Visakhapatnam: Amid the changing management education landscape and the rise of emerging technologies, IIM Vizag is planning to introduce a postgraduate programme and a four-year undergraduate honours programme in AI and innovation. If rolled out, this will be the first undergraduate programme for the institute.
Expansion into Undergraduate Education
In recent years, several IIMs have expanded into standalone undergraduate education alongside their traditional MBA programmes. Institutions such as IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Sambalpur, and IIM Sirmaur now offer BSc, BMS, and BBA programmes in emerging fields like data science, digital business, and public policy. The shift builds on an earlier precedent set by IIM Indore, which launched the country's first undergraduate-linked management programme (IPM) in 2011.
Phase Two Expansion Plans
Speaking at the 10th annual convocation on Saturday, IIM Vizag director Prof M Chandrasekhar said the phase two expansion of the institute will increase the number of residential students by 300 next year and by another 300 in 2028, taking the total on-campus strength to 1,400. "The additional infrastructure will support plans to launch a two-year postgraduate programme and a four-year undergraduate honours programme in AI and innovation from the next academic year," he said.
Convocation Highlights
Zarin Daruwala, group chief executive officer of PL Capital, attended the convocation as chief guest. She advised the outgoing students to view demanding bosses positively, as such experiences help build success, and encouraged them to keep learning. "Step out beyond your comfort zones and try to embrace the changes. Growth begins when individuals stop clinging to familiarity and aim higher," she said.
Drawing from her experience, Daruwala spoke about learning precision from a leader who stressed attention to detail, and about another leader whose humility stood out despite great success. "Such experiences show that achievement should be grounded in modesty. Being placed in unfamiliar, high-pressure situations can be difficult but helps develop problem-solving skills, independence and growth," said Daruwala, while advised students to stay rooted in ethics and values while continuing to learn and adapt.
AI and Innovation Ecosystem
Hari S Bhartia, chairperson of the Board of Governors at the IIM-V and founder of Jubilant Bhartia Group, said students are graduating at a time when two major forces are coming together — artificial intelligence, which is changing how work is done, and innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem of India, which is shaping who builds the future.
"Technology is no longer only replacing human effort but is beginning to support and, in some cases, replicate human thinking. As AI can now write reports, build financial models and analyse markets, the focus should shift from what one knows to how one thinks, questions and decides. In a world where answers are easily available, judgement becomes more important. As AI becomes more powerful, human qualities such as integrity, empathy, and the ability to build trust will become more valuable. In a world where intelligence is widely available, clarity of thinking, courage in decision-making and integrity will define success," said Bhartia.
