In Sync With NEP Ethos

With the opening of a large number of second-generation IIMs in Tier-2, Tier-3 and Tier-4 cities across the country, management education has become more accessible to the youth, helping fulfil their aspirations. IIM Raipur, established in 2010, is playing such a critical role. Based out of a 203-acre new-age campus in Nava Raipur (Atal Nagar) in Chhattisgarh, the institute has made swift strides in its pedagogy and research work and forged several national and international collaborations. The institute also provides consulting services to several organisations by way of feasibility studies, project planning, total quality management, manpower planning and other aspects. 

The lush green campus is equipped with 500 fully furnished, single–room accommodations for students. The campus also boasts 100 fully furnished rooms for guest faculty and visiting resource personnel. It has modern sports facilities including a well-equipped gym, swimming arena and a squash court. 

The programmes offered at the IIM are Postgraduate Programme (PGP), the Executive Fellow Programme in Management (EFPM), and Executive Postgraduate Programme (EPGP), among others. A total of 973 students are currently enrolled at the institute, which has 47 permanent and 28 guest and adjunct faculty members, besides 3 post-doc fellows. 

Managing Change

Director Ram Kumar Kakani, who has taught extensively at leading institutes in India and abroad, including XLRI Jamshedpur and Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), in addition to penning several books, shares how the institute is in sync with the changing paradigms of higher education, especially the path laid out by the National Education Policy (NEP), the present-day emphasis on entrepreneurship and research work: “As per the guidelines in the National Education Policy, the institute is starting a new four-year UG Programme; and with reference to the online classroom teaching, various capacity building and training sessions are being organised by the experts for our faculties, which will help them to perform a fabulous job in the classrooms.” 

He adds, “We have created an Entrepreneurship Committee which under the guidance of the Chairperson is working on starting a six-month programme on entrepreneurship as well as creating an in-house Incubation Centre. Finally, the establishment of our own case repository as well as management journal should also help to wade through this change.” 

Focus on Sustainability

Sustainability is a key priority area for the institute and the community of IIM Raipur recently planted over 500 saplings on the campus with help from Chhattisgarh’s local forest authorities. In addition, the Student Affairs Committee periodically organises activities with the aim to spread awareness about effective waste management and sustainability. “We are also launching a compulsory course for our students on Environmental, Social, And Governance (ESG) in collaboration with India’s most trusted corporate group,” informs Kakani.

Placements

As many as 252 students from the Batch of 2020-2022 had been placed, with an average package of Rs 17 lakh per annum and the highest package of 42.15 lakh. 

Kakani says that the “communication of IIM Raipur with the aspiring students and the corporate world is crystal clear. In addition, we are selecting the right students and nurturing them well during their stay as a part of our MBA programme”.

He observes that it has become far more attractive to pursue B-school education despite the economic slowdown of the last decade and the pandemic lasting two years, given that the opportunities offered to the students are way more lucrative than before. “Thus, even though education has become slightly more expensive in recent years for average Indian families, the returns have become equally fruitful.”

Leveraging Management Education

Kakani is keen that the students who pass from the institute imbibe the management lessons in the true sense.  I would suggest to them to be patient enough to understand the working of the business world and focus on gaining some industrial experience before hopping onto the management bandwagon. A person who has worked even for, say, a year brings more wisdom in their perspectives and personality than a fresher with no industry experience. He says that he would also like to tell aspiring students that managing one’s failures could be a cherished part of one’s life journey.