Reinvention Key To IIM-C

INDIAN MANAGEMENT institutes have for decades produced some of the finest minds in the corporate world, fuelling a thriving start-up ecosystem and nurturing executives who helm many global enterprises. As the first Indian Institute of Management (IIM) established by the Government of India way back in 1961, IIM Calcutta has aligned with industry trends over the last six decades, while continuously reinventing itself to stay ahead of the curve. It is among the only three Indian institutes to be anointed with the Triple Crown — accreditation from Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

In 2017, IIM-C was designated an Institute of National Importance, a recognition that underscores its role in shaping India’s managerial workforce. “Our focus has been to train the managerial workforce in a way that connects them with various verticals, ensuring decisions are industry oriented,” says Sumanta Basu, dean, development and external relations.

Expanding The Horizon

Over the years the institute expanded its educational offerings. In addition to its flagship MBA programme and doctoral offerings, it has forged partnerships with leading Indian institutions such as IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and ISI Kolkata to offer specialised courses.

Two of these collaborations stand out: A one-year programme focused on visionary leadership in manufacturing, and a two-year analytics programme. Both are designed to meet the increasing demand for domain-specific knowledge in these fields. “We are focusing on collaboration with premier institutes in India, with programmes that address sector-specific needs such as manufacturing and analytics,” says Basu.

IIM-C also has alliances with over 80 international institutions for global exposure for students through exchange programmes.

The Tilt

In recent years, analytics has become an integral part of management education, reflecting broader industry trends. “We are seeing a growing interest in our Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics (PGDBA) programme, as well as in the MBA programme, which has always had significant demand,” says Basu. He attributes this to the increasing importance of data-driven decision-making and the need for interdisciplinary approaches.

The PGDBA programme is gaining traction due to its focus on analytics, while its executive education programmes continue to attract professionals seeking to upskill in sectors such as FMCG and BFSI. The institute has an alumni base of over 45,000 in long-duration programmes. “We are increasing the portfolio of executive education programmes by offering functional and sectoral programmes, with analytics being a major focus,” says Basu.

One of the key areas for IIM Calcutta is research, specifically, application-oriented research that has real-world impact. The institute has created centres such as the Centre for Development and Environment Policy, which focuses on sustainability. Faculty members working in these areas are directly connected to these centres, ensuring research is aligned with industry needs.

“We are not differentiating between research and academic activities,” adds Basu. “What we are looking for is what the market demands, and we are trying to align both our teaching and research accordingly. We will try to give more focused knowledge and education to specific segments, such as FMCG, BFSI, and sustainability,” he says.

For interdisciplinary education, the institute has designed new courses for convergence of multiple disciplines. Next year, it plans to introduce four interdisciplinary courses — inclusivity, sustainability, challenges firms face, and regional transformation — in the MBA programme.

In response to the rise of digital learning platforms such as Coursera and to allow greater flexibility, IIM-C is adopting a blended learning model that combines synchronous and asynchronous teaching. “This allows us to use technology to enhance the way we teach,” says Basu.