With bids touching Rs 70,000, the Indian Institute of Ahmedabad, (IIM-A) has decided to change the method of selecting participants for the ‘A Day at IIM-A’ event. The original idea was to have an auction and open seats to the highest bidder. However, IIM-A has now decided to hold a draw of lots to select the participants.
Those interested have to only fill a web-form on “>http://www.iima-jgw.co.cc or email the organisers at adayatiima@iimahd.ernet.in instead of logging into e-bay and making a bid, like the plan was earlier. The deadline for filling the web-forms is 11:59 pm of October 2, 2011. Initially about 50 participants were to be selected, now 65 will be permitted. The additional 15 are the bidders who had already bid and secured the seats, 50 will be selected from the lots. The 15 have been invited to the IIM-A campus without any obligation of contributing the amount of their bids.
The method of selection for this event was changed as student organisers received calls from several candidates stating that although the bids were moving beyond their range, they were interested in spending a day on campus.
The original motive of the event would still be the same and donations to Prayaas would then be made on a voluntary basis on the day of the event itself. Earlier, it was proposed that the proceeds from the highest bids would be given to Prayaas. The programme for the actual day will remain exactly the same as before. The faculty of IIM-A is also expected to interact with the candidates in a typical classroom environment. According to MEdia Cell member Divya Suresh, the majority of inquiries have come from undergraduates who hope to get into IIMA in the near future and from entrepreneurs and young professionals.