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The Print
a day ago
- Business
- The Print
Dubai campus set for Sept launch, IIMA director reveals plans, goals & why UAE was natural choice
In April this year, IIMA and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai to establish the Dubai campus of the IIMA in the Dubai International Academic City. With this MoU, IIMA became the first among the Indian management institutes to set up an international campus. New Delhi: The upcoming Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) campus in Dubai will begin operations this September with a one-year MBA programme and will also launch two research centres focused on case development and start-up incubation in its first year, institute director Bharat Bhasker has told ThePrint. In an interview with ThePrint Monday, IIMA director Bharat Bhasker said the first batch will begin with 40–50 students, and the institute has a target to grow into a 900-student campus in the coming decade. Dubai, he added, was a natural choice for starting a campus because the institute has already been running executive education in the country. Professor Bhasker said that as of now, the plan was to launch a batch of nearly 40-50 students this September for a one-year, full-time MBA programme. 'Since it is a new market with new connections to build, we do not want to overburden ourselves initially. Unlike many global institutes, we also take responsibility for career planning, not just classroom education,' the IIMA director added. Another plan, he added, was to introduce two research centres on the Dubai campus in the initial year. According to Professor Bhasker, the first centre will focus on case writing and development. The case method is central to the pedagogy of IIMA and something the institute has mastered—approaching lessons through real-world scenarios happening around it. The second, he said, will be a branch or spin-off of the existing IIMA Ventures, integrating incubation, innovation, and entrepreneurship. 'IIM Ahmedabad has developed nearly 5,000 cases, and while we use both our own and others', the Dubai market presents an opportunity to create localised cases relevant to its fast-growing economy and corporations. That is why we will start a case centre there in the first year to ensure the classroom content has strong local context,' he said. 'We are also exploring tie-ups with local technology laboratories supported by the Dubai government, where Artificial Intelligence and robotics ideas are under development,' the IIMA director added. Also Read: Sustainability courses are the new MBA. IIMs are taking a cue from market forces Programmes & faculty A course for professionals will start on the IIMA Dubai campus in the first year, Professor Bhasker told ThePrint. IIMA offers a range of programmes for working professionals, including online courses, blended learning, and executive education programmes. 'We have already surveyed and engaged with the market, and there is a huge demand for a weekend MBA programme for working professionals. It will be a physical, weekend-only programme, as many executives we spoke with during masterclasses and seminars expressed their interest but said they could not leave their jobs,' the director said. According to him, the Ahmedabad campus has already transferred one of the professors to Dubai, and he is now based there. Some more faculty members will make Dubai their permanent station. 'The first batch will be taught entirely by IIM Ahmedabad faculty. Our faculty will commute; some will go for 10–15 days, deliver part of the course, and return. We do not want to lose our culture or create a new one. That is why the dean of the Dubai campus will always be from IIM Ahmedabad,' he added. 'Over time, local faculty may take on those roles, but initially, we are taking the IIM Ahmedabad culture and placing it there. We will also hire faculty directly for Dubai, but they will also come back and teach at the main campus.' Building international campus The IIMA director said that it would take some time to build awareness about the new campus in Dubai and to attract students from a wide range of nationalities. 'We have already hired agencies to advertise in North Africa and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. But since the physical campus won't be visible until the end of July, I don't expect a lot of students from other nationalities just yet,' he said. The IIMA Alumni Association organised and hosted a pan-IIM event last week in the Middle East, the director added. Given the short time between the April MoU and the September launch, the inaugural batch will have a strong Indian presence, Professor Bhasker acknowledged. 'The first batch will have a strong Indian presence—largely due to the short runway. But we are getting very high-quality applications, including from people with GMAT scores of 750 and above.' However, looking ahead, the professor expressed confidence that the Dubai campus would increasingly attract a diverse student body from across the countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, North Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Encourage IIT, IIM graduates to work in smaller towns. Decongest big cities like US, Japan, Spain do
