Institutes like IIM Bangalore, IIM Indore, Indian School of Business (ISB), and MDI Gurgaon are also rolling out experiential learning through outdoor activities, giving exposure to global environments to their students, and teaching skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving.
IIM Bangalore, for example, considers exposure to global thinking to be a key aspect of building future-readiness. The institute offers study-abroad weeks, terms, and dual-degree programmes with partner schools like ESCP Europe Business School in Paris, Bocconi University in Milano, Italy, and Hitotsubashi University Business School, School of International Corporate Strategy, Japan.
“Recently, we’ve been experimenting with course-specific custom GPTs, blending online and offline learning, and potentially flipping the classroom to create a more dynamic and interactive experience,” Mukta Kulkarni, dean of programmes at IIM Bangalore, told ET. The change in B-schools’ approach reflects the change in the overall business environment.
New Circumstances
In the past, leaders operated in a relatively stable environment where change was gradual and predictable, but today’s business environment is marked by rapid, unpredictable change. B-schools that ET spoke with said leaders must now navigate constant flux with agility, and embrace ambiguity and continuous transformation.
While no MBA curriculum can train students for every possible eventuality, the key is to train them to adapt to any unforeseen circumstances, said Ramabhadran Thirumalai, deputy dean at ISB.
The institute has introduced more hands-on learning through various courses that help students understand the constantly changing face of technology and how it can be used to improve decision-making and run organisations efficiently. Some of these include courses on frontier technologies, generative AI, and machine learning, among others.
Even more traditional business programmes are now including courses on digital transformation, data analytics, and emerging technologies, ensuring students understand the technological landscape and its business applications.
As the world changes at an accelerated pace, there is a requirement for young leaders to possess not just technical proficiency but also an ease with virtual environments, a commitment to continuous learning, and strong communication skills. Companies are also increasingly prioritising a dedication to sustainability and a capability to motivate diverse teams.
In this age of AI, the workforce of the future will be required to be trilingual – with deep domain expertise, digital and technology knowledge, as well as proficiency in AI and data analytics, said Piyush Mehta, India country head at global professional services firm Genpact.
“We seek leaders that have an insatiable thirst for learning – this is the secret sauce to innovation, and thriving in a fast-evolving environment,” Mehta said.
Krishna Kumar, founder of edtech firm Simplilearn, said today’s MBA programmes need to be more hands on and focus on practical applications, and focus not just on strategy but also on operations. “Leadership is not limited to strategising alone, it’s also working with metrics day in and day out, and one needs to be nimble and agile to navigate operations. B-schools need to focus more on this aspect,” Kumar told ET.
Diverse skills crucial
IIM Indore is focusing on developing socially conscious leaders. For instance, its Himalayan outbound programme helps students develop crisis management skills, while its rural engagement programme – where students live in the villages of Madhya Pradesh – helps them identify and understand local problems and offer contextually relevant and socially conscious solutions. “We have also introduced the extreme outdoors elective, a strategy course that provides an experiential learning environment through outdoor activities, which promotes team building and leadership development through adventure activities,” Himanshu Rai, director of IIM Indore, told ET.
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