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AI will disrupt routine jobs but open up new opportunities, says IIM Raipur Director Prof. Ram Kumar Kakani in a conversation with News18.com.
Professor Ram Kumar Kakani, Director of IIM Raipur, outlines the institute’s roadmap to become a global hub for management education and research.
As management education evolves to meet emerging global challenges, institutions like IIM Raipur are reimagining their programmes, deepening industry collaborations, and placing greater emphasis on hands-on learning. Speaking to News18.com, Professor Ram Kumar Kakani, Director of IIM Raipur, said, “The value of an MBA, especially from a premier institution, is far from diminishing. Over the next 20–30 years, demand for MBAs will continue to rise, particularly as regions like Europe and Japan face managerial talent shortages.”
In this exclusive interview, he shares the institute’s vision, academic roadmap, and efforts to prepare future leaders for a complex world.
Here are the edited excerpts from the interview:
Q1. What is your vision for IIM Raipur over the next five years?
Over the next five years, IIM Raipur envisions becoming a global hub of management education and research by investing ₹250 crore to enhance its academic, residential, and IT infrastructure to accommodate 1,200 students. The institute aims to launch dual-degree MIM programmes in collaboration with leading institutions in the USA, UK, Germany, and France, and make its Case House (CHIRP) the largest multilingual case repository in India by 2030. Additionally, it plans to establish five Centres of Excellence in areas such as digital transformation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and inclusive growth. A practice-oriented journal inspired by California Management Review is planned by 2028, along with efforts to double research output and enhance international reputation through high-impact publications and global collaborations. IIM Raipur also aims to secure prestigious accreditations such as AACSB and EQUIS while transforming into a sustainable, carbon-neutral campus by 2030.
Q2. How is IIM Raipur evolving its curriculum to stay relevant in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, sustainability imperatives, and shifting geopolitical dynamics?
IIM Raipur is continuously evolving its curriculum. The institute has introduced new courses in emerging areas such as blockchain, generative AI, design thinking, and data science, aligning with the technological transformations in the global economy. Through experiential learning approaches, including real-world projects, case studies, and interactive teaching methods, IIM Raipur fosters critical thinking and application-based learning.
The curriculum modernisation also reflects the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with initiatives such as a flexible PhD structure, interdisciplinary offerings, and programmes promoting Indian ethos through translated India-focused case studies. This forward-looking curriculum design is complemented by initiatives like ‘Lounge Intellect’ (LIT), a forum for teaching innovations, and a strong focus on holistic development with ethics, leadership, and societal impact at its core.
The institute’s pedagogy emphasises leadership, ethics, and problem-solving through a mix of academic rigour and real-world application. Programmes like the “Emerging Managers Bootcamp” and the “Citizenship Index” instil ethical behaviour, social responsibility, and a sense of ownership among students. These initiatives, combined with live projects, simulations, and student-led clubs, ensure that graduates are not only industry-ready but also capable of leading responsibly in a complex and dynamic world.
Q3. What kind of industry collaborations or MoUs is the institute pursuing to enhance practical exposure and employability for students?
IIM Raipur is actively pursuing a range of industry collaborations and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance practical exposure and boost the employability of its students. In 2024, IIM Raipur and the University of Wolverhampton, UK, signed an MoU to strengthen educational collaboration. Additionally, IIM Raipur partners with Birmingham City University to advance academic and research excellence.
Beyond formal MoUs, the institute maintains a strong industry interface through live consulting projects, regular corporate talks, industry-focused summits, and expert guest lectures, all of which connect students directly with real-time business challenges.
Furthermore, partnerships with government bodies like SIDBI and the Ministry of MSME support entrepreneurship training and venture incubation, helping students gain hands-on experience in starting and scaling businesses. These diverse and evolving collaborations ensure that IIM Raipur students graduate with not only theoretical knowledge but also practical insights and industry-ready skills.
Q4. Following the success of the new MBA in Public Policy and Governance, can we expect similar programmes in areas like healthcare, infrastructure, or climate governance?
IIM Raipur is actively fostering industry collaborations to enhance student employability and practical exposure. It has partnered with HPCL to launch an Executive MBA in Energy Management and collaborates with the Digital Health Academy to offer a range of online and hybrid courses, such as the Certified Digital Health Professional programme and postgraduate certificates in digital health.
Additionally, students benefit from live industry projects, corporate talks, industry summits, and entrepreneurship training programmes conducted in association with SIDBI and the Ministry of MSME, creating a strong industry-academia interface.
Q5. What was the core vision behind launching the fully-funded MBA in Public Policy and Governance under the Chief Minister’s Good Governance Fellowship?
The core vision behind the Public Policy MBA was to build executive leadership capacity within government systems, support governance reforms, and align with national development goals such as Viksit Bharat and Viksit Chhattisgarh. Following the successful launch of the fully-funded MBA in Public Policy and Governance under the Chief Minister’s Good Governance Fellowship, IIM Raipur is planning to expand into other emerging domains. Proposed future offerings include programmes in healthcare, environment, sustainability, and data science. These new programmes are designed to blend public policy with liberal arts and communication, promoting holistic and multidisciplinary education.
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Q6. How closely will students enrolled in the public policy programme engage with government departments? Are there plans for hands-on fieldwork, policy labs, or real-time governance projects?
Students enrolled in the public policy programme will engage closely with government departments, district administrations, and district collectors/magistrates through hands-on fieldwork, real-time governance projects, and policy labs. The programme is designed to provide immersive exposure to administrative challenges, allowing students to contribute meaningfully to public policy formulation and implementation.
Q7. There’s growing chatter online that traditional MBAs may be losing value. How do you respond to that perception? Is the MBA still a strong investment?
The value of an MBA, especially from a premier management institution is far from diminishing. For the next 20–30 years, I believe the demand for MBAs will continue to grow, particularly as global markets, including Europe and Japan, face managerial talent shortages due to demographic shifts.
An MBA equips individuals with timeless, core capabilities. It’s not just about textbook knowledge—although that’s important—but about structured problem-solving, clarity of thought, and collaborative leadership. One of the most significant takeaways from an MBA is exposure to a diverse peer group that challenges your thinking and broadens your worldview—something no online course or isolated learning experience can fully replicate.
While pedagogy and tools will evolve with technology, the foundational skills of leadership, decision-making, and team dynamics will remain highly relevant. In fact, with globalisation and cross-border collaboration becoming the norm, the MBA continues to be a powerful investment in long-term career growth, both in India and internationally.
Q8. With AI rapidly advancing, do you believe it will significantly displace jobs? Which sectors or roles are likely to be most affected, and how should management graduates prepare for this shift?
Recognising the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence, IIM Raipur acknowledges that routine jobs across sectors such as customer service, logistics, and manufacturing will likely be most affected. However, AI also presents significant opportunities. To equip students, the institute has been offering a dedicated course on AI for several years and is now expanding this with comprehensive workshops.
Additionally, to prevent copying from AI tools, we have made it mandatory for all assignments to go through Turnitin (a similarity detection software) that can easily detect the use of AI-generated content. IIM Raipur is also developing an AI policy to guide responsible use, fostering independent thinking and ethical application of generative AI tools in education. The focus remains on building adaptability, critical thinking, and domain-AI integration skills to help management graduates thrive in an AI-driven economy.
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-…Read More
Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-… Read More
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