LUCKNOW: Prof. M. P. Gupta, Director,Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, met Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, in New Delhi to discuss the evolving role of leading management institutions in preparing future-ready leaders.
During the meeting, Prof. Gupta briefed the Minister on IIM Lucknow’s focus on multidisciplinary education through interdisciplinary courses, along with initiatives in public policy, skill development, well-being, global collaboration, research, and executive education.
Prof. Gupta further outlined the Institute’s investments in infrastructure and technology, promotion of leadership, innovation, and provision of scholarships to support student mobility, and efforts toward inclusive education, including outreach to students from geographically remote regions.
Emphasising his focus on nurturing responsible, innovation-driven, and socially conscious leaders capable of contributing to sustainable economic and societal development, Prof. M. P. Gupta, said, “At IIM Lucknow, we are ensuring our role as a knowledge partner in national development through various initiatives. We are excited to collaborate with the government bodies and other HEIs in the country to build a knowledge hub for the development of our nation. Backed by a strong alumni network and global accreditation standards, we remain committed to expanding our academic and societal impact.”
An additional focus of the discussion was IIM Lucknow’s recent academic expansions, including the introduction of a blended MBA programme and the growing global potential of its Executive MBA offerings. Prof. Gupta also highlighted the Institute’s collaboration with IIT Kanpur to launch a joint postgraduate degree programme in Healthcare Management, alongside strengthened alumni engagement initiatives that continue to support mentoring, industry partnerships, and institutional growth. He further noted that several courses under the Institute’s executive education programmes have been introduced and updated to equip leaders with skills aligned to emerging industry and future business demands.
The discussion also noted recent institutional milestones, including the Institute achieving Triple Crown accreditation status; the establishment of a Mind Lab under the aegis of the Rekhi Centre of Excellence; collaboration with Goldman Sachs to support the training of 10,000 women entrepreneurs; and approval to set up a Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology to strengthen capabilities in emerging digital domains.
Prof. Gupta further extended an invitation to the Minister to visit the IIM Lucknow campus and encourage the students, faculty and researchers, fostering a deeper dialogue on advancing management education in the country.
The interaction highlighted a shared commitment to enhancing the contributions of leading academic institutions in advancing quality education and supporting India’s growth aspirations.
