Latest news with #IIM-Ahmedabad
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
IIM-Ahmedabad's Dubai campus set to redefine India's educational soft power: Institute director
The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A), one of India's most prestigious business schools, is all set to launch its first international campus in Dubai this September. The ambitious expansion, envisioned by IIM-Ahmedabad Director Bharat Bhasker in 2023, will begin operations with a one-year MBA programme and introduce two key research centres, one dedicated to case study development and the other focused on start-up incubation. Bhasker, in conversation with IANS at IIM-A, expressed immense satisfaction over the swift execution of the plan. "The Dubai campus is something I envisioned in 2023, and now I'm happy to see it materialise. I'll be visiting the campus next week," he shared. "We've curated the curriculum with a regional lens, drawing on case studies and business practices relevant to the Middle East and Africa." The move comes after IIM-A signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government in April this year. The agreement, signed in Mumbai, officially established the Dubai campus in the Dubai International Academic City, making IIM-A the first among India's management institutes to set up an overseas campus. Bhasker sees this as a moment of strategic significance not only for the institute but for India as a whole. "While Western countries are increasingly shutting their doors to international students, India must seize the moment. Education is India's most potent soft power, and this campus is a strategic tool in building long-lasting influence," he said. "Just as China uses its manufacturing and trade to build global influence, India must leverage its strength in quality education and its English-speaking workforce. If India wants to be the leader of the Global South, this is the way," he said. The new campus aims to attract a wide array of students from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, North Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The first cohort will comprise around 40 to 50 students, with the long-term goal of scaling up to a 900-student capacity over the next decade. According to Bhasker, Dubai was a natural choice. "We've been offering executive education in the region for years. The familiarity and trust we've built made it a logical step forward," he said. The launch comes at a time when global applications to MBA programmes are facing a downturn. According to data, there was a 5 per cent reduction in applications to graduate business schools worldwide in 2023, the second consecutive year of decline. Bhasker, however, remains optimistic about India's prospects. "The global numbers may be declining in the US or Europe, but India is different. We have a young population, a fast-growing economy, now the third-largest globally. As opportunities grow, so does the demand for skilled managers. That's where institutions like IIMA come into play," he said. When asked what makes a good manager today, Bhasker responded with clarity: "Commitment and vision are important, but most of all, empathy. Business is often reduced to profit and loss, but empathy takes you a long way." Looking ahead, Bhasker shared an exciting next step for the IIM-A campus: the establishment of a School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. "The way we traditionally taught management doesn't work anymore. The way we teach management today is very different from the past. Today, AI, technology, and science are integral to leadership and decision-making. Management curriculum and the way institutes teach must evolve," he said. "Being proactive is essential," he said. The Dubai campus is not merely an international expansion; it is a strategic, future-facing initiative rooted in regional relevance, educational diplomacy, and an evolving idea of what management education should look like in the 21st century.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
More women join top IIMs as gender diversity rises