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Indian universities in UAE: IIMA Dubai's Dh294,000 fee for MBA covers visa, insurance costs
India's top-ranked business school, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), will open its first international campus in Dubai in September 2025, with the cost of its flagship one-year MBA pegged at $80,000 (Dh294,000) — an all-inclusive fee that covers tuition, visa, insurance, and campus facilities. In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times, Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIM Ahmedabad, said: 'The programme fee for the one-year MBA at IIMA Dubai is $80,000 (including tuition fees, books, course material, visa fees, medical insurance and use of other facilities like library, network, and campus infrastructure). We offer entry and exit scholarships based on merit to all students.' IIMA is currently ranked 27th in the QS Global MBA Rankings, and its inaugural cohort at the international branch campus will consist of 40 to 50 students, with plans to scale up to 900 students over the next decade. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Strategic location, local focus The new campus will be housed at Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) in its initial phase, offering a multicultural academic hub. A permanent campus is set to open by 2029, on land allocated as part of the collaboration between the UAE and India. The announcement followed a high-profile visit in April by a UAE delegation led by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. During the visit, an MoU was signed between Bhasker and Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, marking a milestone in bilateral education cooperation. Research centres to align with D33 agenda IIMA plans to launch two key research centres in the first year of its Dubai operations. 'In the first year of the Dubai Campus, we plan to establish two dedicated research centres — one will focus on case writing and development, and the other will be on start-up incubation,' said Bhasker. 'As the campus grows, we aim to expand our offerings to include a wider range of programmes, including Open Enrolment and Customised Executive Education Programmes.' Long-term, the institute plans to align research with Dubai's D33 economic agenda, with specialised centres in fintech, AI, retail, and supply chain. IIMA is also exploring partnerships with local technology labs working on Artificial Intelligence and robotics. Admissions close soon Applications for the full-time, one-year MBA in Dubai are open until July 31. The admission process is highly selective, following a two-stage evaluation based on valid GMAT or GRE scores taken within the past five years. 'The candidates will require a minimum of four years of full-time work experience after graduation,' Bhasker added. Academic model mirrors India's programme The Dubai MBA will closely resemble IIMA's globally respected MBA for Executives (PGPX) in India, which has been running for two decades and was recently ranked #1 in Career Progress by the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2025. 'The programme will be similar to the MBA-PGPX in India, which has been successfully running for two decades and has achieved global recognition. Furthermore, IIM Ahmedabad faculty will teach the first batch in Dubai. Over time, full-time faculty will also be recruited at the Dubai Campus,' said Bhasker. Students will follow a five-term structure, undertake an independent research project, and have the option for international immersion, all designed to provide hands-on exposure to management in different global contexts. 'Our first full-time one-year MBA programme for the Dubai campus is designed to cater to the advanced management learning and upskilling needs of global working professionals and entrepreneurs,' added the Director of IIM Ahmedabad. 'This immersive programme, with IIMA's acclaimed case method pedagogy, aims to equip ambitious professionals with cutting-edge business insights to navigate global market challenges and prepare them for C-suite leadership while aligning with the UAE's vision for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.' Building regional relevance through case studies Notably, IIMA already has a portfolio of nearly 5,000 case studies, but the Dubai campus will bring a regional lens to its pedagogical approach. 'Our case method pedagogy is the cornerstone to bridge the gap between industry and academia,' said Bhasker. 'We are actively researching and writing cases on organisations in the UAE and GCC to help create pertinent exposure for our students.' Cross-border education also opens new opportunities for knowledge exchange, benefitting both IIMA's Indian and Dubai campuses. 'IIMA is an institute of global repute, which is recognised for excellence in management education, research, and leadership development,' he added. 'Over the past 60 years, our faculty members and alumni have contributed significantly to policy and practice globally, and many of them have also gone on to lead some of the largest organisations in the world.'
