Prof Mouloud Madoun’s name is quite a tongue twister if one is not familiar with French names. People often end up addressing him as Mowlood Madown or Moloud Madnoun and after several attempts graduate to pronouncing it as Maolood Madu, which is how it should be.
Not that Prof Madoun minds it at all. He is now used to people coming up with the most hilarious pronunciations of his name. Sitting on one of the mezzanine floor offices at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Trichy, Prof Madoun, (who teaches human resource management, organisational behaviour, corporate social responsibility, diversity and quality management) makes a picture of perfect glee. Short and red-complexioned, he seems to be in total peace with his environment. And that connects easily when he says he loves India. Having worked for two decades in the Marseille School of Business, France and a dozen other b-schools in Europe, he joined IIM Trichy for purely his love for the place. According to officials at IIM Trichy, Prof Madoun is on the list of permanent faculty, and Prof Madoun says he is not sure whether he will go back after a year, for even if he does, will be back within a few days. Incidentally, he is also the only international professor among India’s top b-schools apart from the Indian School of Business (ISB).
A brief tete a tete with the Professor who travelled miles to be with the country he so adores.
When and how did your India connection begin?
I came to India for the first time in 1997 to attend a conference in Hyderabad. At the end of the conference, I knew I had to return to India for a longer time.
Why this decision?
I was a professor at Marseille School of Business and very involved in international relations, in fact I was in charge of building partnerships with US business schools. That was between 1992 and 1997. After fruitful interactions with several business schools in the US and in Europe (Sweden, UK, Ireland, Romania, Poland), I wanted to diversify my relations and engage in profound change and learning. I then thought of Asia and India. For me, the future was and still is in India, not only because of economic reasons, but also socially, culturally and politically. So, I decided to find an Indian university, and chose Hyderabad as I had some links and friends who made my stay easier.
Where all have you taught before India?
I graduated from the University of Aix Marseille, south-east of France in 1989. Started teaching at Marseille School of business. I taught organisational behaviour, human resource management, cultural management and quality management in France, Poland, Ireland, Romania, and North Africa.
What made you come back to India just after your first visit?
I went back to France but my thoughts remained here. I came back and my relations with India grew deeper. Now, it is just India for me. I have lost many of my material advantages available in France, but entered a process of renaissance. I gained in humanity. I like almost everything in India; its culture, history, spiritual environment and the happiness of people despite poverty. A strong foundation of values exists in India.
What is the difference between the India of today and what you saw 25 years ago?
I remember how I had to convince my director in France to allow me take a sabbatical in India. It was a pain to make him understand that it was interesting and useful to go to India and not to the US. Today, a change has happened but stereotypes remain. India has become an important global player and being open to global interactions can help it close the gaps in development. But that should not be done at the expense of culture, values, and traditions. It would not only be a terrible loss for India but for the entire humanity. A monolithic world, dominated by material greed is so boring and desperate. We should thank Indian women who have been the pillar of Indian culture without being vulnerable to the Western style.
Do you see anything common between Indian and foreign b-schools?
There are many things common between Indian and foreign b-schools. High level of interaction between students and faculty being one. Stress on infrastructure is another, at least for top schools such as the IIMs and ISB, though global infrastructure is much better than here. There are many differences as well. Material conditions and opportunities to tie up with foreign institutions are better and easier in the West. I noticed a huge gap in availability and quality of resources between a few institutions and the majority of other business departments in universities and private b-schools. Shortage of faculty is a critical factor and threat to Indian business education; 50 kms out of the metros, it is almost a desert and many young and talented teachers are struggling to get the basic working conditions.
What changes you think should be brought about in India’s management education?
We can find the same curriculum in some of the areas, but Indians should innovate and go deeper and not just imitate the Western model, which has failed in many ways. In pedagogy, more space and participation should be allowed in the classroom to enhance both communication and assertiveness of students, and facilitate the capacity of analysing and thinking.
The stress on research in lesser in India.
Research is a serious issue here. This should be addressed collectively among academics but most importantly between academics and industry to increase interactions and collaboration. It is imperative for the effectiveness of both researchers and managers. Without this collaboration, there is no hope to sustain and deepen the development process in India. Faculty shortage, particularly in remote areas is a critical issue and if not addressed might endanger the future, the quality of education and the development process.
Is your family with you?
My my wife has just joined me here, and my two daughters are doing business in France. They are yet to visit India. We think that almost everything about India and its people is exceptional – we rank them high in generosity, hospitality and joy. My wife is learning English and is eager to learn Indian cooking.
What do you hope to give and take?
Hope students will enjoy and learn from the differences I bring in the way I teach and impart information. Human relations and diversity is the richest thing in India, let’s not miss it. And I have received the most important thing from India — humanity.
Would you like to go back to France?
Is this question still relevant after what I have said? I wish I could stay here forever.