Top Indian business schools like IIMs are admitting more women. The six older IIMs have 9% more female students in the Class of 2027. IIM-Indore's new batch is over 53% women. IIM-Ahmedabad also saw an increase. These institutes are giving diversity points to female and non-engineering candidates. This will help create more diverse and inclusive business environments. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Specific diversity points Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads India's top business schools are increasing the intake of women for their flagship programmes, which experts say will help produce 'top of the order' female managers and leaders at a time when industry is looking to improve diversity across data compiled by ET shows that the six old Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) together have 9% more female students in the Class of 2027, compared with last year's batch. These premier institutes have completed the admission process for this IIM-Indore, as much as 53.79% of the new students are women, the highest in the institute's 29-year history. Female students account for 30.84% of the new batch at IIM-Ahmedabad, the most in four years. Narayanan Ramaswamy, national leader (education and skill development) at KPMG India, sees more women joining top B-schools as a win-win for the institutes and industry. While the Bschools will benefit from this diversity as their curriculum, pedagogy and industry engagement become more holistic, recruiters, too, are looking for diversity, especially at top management and decision-making leadership levels, he said. IIMs said they are taking steps to improve gender diversity on their campuses. IIM-Indore incorporated a diversity factor starting the 2025 admissions cycle, allocating special weight to women and candidates with non-engineering out of the 100 points in the final selection stage are allocated to such candidates.'We have introduced the diversity factor to build classrooms that reflect the richness of the real world, one that is diverse in perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences,' said its director, Himanshu Rai. 'A diverse cohort equips our students to thrive in dynamic business environments where empathy, collaboration and inclusivity are critical to success.'IIM-Kozhikode is another institute where women will be in the majority: of its 489 students, close to 55% are women in the new batch. Female and transgender candidates receive specific diversity points in the interview shortlisting process, said admissions chairperson Ram Kumar the first time in the last four years, IIM-Ahmedabad has more than 30% female students among the 414 students in the Class of 2027. Both the batch size and gender diversity percentage have increased for this IIM, from 397 and 22.92% for the class of 2022-24.'To help increase the pool of female candidates selected for the admission interviews, we have introduced gender diversity points this year while preparing the interview shortlist,' Karthik Sriram, chairperson, admissions, account for close to 40% of the batch of the full-time twoyear post-graduate programme at IIM-Bangalore, which is almost like last year, said Mukta Kulkarni, dean of academic programmes. IIM-Bangalore also focuses on disability inclusion.
India.com
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Who is Avika Gor's fiance Milind Chandwani? An alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and a software engineer, also the founder of...
Actress Avika Gor, who rose to fame as Anandi in the TV serial Balika Vadhu, has now grown up and recently got engaged at the age of 27. After dating for several years, Avika got engaged to her long-time boyfriend, Milind Chandwani. Their engagement pictures are going viral on social media. The actress made her relationship official in November 2020, and the couple had been dating for almost five years. For the engagement, Avika looked stunning in a light pink floral saree, while Milind complemented her in a matching traditional kurta-pyjama paired with a floral pink jacket. Sharing the photos, Avika wrote, 'He asked.. I smiled, I cried (in that order)… and screamed the easiest YES of my life! I'm full filmy- background score, slow-mo dreams, mascara running and all. He's logic, calm, and 'let's carry a first-aid kit just in case.' I manifest drama. He manages it. And somehow, we just… Fit. So when he asked, the heroine in me took over — arms in the air, tears in my eyes, and zero network in my brain. Because real love? It may not always be perfect.' Milind Chandwani, who prefers to stay low-key, is an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad. He began his career at the Indian tech giant Infosys, and worked in a 9-5 role as a software engineer. However, he didn't just limit himself to the corporate world. He followed his passion for social change and founded an NGO, Camp Diaries, that focuses on supporting underprivileged children. Apart from being in corporate, he took a step towards showbiz by being a participant in MTV Roadies Real Heroes in 2019. He was in Neha Dhupia's team, where he left the audience impressed with his confidence and humble nature. Avika Gor had shared that it was Milind's idea to take time and explore more things with Avika before tying the knot. She was 26, and he was 32 when they decided to give time to their bond.
Mint
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Balika Vadhu star Avika Gor engaged to IIM graduate Milind Chandwani: Who is he?
