Fostering Future-Ready Leaders: How IMI Kolkata Is Shaping Business Education For A Changing World

Today we stand at the crossroads of a rapidly evolving business environment. The combined environmental and technological transformations taking place make it essential to equip students with the skills to handle these deep changes. At IMI Kolkata, we take this as our responsibility to be not just observers of change but actors of transformation. We are committed to developing future-ready leaders by offering a curriculum that integrates hands-on experience, analytical expertise, global awareness and sustainable business practices.

Focus on Digital and Analytical Skills – For Technological Transformation

In today’s dynamic digital era, technological advancement is at the forefront of business progress. The ABDC transformation – Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data/ Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Digitalisation – is reshaping businesses (Akter et al., 2020). IMI Kolkata’s focus is on looking beyond classis management studies and equipping students with the technical knowhow on navigating this complex landscape.

Data analytics is the focal point of our curriculum that provides students with a comprehensive, hands-on program tailored to the needs of a data-driven economy. Our coursework covers a wide range of tools and techniques, including Excel for data visualization, R and Python for statistical analysis, SQL for database management, Tableau for creating impactful dashboards, SPSS for advanced analytics, and NVivo for qualitative data analysis. By mastering these tools, students gain proficiency across the entire data analytics workflow, from data collection to advanced modelling and visualization. This comprehensive approach ensures that graduates are well-prepared to excel in data-centric roles and contribute effectively to data-driven decision-making in their careers.

We believe that all our graduates must possess the digital literacy required for success in modern day businesses. Hence our introduction of some ‘no code’ modules in courses have been done to empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage confidently with technology.

Designing Innovative Curriculum – For Environmental Transformation

A key initiative in designing innovative curriculum is the Local Business Advisory (LBA) course. By connecting students with local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), this program provides a unique opportunity to engage in real-world business challenges. Through collaboration with business owners, students analyse complex issues, develop strategic solutions, and apply classroom knowledge to solve real-life problems. This hands-on experience not only enhances problem-solving skills but also fosters a deep understanding of local market dynamics, preparing students to make valuable contributions to their communities and the broader business world.

IMI Kolkata also emphasises on Design Thinking, a learning process that fosters understanding users, challenging assumptions, redefining problems and creating innovative solutions through empathy and ideation. Recently, our students visited Digambarpur Panchayat in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, as part of the Design Thinking for Rural Innovation course. This field visit, organized in collaboration with the School of Design Thinking and Mission Samriddhi, offered students a chance to interact directly with local communities. By understanding their needs and challenges, students gained valuable insights and applied design principles to craft real-world solutions. This kind of practical exposure instils in our students both critical thinking skills and social empathy, qualities essential for tomorrow’s leaders.

Additionally, we emphasize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles as a core part of the curriculum. In a world increasingly driven by sustainable practices, understanding ESG factors is essential for responsible business leadership. Our program teaches students to assess company performance through ethical, social, environmental, and governance lenses. This holistic approach equips future leaders with the ability to drive long-term value creation while maintaining a commitment to sustainability and ethical practices.

As a sustainability practice, IMI Kolkata has embarked on the journey to Net-Zero in collaboration with Green Terre Foundation. Under the initiative called “From Campus to Community”, the thrust will be on building skillsets in our students towards a carbon-neutral future, by engaging in impactful carbon offsetting activities. This skillset will enable students to make meaningful contributions to their communities and organisations when they pass out from IMI Kolkata and join the industry.

The environmental and technological transformations we are facing are not disparate events. Through these courses and our broader curriculum, IMI Kolkata has a responsibility to be an active participant in this transformation and initiate the new pathway to ensure that our students have a successful and resilient future. We prepare students to navigate complex business landscapes with confidence, responsibility and a strong foundation in data and sustainability. By blending theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, we create leaders who are ready to make a difference in a rapidly changing global landscape.

References:

Akter, Michael, Uddin, McCarthy, Rahman (2020), “Transforming business using digital innovations: the application of AI, blockchain, cloud and data analytics” Annals of Operations Research. 

Dr. Mohua Banerjee

Guest Author Dr. Mohua Banerjee is the Director, International Management Institute Kolkata (IMI Kolkata). She is also a Professor of Marketing in IMI Kolkata. She has done her Ph.D. in Commerce from the University of Calcutta and has over 20 years of academic experience.