The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur has hosted the immersion programme for participants of India’s first dual-degree management programmes — the Executive PhD & DBA (Batch 2024–27) and MBA Fintech Management (Batch 2024–26).
The Executive PhD & DBA Dual Degree Programme is offered in collaboration with IAE Bordeaux University School of Management, France, while the MBA Fintech Management Programme is jointly conducted with Sorbonne Business School, France. Both initiatives aim to provide global exposure and academic collaboration opportunities for working professionals.
The first Executive PhD & DBA batch includes 21 senior professionals from organizations such as the Indian Police Service, NTT DATA, Google, HBC, and the Adani Group. The second batch (2025–28) has 24 participants from companies including Cognizant, Amazon, Accenture, National Bank of Oman, and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce. The MBA Fintech Management batch (2024–26) comprises 10 professionals from EY India LLP, Infosys, and Amazon.
The event was attended by Dr. Chandan Chowdhury, Executive Director and Professor at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, as Chief Guest; Prof. Alberto Arbulu, Associate Dean, Université de Bordeaux; Prof. Jorge Cardoso, Programme Director, DBA, IAE Bordeaux; and Prof. Mahadeo Prasad Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal highlighted the role of education in India’s economic growth, noting that “institutions like IIMs and IITs will lead the global academic landscape through innovation, integrity, and inclusiveness.” He also announced upcoming initiatives including a Women Empowerment Conclave and a Brand India Conclave.
Dr. Chandan Chowdhury emphasized the importance of research-driven innovation, citing the success of India’s fintech ecosystem and the role of UPI in transforming digital transactions.
Prof. Jorge Cardoso described the Indo-French collaboration as a “50-50 partnership built on equality and merit,” while Prof. Alberto Arbulu underscored the need for higher education to produce “ethical and responsible leaders who can address social and economic challenges.”
The welcome address was delivered by Prof. Padmavathy Dhillon, Chairperson of the Executive PhD & DBA Programme, and the vote of thanks by Prof. Diwahar Sunder Nadar, Chairperson of the MBA Fintech Management Programme.
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