Actor Avika Gor recently announced her engagement to Milind Chandwani, sharing glimpses of their intimate ceremony on social media along with a heartfelt caption. Chandwani, an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, began his career at the Indian tech giant Infosys and later founded the NGO Campus Diaries, which focuses on supporting underprivileged children. In a post on X, Gor wrote, "He asked.. I smiled, I cried (in that order 🙈)…and screamed the easiest YES of my life! I'm full filmy — background score, slow-mo dreams, mascara running and all. He's logic, calm, and 'let's carry a first-aid kit just in case.' 'I manifest drama. He manages it. And somehow, we just… Fit. So when he asked, the heroine in me took over — arms in the air, tears in my eyes, and zero network in my brain. Because real love? It may not always be perfect. But, It. Is. Magical,' she added. Avika Gor and Milind Chandwani first crossed paths in Hyderabad in 2020 through mutual friends and have been in a relationship for nearly five years. Gor has often playfully remarked that she was "married to him in (her) head" long before their feelings became mutual. Milind Chandwani is an engineer-turned-philanthropist. After graduating from Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering in Bangalore, he began his career as a Software Engineer at Infosys, according to a report by Republic. However, he left the corporate world to work with non-profits like Teach For India and iTeach Schools, focusing on education and welfare for marginalized communities. Currently, he serves as the CEO of Camp Diaries, an NGO that provides educational opportunities to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Milind also gained public praise through his appearance on MTV Roadies Season 17, where he was a member of Neha Dhupia's gang. Though he didn't reach the finale, his performance and personality resonated with both the audience and the show's mentors, earning him a strong youth following. Widely known for her roles in television, Gor rose to fame with Balika Vadhu and Sasural Simar Ka. She later transitioned to films, starring in Vikram Bhatt's 1920: Horrors of the Heart (2023) and Bloody Ishq (2024). Most recently, she appeared in the Telugu crime thriller Shanmukha (2025). A couple of days ago, actor Hina Khan, who will also be seen in COLORS' reality TV show, tied the knot with boyfriend Rocky Jaiswal. I manifest drama. He manages it. And somehow, we just… Fit. Announcing their sacred union, Hina and Rocky in a joint Instagram post wrote, 'From two different worlds, we built a universe of love. Our differences faded, our hearts aligned, creating a bond to last lifetimes. We are our home, our light, our hope and together, we transcend all barriers. Today, our union is forever sealed in love and law. We seek your Blessings and Wishes as Wife and Husband.'
Mint
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Balika Vadhu star Avika Gor engaged to IIM graduate Milind Chandwani: Who is he?
Actor Avika Gor recently announced her engagement to Milind Chandwani, sharing glimpses of their intimate ceremony on social media along with a heartfelt caption. Chandwani, an alumnus of IIM-Ahmedabad, began his career at the Indian tech giant Infosys and later founded the NGO Campus Diaries, which focuses on supporting underprivileged children. In a post on X, Gor wrote, "He asked.. I smiled, I cried (in that order 🙈)…and screamed the easiest YES of my life! I'm full filmy — background score, slow-mo dreams, mascara running and all. He's logic, calm, and 'let's carry a first-aid kit just in case.' 'I manifest drama. He manages it. And somehow, we just… Fit. So when he asked, the heroine in me took over — arms in the air, tears in my eyes, and zero network in my brain. Because real love? It may not always be perfect. But, It. Is. Magical,' she added. Avika Gor and Milind Chandwani first crossed paths in Hyderabad in 2020 through mutual friends and have been in a relationship for nearly five years. Gor has often playfully remarked that she was "married to him in (her) head" long before their feelings became mutual. Milind Chandwani is an engineer-turned-philanthropist. After graduating from Dayanand Sagar College of Engineering in Bangalore, he began his career as a Software Engineer at Infosys, according to a report by Republic. However, he left the corporate world to work with non-profits like Teach For India and iTeach Schools, focusing on education and welfare for marginalized communities. Currently, he serves as the CEO of Camp Diaries, an NGO that provides educational opportunities to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Milind also gained public praise through his appearance on MTV Roadies Season 17, where he was a member of Neha Dhupia's gang. Though he didn't reach the finale, his performance and personality resonated with both the audience and the show's mentors, earning him a strong youth following. Widely known for her roles in television, Gor rose to fame with Balika Vadhu and Sasural Simar Ka. She later transitioned to films, starring in Vikram Bhatt's 1920: Horrors of the Heart (2023) and Bloody Ishq (2024). Most recently, she appeared in the Telugu crime thriller Shanmukha (2025). A couple of days ago, actor Hina Khan, who will also be seen in COLORS' reality TV show, tied the knot with boyfriend Rocky Jaiswal. I manifest drama. He manages it. And somehow, we just… Fit. Announcing their sacred union, Hina and Rocky in a joint Instagram post wrote, 'From two different worlds, we built a universe of love. Our differences faded, our hearts aligned, creating a bond to last lifetimes. We are our home, our light, our hope and together, we transcend all barriers. Today, our union is forever sealed in love and law. We seek your Blessings and Wishes as Wife and Husband.' (With inputs from agencies)
