‘IIM Calcutta’s new programmes to include 40% AI-based content’: Director

CAT 2025: After nearly two years without a permanent director, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta has entered a new phase under the leadership of Professor Alok Kumar Rai, former vice-chancellor of University of Lucknow. During a conversation with Academia360, he talks about introducing AI-driven programmes and strengthening entrepreneurship while addressing emerging challenges in management education. He also shares his views on rankings, financial autonomy, and the evolving purpose of MBA education in a rapidly changing industrial landscape. Edited excerpts:

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There was no permanent director at IIM Calcutta for nearly two years. How do you plan to address any issues that may have arisen during that time?

There was always a director, we may not have termed the person as a full-time director due to procedural reasons, but there was a director in-charge who was fully responsible for running the institute. IIM Calcutta is a very structured and responsible institution. Our programmes and processes are well defined. The institute has continued to function effectively within those procedures, which is evident from its consistent performance in international rankings.

Of course, no institution is ever perfect. Even four years from now, I would still say we are evolving, because education, society, and industry are all dynamic. It’s important to be receptive to change, and that we continue to evolve.

What are some of the new initiatives you have undertaken?

On the academic front, we are about to start online education. By the end of this month, we will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an industrial organisation to set up a Centre for Online Education, under which we will launch certificate, diploma, and degree programmes. I can’t disclose our partner organisation yet as the final MoU is pending, but the programme will largely be AI-based.

We’re also planning two other programmes – one in healthcare and another in design which is in collaboration with two leading institutions in the country. Besides these, we are recruiting new faculty to support our expanding programme portfolio. We’ve also completed accreditation visits. Two reports are in, and we’re awaiting the third. With that, our triple-crown accreditation will continue. Infrastructure development is another major focus area.

You were the VC of University of Lucknow. How is that experience helping you?

University of Lucknow was much bigger and more diverse with 25,000 on-campus students, 500 affiliated colleges, and over 700 faculty members. IIM Calcutta, on the other hand, is smaller, more structured, and stronger institutionally.

Here, the system is financially stable, the alumni base is strong, and the challenges are fewer. It’s also well-resourced, which makes it easier to focus on academic and institutional growth.

How has IIM Calcutta managed after becoming financially autonomous?

The institution has managed its finances well. And there is hardly any financial challenge because we are pretty well placed in that front.

IIM Calcutta’s NIRF 2025 ranking has dropped from 5th to 7th. Your take?

This year, our ranking has dropped slightly. But if looked closely, the difference was just 0.4 points. So, it’s not a cause for concern; rather, it’s a motivation. I’m confident that with the steps we’ve already taken, we’ll perform better next time. We will be among the top five, for sure.

Do you believe in the current ranking system?

Yes, I do. The parameters are common for all institutions. Any external scrutiny helps us stay transparent and accountable.

That said, no system is perfect — even the NIRF framework keeps evolving. I was part of the committee that reviewed its methodology last year. Some of our suggestions, such as including sustainability ranking and state university rankings, were implemented.

So yes, there’s scope for improvement, but rankings are important for benchmarking.

What about the future curriculum?

We believe entrepreneurship can address many of the economic challenges our society faces, and domains like healthcare, infrastructure, and design offer immense potential in that direction. Given the pace at which artificial intelligence is transforming every aspect of life, our new online certificate, diploma, and degree programmes will include nearly 40% AI-based content – either directly or through the way it is applied. Through these initiatives, we aim to make our programmes more future-ready and aligned with the evolving global landscape.

What do you think are the challenges for management education in general?

The biggest challenge is the pace of adaptation. The industry is evolving much faster than before. If you look at the journey from Industry 1.0 to Industry 5.0, the transition time from one stage to another has reduced drastically. Industry 4.0 and 5.0 evolved within just four to five years and technologies like AI are already transforming the way industries function. Keeping pace with these rapid changes is a constant challenge for institutions.

Another challenge is the excessive emphasis on placements. I believe focusing too much on placement packages can be detrimental to the real purpose of management education. Management programmes should be viewed as an education, not merely as a stepping stone to a salary range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 10 lakh a month.

The real shift should be towards promoting entrepreneurship, and I appreciate the Government of India’s efforts in this direction. Entrepreneurship is where the real future lies. It’s the key to addressing many of our economic challenges. At IIM Calcutta, we take pride in having been at the forefront of this. Many of our alumni have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs, for instance, the co-founders of Swiggy and Policybazaar are from IIM Calcutta.

But we also see young entrepreneurs without formal management degrees doing well.

Starting something based on an innovative idea is one thing; sustaining a large enterprise is another. The latter needs systematic education.

As Ratan Tata once said, India produces good business managers but we must start producing business leaders. That’s where IIM Calcutta comes in. To nurture leaders who inspire, not just manage.

Regarding the recent student safety incident, how is the institute addressing it?

We are extremely sensitive about such matters. Within my first 15 days here, I held an open house with students. Many of their concerns have already been addressed or are in process.

Safety and security are top priorities. As for the specific case you mentioned, it’s under police investigation. But we ensure that all proper procedures are followed.