25 Nov. 2025 , DELHI
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are steadily expanding into undergraduate education, offering new courses in management, economics, data science, and AI. Speaking to The Indian Express, IIM Kozhikode Director Debashis Chatterjee said that with these developments, IIMs are gradually moving toward functioning like universities rather than only postgraduate business schools.
This year, IIM Kozhikode introduced a Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) programme at its Kochi campus, admitting 110 students. The course allows students to major in management and choose minors such as economics, public policy, AI, and machine learning. Other IIMs are following a similar path: IIM Sambalpur launched two UG programmes in management and data science, IIM Sirmaur introduced a UG management course last year, and IIM Bangalore will begin offering bachelor’s degrees in economics and data science next year.
According to Prof. Chatterjee, there is a “growing global decline in enthusiasm for traditional MBA programmes,” although MBA demand in India remains strong. However, he believes that the future of management education must begin at the foundation level. Instead of receiving students only after they have completed other degrees, he said IIMs should shape young minds early to build adaptable, interdisciplinary, and innovation-driven thinkers.
Explaining the new BMS programme, he noted that it differs from the Integrated Programme in Management (IPM). BMS is offered as an independent undergraduate degree, with students able to exit after three years with a basic degree or continue for an honours degree by completing additional research work. This structure aligns well with the National Education Policy’s focus on flexibility, research, and holistic learning.
On the relevance of the MBA in today’s world, Prof. Chatterjee said the programme must evolve. Management education now needs to address what technology cannot replace. Courses must adapt to changes brought by AI, global conflicts, environmental challenges, and supply chain disruptions—factors that were not traditionally part of MBA curricula.
He highlighted that undergraduate education at IIMs will be distinct from typical UG programmes because of its strong research foundation, interdisciplinary structure, flexible major–minor combinations, and exposure to emerging fields such as AI, psychology, sustainability, and public policy. The goal is to produce ethical, culturally aware, globally competent leaders prepared for both industry and advanced studies.
Regarding future courses, he said BMS is just the starting point. While IIM Kozhikode may consider a dedicated economics degree, expansion depends on academic needs, relevance, and infrastructure. The institute is also developing new campuses to accommodate up to 1,000 undergraduate students, planning to scale its current intake tenfold in the coming decade.
Chatterjee clarified that this shift is not driven by financial pressure. For IIM Kozhikode, the move toward UG education is a strategic step to transform into a comprehensive “IIM University” model, in line with national education reforms and rising demand.
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