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
IIMA, Novo Nordisk India sign pact to tackle obesity using multi-pronged collab
A pact was signed to tackle obesity through a long-term multi-pronged collaboration between the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) and healthcare company Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd (NNIPL) on Tuesday. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed for five years, till 2030, aims 'to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem through a multi- dimensional approach focused on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially obesity,' according to a statement. 'As a part of this MoU, NNIPL and IIMA will co-develop and implement impactful programmes under three key pillars: Health System Capacity Building, Policy Advocacy, and Health Economics. The partnership will prioritise creation of educational content, development of model frameworks for obesity clinics, and data-driven policy formulation to address the burden of obesity in India,' according to the statement. 'It will also assist in conducting research to assess its economic impact on individuals, workforce productivity, healthcare system, and the overall economy,' a statement issued by IIMA on Wednesday stated. Prof Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIM Ahmedabad stated, 'This collaboration with Novo Nordisk India brings together healthcare and public policy — two domains where data and research can enable lasting change. At IIMA, we aim to apply our academic rigour to generate actionable insights for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities tackling non-communicable diseases like obesity.' The MoU also outlines detailed research initiatives, including paper publications with government institutions and pilot outreach programmes. Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd Managing Director Vikrant Shrotriya in the statement said, 'India's healthcare systems must evolve to address the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases, particularly obesity. This collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad will jointly shape interventions that are research-backed, scalable, and sustainable.' Chhavi Moodgal, CEO, IIMA Endowment Fund, added, 'Strategic partnerships like this reflect IIMA's commitment to addressing complex public health challenges through rigorous research, data-led solutions, and collaborative action.' The IIMA Endowment Fund (IIMAEF), the Institute's unified fundraising and philanthropic arm for all donations from alumni, as well as corporate and CSR partners, played a facilitative role in shaping this partnership.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
IIM Ahmedabad, Novo Nordisk India partner to strengthen obesity care ecosystem
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad on Wednesday said it has signed an agreement with Novo Nordisk India to strengthen the obesity care ecosystem in the country for five years till 2030. The memorandum of understanding, inked on Tuesday, aims to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in India through a multi-dimensional approach focused on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially obesity, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) said in a statement. "This collaboration with Novo Nordisk India brings together healthcare and public policy, two domains where data and research can enable lasting change. At IIMA, we aim to apply our academic rigour to generate actionable insights for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities tackling non-communicable diseases like obesity," IIM Ahmedabad Director Professor Bharat Bhasker said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo As a part of this collaboration, Novo Nordisk India (NNIPL) and IIMA will co-develop and implement impactful programmes under three key pillars - Health System Capacity Building, Policy Advocacy , and Health Economics. Novo Nordisk Managing Director India Vikrant Shrotriya said, "This collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad will jointly shape interventions that are research-backed, scalable, and sustainable. It is our firm belief that partnerships like these can bring lasting change and help improve health outcomes for millions".
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
IIMA felicitates 10 alumni with Young Achiever's award
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) felicitated 10 alumni winners of its Young Alumni Achiever's Awards (YAAA 2025) in three categories, on Friday. Instituted in 2015, the YAAA awards are presented every year to the IIMA alumni under the age of 45 in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions in the areas of Corporate Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Academics and Research, Social and Public Service, and Arts and Entertainment and Sports. The awardees were felicitated by IIMA Director, Prof Bharat Bhasker and Dean (Alumni and External Relations) Professor Sunil Maheshwari during an event organised on the campus. In the Corporate Leadership category, Hemant Mundra, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus (PGP 2014) along with Saurabh Chandra, Partner and Financial Services Domestic Consulting Leader, EY (ePGP 2020); Rohan Suri, Managing Director, KKR and Co. Inc. (PGP 2010); Sudipto Sannigrahi, Managing Director, Z47 (PGP 2016) and Ashish Ashok Lakhotia, CEO, Fertilizer and Agri Inputs: ETG Input Holdco Limited (EEP 2018) were awarded. In the Social Sector and Public Service Ramyakumar Bhatt, Deputy Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (ePGP 2022) and Chhavi Moodgal, CEO, IIM Ahmedabad Endowment Fund (PGP 2004) were felicitated. Further, in the Arts, Entertainment and Sports category Aditi Krishnakumar, author (PGP 2007); Anupama Muthukrishnan Devarajan, Carnatic Musician and Bharatanatyam Artiste (PGP 2006) and Ankur Garg, producer and partner, Luv Films LLP (Bollywood Production House) (3TP 2010) were awarded. The IIMA has a network of around 46,000 alumni spread across the country and the world.
