The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) is all set to establish its campus in Dubai. This will be its first ever international campus. The Director Professor of IIMA, Bharat Bhasker, and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism Director General Helal Saeed Almarri, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai, which formalized the agreement. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, and Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry were present when the MoU took place.
As a part of this historic move, IIM-A has partnered with the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The campus of IIM-A Dubai is said to be situated in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), an exclusive space dedicated to higher education. Apparently, Phase one will make use of the existing infrastructure at DIAC. On the other hand, the permanent campus will be operational by 2029.
The campus will commence with a full-time one-year MBA program designed for global professional enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. The curriculum will be based on IIM-A’s case method pedagogy, and will last for five terms. It aims to foster strategic thinking and leadership at a global level. Admissions will be conducted in 2 stages, wherein valid GMAT/GRE scores will be required. The inaugural batch will begin in September this year.
Expressing enthusiasm and positivity about the new venture, IIM-A Chairperson Pankaj Patel said that over the next decade, they envision the project to be a thriving centre where young leaders of the future will hone their skills.
Meanwhile, Professor Bhasker claimed that the global business ecosystem of Dubai makes it an ideal location for academic and research collaboration. He added that the synergy will prepare the graduates to thrive in a globalised environment.
This historic initiative is welcomed by the officials from the UAE as well, including Hadi Badri (CEO of Dubai Economic Development Corporation), and Sunjay Sudhir (Ambassador of India to the UAE). It will play a pivotal role in strengthening the educational and economic ties of India and the UAE.