Mumbai: Management institute plans Dubai trip, shocks students

Representational Image | File Pic

AMID concerns over increasing COVID-19 cases, the Aditya Institute of Management Studies and Research in Borivli is said to be planning an Industrial Visit (IV) for its PGDM students to Dubai. Students claim that this is because the institute does not want to refund the IV fee. They have approached Mumbai University Senate members for a resolution.

The email to students on Tuesday also had details of a presentation by Dubai Tourism executives. The IV has been planned in two batches leaving on March 18 and 21, students have to select one of the departure dates.

Email to students

Students were shocked as they considered the IV to have been cancelled. "On Friday last week, the institute authorities met the MU Senate members and agreed to cancel the IV. But the email came on Tuesday," said a student. There are 70 students out of a total strength of 120 who had opted for the IV. "We were given two options - industrial visit or an online course from a reputed foreign institute.

Initially, the institute had said that the IV would be held when things are normal. But as students started asking for a refund amid the deteriorating conditions, the institute denied it and gave these options," the student added.

Students have approached Senior Senate member Sudhakar Tamboli from Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) for help.

"The institute seems to be focused on profit-making. There are institutes which are refunding such charges," said Tamboli, adding that he met the institute authorities on Friday and the management had agreed to refund the money.

"Today, students again approached us with this latest development. On the one hand, the government is asking citizens to remain doubly cautious and on the other, educational institutes are planning such trips. How can they go on an IV when the city has still kept institutes closed?" said Tamboli.

The institute's director, Dr. Sunita Shrivastva, refused to comment over the phone and insisted that the reporter visit the institute.