Lucknow University VC Alok Kumar Rai appointed director of IIM Calcutta
The appointment has been made under Section 16 (2) of the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017, which was amended in 2023 to allow more flexible appointments for the leadership of India's IIMs.A copy of the appointment letter is expected to be issued by the IIM-C Board, and Rai's acceptance letter is to be submitted to the ministry.A RARE CHOICE FOR IIM LEADERSHIPProfessor Rai's selection is being seen as a rare and significant appointment, as he is not from within the IIM system, and it is the first time a Lucknow University VC has been chosen to lead a central institute like IIM-C.His appointment ends a long period of interim leadership at IIM Calcutta, which has not had a regular full-term director for nearly two years.Before serving at Lucknow University, Professor Rai was a professor of management at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and contributed to several high-level committees and academic panels.TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP AT LUCKNOW UNIVERSITYDuring his tenure, Rai is credited with leading a remarkable transformation at Lucknow University (LU).Under his leadership, LU became the first university in Uttar Pradesh to receive an A++ grade from NAAC, was granted Category-I status by the UGC, and secured a place in the top 100 institutions in NIRF rankings, with 32nd rank among State Public Universities.LU also implemented the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, celebrated its centenary year, and launched new faculties in Pharmacy, Management, and Agriculture. Planning for a third campus was also initiated during his leadership.He was also behind the creation of LUCODE (Lucknow University Centre for Online and Distance Education) and the development of the university's digital learning platform SLATE. Additionally, LU emerged as a top choice for international students, hosting one of the largest cohorts in India until recently.Professor Rai's appointment signals a progressive shift in IIM leadership, opening doors to academic leaders from outside the IIM ecosystem.- Ends
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