and development agreements with other corporates.

Meanwhile Manipal University’s new owned campus in Chokkanahalli (15 km from the city centre), which will integrate operations of its three campuses currently spread across Bangalore, is getting ready to welcome its already successful institutes this year.

Swati Roy (Bangalore)