IIM Calcutta proposes AI-first online MBA; to accept CAT, GMAT or GRE scores

Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta) will soon launch its AI-first online MBA for working professionals. The proposed two-year blended degree programme will be implemented after receiving approval from the institute's Academic Council.

The proposed programme will award a full Master of Business Administration (MBA) in the same nomenclature as IIM Calcutta's flagship on-campus Post Graduate Programme. Participants will also receive full lifetime alumni status. The programme has been designed by the institute's faculty and will be delivered through IIM Calcutta's own online learning platform.

Artificial intelligence will be integrated throughout the curriculum rather than being offered as a separate specialisation. Every functional discipline will include applied AI content, while dedicated AI courses will be offered in both years. Students will also participate in three live AI Labs, where they will work on real-world problems from partner organisations and present their solutions before panels comprising academicians and industry professionals.

Director Prof. Alok Kumar Rai said the programme places artificial intelligence at the centre of management education while allowing professionals who cannot leave their careers to pursue a full IIM Calcutta MBA.

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2-year programme

Candidates will be studying six terms over two years, with the flexibility to complete it in up to three years. It will include more than 600 hours of credit-bearing classroom instruction. The first year will feature a common curriculum for all students, while the second year will be entirely elective.

Apart from classroom learning, the programme will include three AI Labs, a mandatory credit-bearing international immersion at a leading business school in Singapore, five residential campus immersions at the Joka campus, and a Personal Leadership Journey comprising executive coaching and 360-degree leadership assessments over 24 months.

Prof. Saravana Jaikumar said the programme has been designed as an online MBA that working professionals would choose over a residential one rather than settle for. He said it offers a higher academic load, extensive electives, AI Labs based on real organisational problems and an AI-integrated curriculum across every functional area.

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Eligibility

The programme is intended for professionals holding a bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least three years of full-time work experience, while candidates with five or more years of experience will be preferred. Admission will be based on valid CAT , GMAT or GRE scores, followed by a personal interview. Live online classes will be held from Thursday to Sunday, enabling participants to continue full-time employment.

The initiative is being taken forward under IIM Calcutta Director Prof. Alok Kumar Rai. Prof. Saravana Jaikumar, Associate Professor at IIM Calcutta, leads the design of the programme and of the Institute's wider online education portfolio.