Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurated the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Udaipur's new online bilingual Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program, delivered in both Hindi and English. The program aims to bridge the rural-urban divide by making quality management education accessible to talented students regardless of their circumstances, leveraging India's approximately 100 crore internet users.
Minister Goyal outlined four specific suggestions to strengthen the program: implementing monthly physical interactions between faculty and students at different locations, emphasizing soft-skill development including technology knowledge and communication skills, incorporating experiential learning through on-site visits to factories, ports and industrial clusters, and adopting global best practices including audio-visual tools and credit transfers through the New Education Policy.
The Minister highlighted that new free trade agreements are giving a fresh boost to manufacturing and prioritizing innovation, opening global opportunities for India's youth. He noted that while the program will be delivered online, examinations will be conducted offline to ensure accountability. The hybrid model combines virtual and physical elements, with Goyal drawing parallels to India's virtual free trade agreement negotiations across different time zones.
Goyal emphasized that technology-enabled education, particularly accelerated during COVID-19, has connected education with technology and made EdTech companies a necessity rather than supplementary tools. He stated that dynamic learning is becoming increasingly prominent with artificial intelligence and emerging technologies transforming management needs, while placement requirements are continuously evolving from conventional jobs to unique requirements.
The Minister expressed confidence that the IIM brand is recognized globally and that this bilingual program would enhance India's pride both domestically and internationally, preparing students to become future leaders and entrepreneurs. He specifically encouraged students to combine education with practical experience to prepare for global challenges.