How IIM-A is embracing GenAI in curriculum

Many educational institutions have banned their students from using ChatGPT in classrooms. However, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, has found a way to make the tool an ally. The premier Indian business school has started using ChatGPT to generate class assignments. In a marketing course for instance, it asks ChatGPT for answers and gets the students to compare their answers. It also gets ChatGPT to critique the students’ viewpoints.

"We know ChatGPT exists and students have access to it. Therefore, we are trying to teach them how to use the tool to query efficiently," explains Diptesh Ghosh, dean (programmes), IIM-A. The business school has incorporated courses in its curriculum which talk about the use of AI and data sciences in business. It is also offering a course on how AI is transforming logistics.

“We are a case-led education centre. Our cases are invariably about current industry practices. The moment we change the cases within the course, it automatically upgrades to the current industry practice. That is one inbuilt model we have,” explains Ghosh.

At a time when business school education is being termed as obsolete across the world, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad is trying to stay contemporary by not just embracing technology but also reaching out to the world through a spate of industry-relevant digital courses. IIM-A director, Bharat Bhasker, especially points out Online@iima platform which offers a host of short digital courses such as advance programme on financial technologies and financial analytics; advanced programme in digital marketing business models and advanced digital transformation specialisation to name a few.

"A decade from now a major transformation will happen in management education. If GDP grows by 6-7%, demand for management education is going to be high and online provides us the opportunity to leverage our capability at a higher level," says Bhasker.