The Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), a non-profit professional organization, which was founded in 1988, has grown into a powerful network of about 600 Indian Management Schools of national and international repute as its members. It represents Indian Management Schools in various International fora such as European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia (AMDISA), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and Global Forum on Management Education. It is officially represented in different bodies of Government of India connected with Management Education and plays a vibrant policy advocacy role for safeguarding the interests of B-Schools.
The mission of AIMS is the qualitative improvement of education offered by its member Institutes. AIMS part finances international, national and other seminars/works/FDPs conducted by its Member Institutes and also organizes Round Tables of Deans and Directors of Management Institutes in the country. Further, it grants funds for case writing and research studies being undertaken by member institutes. The Association has constituted four Regions to spread its mission all over the country.
AIMS brings out a News letter to disseminate information regarding its activities and that of member Institutions. Every year, it also conducts AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA) patterned after GMAT.
AIMS organises its Annual Management Education Convention on a topic of relevant interest. The Themes for the last six Annual conventions were "Management 2025 - New paradigms for India's Competitiveness" held at Hyderabad during 28th - 30th August, 2005; "Management Education in Globalized Context: Opportunities for Corporates & B-Schools" held during 25th - 27th August, 2006 at Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow; "Emerging India: Strategic Transformation of Indian Industry and Management Education" held at IIM Calcutta during 23rd - 25th August,2007; "Nurturing Thought Leadership through Management Education" held at Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, Mumbai during 27th - 29th August, 2008; "Leading in Turbulent Times - Role of Management Education" held at Indian School of Business, Hyderabad during 27th - 29th August,2009 and "India 2020: Challenges and Opportunities for Management Education", New Delhi during 26th - 28th August, 2010. The next Convention will be held at Regional College of Management Autonomous, Bhubaneswar during 26th - 27th August, 2011.
On the basis of national competitions/selection, eight prestigious Awards are presented during the Annual Convention, including its flagship Award titled: Ravi J Mathai National Fellow Award.
AIMS had a strong presence at Global Forum meet during October 2005 at Santiago, Chile; AACSB and EFMD Annual Conference during April 2006 at Paris and AACSB Conferences at Tampa, Florida USA in April 2007, at Hawai in April 2008 and EFMD Conference at Brussels, Belgium in June 2009; and AACSB Annual Conference in April 2010 at Anaheim, California. In June 2010 a delegation attended the ACBSP Annual Conference in Los Angeles and the first school from India (an AIMS Member) to achieve ACBSP accreditation was presented with a Certificate of Accreditation.
It is a matter of pleasure for us that AIMS has signed five-year reciprocal membership agreements with European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP) and Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia (AMDISA). Through these agreements, AIMS and these international organisations will seek opportunities to jointly organise prorams and conferences of mutual interest.
