IIM Bangalore and University of Birmingham deepen ties through immersive academic and cultural exchange programme
MBA immersion initiative strengthens cross-cultural learning and global business exposure between India and the UK
6 June, 2026, Bengaluru: The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at IIM Bangalore hosted a cohort of MBA students from the University of Birmingham, UK, along with Prof. Mengyi Xu, Professor of Human Resource Management and Director of the Full-time MBA at Birmingham Business School, as part of the Global Immersive Module offered by the university, from 1 to 5 June 2026.
The week-long immersion programme on analytics provided participants with an opportunity to engage with India’s dynamic business, technology and innovation ecosystem through a combination of academic sessions, industry exposure and cultural experiences. The programme featured sessions on analytics, AI, and problem formulation by Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIMB, Chairperson of the Data Centre and Analytics Lab (DCAL) and faculty of the Decision Sciences area. They were complemented by sessions delivered by research consultants associated with DCAL, including Sharada Sringeswara on data visualization and storytelling, Manaranjan Pradhan on big data analytics and recommender systems, Ashish Grover on responsible AI, ethics, and governance, Kumar Rahul on generative and agentic AI, and Shailaja Grover on predictive analytics.
The programme at IIMB provided students with an authentic understanding of India’s dynamic business and innovation ecosystem through a blend of academic sessions, peer learning opportunities with IIMB students, industry projects and cultural engagements. Beyond academic sessions, the programme featured a guided city walk led by PGP 1993 alumnus Arun Pai, Founder of Bangalore Walks; a visit to Tiger Analytics to provide participants with industry insights on AI-driven business transformation, and an exploration of sustainability practices on the IIMB campus through a session by Prof. Haritha Saranga, Chairperson of the IIMB Sustainability Taskforce and faculty of the Production & Operations Management (POM) area, followed by a campus walk.
Talking about the programme and its impact on India-UK relations, Prof. Mark Lee, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (India), University of Birmingham, said, “As India and the UK continue to deepen economic and strategic cooperation, there is a growing need to build globally minded leadership talent with strong cross-cultural understanding. Our partnership with IIM Bangalore reflects the University of Birmingham’s commitment to strengthening meaningful academic collaborations that connect students with international business environments, industry perspectives and global opportunities”.
Stating that the evolving relationship between India and the UK presents significant opportunities for collaboration in business, innovation and talent development, Prof. Mukta Kulkarni, Dean, Programmes, Chairperson, Office of International Affairs and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area at IIMB, added, “Through our partnership with the University of Birmingham, IIM Bangalore seeks to create meaningful pathways for students to engage with diverse global perspectives, industry ecosystems and cross-border opportunities”.
The collaboration comes at a time of growing India-UK partnership across education, innovation, economic cooperation and global talent development. The immersion came to embody shared commitments of IIM Bangalore and the University of Birmingham in fostering global perspectives, cross-cultural learning and future-ready leadership in an increasingly data-driven world.
IIM Bangalore and University of Birmingham deepen ties through immersive academic and cultural exchange programme
MBA immersion initiative strengthens cross-cultural learning and global business exposure between India and the UK
6 June, 2026, Bengaluru: The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at IIM Bangalore hosted a cohort of MBA students from the University of Birmingham, UK, along with Prof. Mengyi Xu, Professor of Human Resource Management and Director of the Full-time MBA at Birmingham Business School, as part of the Global Immersive Module offered by the university, from 1 to 5 June 2026.
The week-long immersion programme on analytics provided participants with an opportunity to engage with India’s dynamic business, technology and innovation ecosystem through a combination of academic sessions, industry exposure and cultural experiences. The programme featured sessions on analytics, AI, and problem formulation by Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIMB, Chairperson of the Data Centre and Analytics Lab (DCAL) and faculty of the Decision Sciences area. They were complemented by sessions delivered by research consultants associated with DCAL, including Sharada Sringeswara on data visualization and storytelling, Manaranjan Pradhan on big data analytics and recommender systems, Ashish Grover on responsible AI, ethics, and governance, Kumar Rahul on generative and agentic AI, and Shailaja Grover on predictive analytics.
The programme at IIMB provided students with an authentic understanding of India’s dynamic business and innovation ecosystem through a blend of academic sessions, peer learning opportunities with IIMB students, industry projects and cultural engagements. Beyond academic sessions, the programme featured a guided city walk led by PGP 1993 alumnus Arun Pai, Founder of Bangalore Walks; a visit to Tiger Analytics to provide participants with industry insights on AI-driven business transformation, and an exploration of sustainability practices on the IIMB campus through a session by Prof. Haritha Saranga, Chairperson of the IIMB Sustainability Taskforce and faculty of the Production & Operations Management (POM) area, followed by a campus walk.
Talking about the programme and its impact on India-UK relations, Prof. Mark Lee, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (India), University of Birmingham, said, “As India and the UK continue to deepen economic and strategic cooperation, there is a growing need to build globally minded leadership talent with strong cross-cultural understanding. Our partnership with IIM Bangalore reflects the University of Birmingham’s commitment to strengthening meaningful academic collaborations that connect students with international business environments, industry perspectives and global opportunities”.
Stating that the evolving relationship between India and the UK presents significant opportunities for collaboration in business, innovation and talent development, Prof. Mukta Kulkarni, Dean, Programmes, Chairperson, Office of International Affairs and faculty of the Organizational Behavior & Human Resources Management area at IIMB, added, “Through our partnership with the University of Birmingham, IIM Bangalore seeks to create meaningful pathways for students to engage with diverse global perspectives, industry ecosystems and cross-border opportunities”.
The collaboration comes at a time of growing India-UK partnership across education, innovation, economic cooperation and global talent development. The immersion came to embody shared commitments of IIM Bangalore and the University of Birmingham in fostering global perspectives, cross-cultural learning and future-ready leadership in an increasingly data-driven world.