IIM‑A Launches First International Campus in Dubai With One‑Year MBA

• IIM-A opens Dubai campus with 1-year MBA and two research centers.
• Curriculum focuses on innovation, AI, and the Middle East–Africa business.
• Campus aims to grow from 50 to 900 students over the next decade.

The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A), a leading business school in India, will launch its first international campus in Dubai this September. This expansion, led by IIM-A Director Bharat Bhasker, marks significant progress in enhancing India's educational footprint in the world.

The Dubai campus will offer a one-year MBA program and open two research centers that will create case studies and nurture start-ups. This will represent IIM-A's establishment of innovation and entrepreneurship specifically for the business landscape of the Middle East and Africa.

In a discussion with IANS, Bhasker expressed his satisfaction with the rapid realisation of this vision. "The Dubai campus is something I envisioned in 2023, and now I'm happy to see it materialize. I'll be visiting the campus next week," he stated. The curriculum has been thoughtfully crafted with a regional focus, including case studies and business practices pertinent to the Middle East and Africa.

The new campus seeks to draw a varied group of students from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, North Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The first cohort will include around 40 to 50 students, with intentions to grow to a capacity of 900 students within the next ten years.

Bhasker disclosed future intentions to create a School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Dubai campus. "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 stated. This inclusion of data science and artificial intelligence within the curriculum mirrors the wider trend of merging technology with education.

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Opening the IIM-A Dubai campus is a timely response to the challenges and opportunities of a changing higher education environment. Immigration policies in Western countries are tightening, and India is well-positioned to be a hub for global education, attracting students from around the world.

The integration of data science and artificial intelligence in the management curriculum of the Dubai campus reflects the global trend of technology being integrated in education. The Dubai campus of IIM-A is set to take the lead in this new educational phase, providing programs that are both academically demanding and aligned with the regional needs.

Through emphasizing case study creation and start-up incubation, the campus will offer students practical, experiential learning that equips them for the obstacles of today's business landscape.