The Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam has entered into a strategic partnership with the HAL Management Academy in Bengaluru. Both institutions signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance leadership and management capabilities within India's defence sector.
Strengthening Defence Leadership
This collaboration aims to create customised capacity-building programs for defence officers. The programs will operate in a hybrid mode, combining online and in-person learning. Officers from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and other defence public sector undertakings will participate.
Joint Program Development
IIM Visakhapatnam and HAL Management Academy will jointly design and deliver these management programs. The initiative includes developing defence-sector case studies for academic use. Both institutes will also organise knowledge-sharing events and undertake collaborative projects.
Professor M Chandrasekhar, director of IIM Visakhapatnam, highlighted the institute's commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat. He stated this MoU builds upon their existing engagement through the Indian defence officers' MBA program.
Signing Ceremony Details
The memorandum was formally signed by Arup Kumar Mallick, executive director of HAL Management Academy. Professor Vijaya Bhaskar Marisetty, dean of academics at IIM Visakhapatnam, represented his institution. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the institute's director.
Existing Defence MBA Program
IIM Visakhapatnam recently launched a unique modular MBA program specifically for defence sector officers. The Ministry of Defence's department of defence production has approved this program.
Currently, nearly forty officers from ten defence public sector undertakings have enrolled. Participants come from organisations including the Naval Armament Depot in Mumbai and Geomarine Dynamics India Private Limited.
Immersive Learning Components
The program features short immersion modules at several key locations:
- HAL Management Academy in Bengaluru
- BEL Academy of Excellence in Bengaluru
- National Academy of Defence Production in Nagpur
An international immersion module is planned at ESCP Business School in Paris, France. This global exposure will provide officers with international business perspectives.
This partnership represents a significant step in professionalising India's defence sector leadership. By combining academic excellence with industry-specific training, the collaboration aims to create more effective managers for the nation's defence establishments.
