IIM Ahmedabad is officially going global, big news from the B-school world—. The institute just dropped a major update: it's setting up its first international campus in Dubai. Starting September 2025, IIMA will begin classes in one of the world’s fastest-growing business hubs. This move makes IIMA the first among Indian Institutes of Management to take its legacy beyond borders.
The announcement came straight from IIMA Director, Professor Bharat Bhasker, during the institute's 60th convocation ceremony. According to him, the Dubai campus is part of a bigger vision to expand IIMA’s global presence and bring top-tier management education to a wider, more diverse audience. The new campus will host IIMA’s flagship MBA programmes, making them more accessible to Indian students abroad and international aspirants across the Gulf region.
Dubai is a solid choice. It’s buzzing with business, startups, and innovation, so launching there makes total sense. The campus is expected to carry forward IIMA’s signature case-based learning style, rigorous academics, and industry-focused curriculum. Basically, it’s IIMA, just with a skyline view.
That wasn’t the only big reveal. Professor Bhasker also introduced the new 'Madan Mohanka Centre of Excellence in Case Method of Learning.' Funded by IIMA alumnus and industry veteran Madan Mohanka (PGP 1967), this center will push the envelope on how business education is delivered, especially through real-world case studies. It’s a bold step that reinforces IIMA’s reputation as a trendsetter in management education.
All of this was unveiled at the institute’s 60th convocation. Held at the iconic Louis Kahn Plaza in Ahmedabad, the ceremony had all the right vibes. The guest of honor was Dr. S. Somanath, former ISRO chairman, who dropped some serious wisdom on the graduating class. He urged students to think bold, be fearless, and use their education to make real impact.
Here’s a quick look at the graduating batch:
- 22 PhD scholars from the Doctoral Programme in Management
- 405 students from the two-year MBA-PGP
- 45 students from the MBA-FABM (Food and Agri-business Management)
- 158 students from the one-year MBA-PGPX
And shoutout to the academic rockstars who bagged gold medals:
- Abhi Bansal, Ishaan Jain, and Aanchal Chadha (MBA-PGP)
- Yogesh Kumar R (MBA-FABM)
- Aashruth Rangarajan (MBA-PGPX)
The convocation wasn’t just about caps and gowns—it was about what’s next. With the Dubai expansion, new centers of learning, and a whole new class of graduates ready to take on the world, IIMA is clearly playing in a global league. It’s tradition, leveled up.
