IS MANAGEMENT EDUCATION becoming obsolete? This question resurfaces repeatedly in debates. However, the impact of management education is far-reaching. Several CEOs, policy leaders, and changemakers continue to emerge from management institutions, contributing to India’s growth story.

The real question that we must deliberate on is not whether business schools will survive but how they must transform to lead in a world defined by disruption, as they play an instrumental role in shaping the next generation of leaders.

India’s management education ecosystem has strong foundations, yet the scale and speed of change unfolding around us are unprecedented. AI, blockchain, robotics, and autonomous systems are rapidly reshaping workplaces, services, industries, supply chains, and manufacturing. Management education must mirror the realities and trends of the contemporary business and industries. The challenge lies in how swiftly institutions can redesign curricula to reflect this shifting technological and economic landscape. Apart from integrating new tools and methods, our programmes must prepare graduates for a world marked by uncertainty, including volatile global trade practices, evolving regulatory structures, and continuously reorganising supply chains.

While many Indian management institutions have made progress in updating programmes and strengthening industry linkages, the pace of transformation must accelerate and happen at smaller management institutions as well. To remain relevant in a business environment that is changing in real time, institutions must strengthen efforts to innovate, experiment, and update their pedagogies.

Reimagining curriculum and pedagogy

The curriculum in Indian business schools must move beyond functional silos. The emerging world demands leaders who understand the interplay of technology, policy, sustainability, as well as human behaviour. This requires a more integrated approach to management education.

At the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), we conduct a systematic review and redesign of the curriculum to ensure it reflects the pace and direction of contemporary change. AI, in particular, has emerged as a defining force reshaping business and managerial practice, and now academic offerings are moving away from static, long-duration syllabi towards agile, continuously updated content.

This transformation is also reshaping how learning happens inside and outside the classroom. Greater weight is now being placed on pedagogies that promote active engagement. These include case discussions, simulations, field projects, and immersive experiential modules. Faculty are taking on the role of facilitators and mentors, guiding students as they navigate complex, real-world challenges.

For faculty, this evolution demands a parallel shift. Staying up to date with digital tools, AI applications, and data analytics is now critical. Deeper collaboration with industry — through guest sessions, co-designed modules, and thematic partnerships — is becoming integral to keeping classroom content relevant.

Emergence of blended learning

The emergence of online and blended learning formats is another defining shift in management education today. With professionals seeking flexibility, personalised learning paths, and opportunities to upskill without pausing their careers, business schools are increasingly reimagining how learning can be delivered at scale while retaining depth and quality.

At IIMA, our approach has been to combine the academic rigour that the institute is known for with the flexibility that today’s professionals require. We have invested in carefully designed blended programmes that preserve the essence of an IIMA classroom while leveraging the power of technology.

We have been offering a blended MBA programme since 2024 and have seen encouraging participation. More recently, we launched a second blended MBA programme in business analytics and AI, an offering that reflects the growing demand for specialised managerial capabilities in data-driven environments.

Beyond formal degree programmes, we are also observing a rise in demand for short-duration, theme-based executive education programmes, especially in fast-evolving domains such as AI, sustainability, and digital transformation. These programmes help professionals in targeted upskilling.

Strengthening faculty capacity

Furthermore, no reimagination of business education is possible without empowered and future-ready faculty. Indian business schools must invest in the capacity building of faculty members so that they can adapt to new pedagogies, emerging technologies, and interdisciplinary approaches. Continuous industry engagement, international exposure, and collaborative research are essential for nurturing high-quality faculty members.

Institutions should also create supportive environments that allow faculty members to lead intellectual and interdisciplinary dialogues, innovate in the classroom, and pursue high-quality research.

Focus on responsible leadership

As the business environment becomes more dynamic and competitive, the need for value-driven leadership has become even more pronounced. Business schools must nurture professionals who are not only competent but also ethical, inclusive, and socially conscious. Issues such as sustainability, diversity, governance, and social impact should be central to the academic offerings.

Ultimately, the quality of leadership that emerges from our institutions will shape not only India’s economic trajectory but also its societal progress. Reimagining business schools is a continuous journey of listening, reflecting, and innovating. For India, poised for sustained growth, management education has a unique role to play in shaping leaders who can combine ambition with empathy, efficiency with ethics, and innovation with inclusion.

(The author is Director, IIM Ahmedabad. Views are personal.)