RENUKA RAI | Thimphu
The Royal Institute of Management (RIM) has requested the release of Nu.43.3 million from its uncommitted 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP) budget to strengthen faculty capacity, expand professional education programmer and attract international students, saying the investments are crucial for the institute’s long-term sustainability and transformation.
Presenting its 13th FYP Mid-Term Review on June 23, the Director – General of the institute Tshering Yangden said “while it has made significant progress in infrastructure development, research and professional training, funding constraints remain a major challenge in achieving several of its strategic goals.”
The institute clarified that the request is not for additional government funding but a proposal to mobilize Nu.43.3 million from the Nu.300 million already approved under Royal Government of Bhutan financing but yet to be secured.
Of the proposed amount, Nu.35.3 million is needed for building faculty and staff capacity, Nu.2 million for marketing courses to international students and Nu.6 million for professional and management education programmer.
The Director – General also raised concerns over ambiguity surrounding the application of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on government infrastructure projects, saying it has contributed to budget overruns because the original FYP allocation did not account for GST.
The institute has a total outlay of Nu.500 million under the 13th FYP, of which only Nu.200 million has been committed so far. Out of this committed amount, Nu.151.247 million has been secured. The remaining Nu.300 million categorized as “to-be-explored” funding has seen only a partial release of Nu.31.686 million during FY 2024-25.
Over the first two years of the plan, RIM spent Nu.91.962 million, representing 67.7 percent of the approved budget for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26, but only 18.39 percent of its total five-year outlay.
Despite the funding challenges, the institute reported notable progress across its strategic objectives. Of its 11 existing key performance indicators (KPIs), nine are on track, while two have been proposed for revision. RIM has also proposed one new KPI aimed at enrolling international fee-paying students.
According to the Director- General, attracting international students, particularly from South Asia, would help position RIM in the international education market.
“Enrolling international students in short-term and immersion programmed will not only enhance the institute’s visibility and academic diversity but also contribute to revenue generation, supporting RIM’s long-term financial sustainability and self-reliance goals,” the Director – General said.
The institute has proposed enrolling 15 international fee-paying students by 2029.
RIM’s mid-term review also highlighted major achievements in infrastructure and institutional development. About 80 percent of classrooms have been remodeled and most facilities, including hostels and academic buildings, have undergone re-electrification works. Sports infrastructure, including the construction of a futsal ground and renovation of the basketball court, is also progressing.
In addition, around 50 percent of the required ICT infrastructure and learning resources, including books, journals and digital databases, have been procured.
The institute achieved an A+ accreditation rating from the Bhutan Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority in 2025, improving from the A grade it received in 2018.
Research output has also improved significantly. RIM has published 27 papers in the Bhutan Journal of Management and five papers in international journals. However, the institute has proposed revising its target for consultancy and collaborative research projects from 10 to six.
According to the Director – General, the reduction is being proposed due to a shift in institutional priorities towards delivering short-term training programmer based on the Competency-Based Framework for civil servants.
“The target is proposed to be reduced in view of the shifting of institutional priorities towards delivering short-term training based on the Competency-Based Framework for civil servants,” the Director – General said.
Professional training has emerged as one of the institute’s strongest areas during the first half of the plan period.
RIM developed the Leadership in Civil Service Programme for P1 civil servants in collaboration with Chandler Academy of Governance, Singapore, and the Royal Civil Service Commission. The first cohort of 30 P1 officers has already completed the programme.
The institute is also expected to train 650 P2 civil servants through 26 cohorts by June this year. As of March 25, 2026, 625 officials from 25 cohorts had already completed the training.
In addition, RIM conducted 14 different training programs, including foundational in-service training, digital skills training, entrepreneurship programs, customer excellence training, results-based project management and competency-based training for local government officials.
The institute currently has 914 students enrolled in various programs, including the Master of Business Administration, Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, Diploma in Information Technology, Diploma in Financial Management and continuing education programs.
While student satisfaction has surpassed expectations, faculty satisfaction remains an area of concern.
The proportion of students satisfied with campus life has reached 0.82 against a target of 0.75. However, faculty job satisfaction currently stands at 72 percent against a target of 80 percent.
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said that improving faculty satisfaction should receive greater attention.
“Student satisfaction is important, but more than students, teachers have to be satisfied. We need to understand why they are not satisfied and look into these issues,” the Prime Minister said during the review.
RIM has attributed improvements in faculty satisfaction partly to an organizational culture survey conducted in 2024, which led to structural changes within the institute.
The institute has also proposed revising its target for faculty qualifications. While the original plan aimed to ensure that all faculty members hold master’s degrees and 70 percent possess PhDs, RIM said these targets are no longer realistic because five faculty members are not eligible to pursue master’s degrees under existing regulations.
As the 13th Five-Year Plan reaches its midpoint, the institute says securing the remaining funding and investing in faculty development, professional education and internationalization will be critical to sustaining progress and transforming RIM into a leading centre for professional education and lifelong learning in the region.
