Dr. Umakant Dash is presently serving as the Director at the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Gujarat. He has nearly two decades of experience in academia and research with institutes of national and international repute, like IIT Madras, Utara University of Malaysia, and Birla Institute, Pilani. He has also been involved in collaborative research (through CREHS, GHLC) in partnership with countries and many funded projects by organizations like DFID, and WHO. He is an active public policy expert and has been a member of various committees and expert groups of the Government of India.

IRMA

How does the curriculum of the institute ensure the best practice of industry? 

“Deliberate designing and in term fieldwork segments”

We have a rigorous evaluation process when it comes to curriculum design. The Programme Offices and the Academic Council take cognizance of industry trends while formulating the curriculum. They take feedback from the participants, recruiters and the faculty members to evaluate the courses on a continuous basis. Our classroom terms are interspersed with outside-the-classroom segments like the Village Fieldwork Segment (VFS) and the Summer Internship Segment (SIS) that allow our students to take their classroom learning to the grassroots. This unique management curriculum design equips participants from IRMA to actually make a difference. It has been replicated by other well-established institutes like IRM Jaipur, Dhan Foundation, Xavier Institute of Management, KIIT School, etc. 

Any insights on how your institute is more welcoming to diverse groups of students?

“Reflecting healthy combinations with much more regional diversity”

IRMA prides itself on being an equal opportunity B-School with a commitment to social and gender diversity. This philosophy is a part of all our processes, starting from the admissions itself, wherein we ensure that we get a diverse cohort of students from different backgrounds. The Institute has maintained its focus towards nurturing a diverse batch of students with gender balance, multi-cultural and varied socio-economic backgrounds with equal share and guidance. There is also an excellent mix of academic diversity with students from Engineering, Commerce, Science, Management, Humanities, and Dairy Engineering backgrounds working in collaborations and combinations. 

What would you like people to know about your institute they may not know?

“Immensely vibrant alumni base with diverse prospects”

IRMA has a multi-faceted and multi-pronged approach to rural management education and research. Over the last 41 years, IRMA’s flagship Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Rural Management) or PGDM (RM) has produced over 3000+ nation builders and global leaders, equipped to deal with the unique challenges arising in their quest. Some of these are Dr. R S Sodhi, MD, Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) – Amul, Angshu Mallick, Dy CEO, Adani Wilmar Ltd. and Andy Mukherjee, Business Journalist, Bloomberg. 

Check Institute of Rural Management Anand Courses & Fees

What do you see as the institute’s greatest strengths?

“Highly efficient faculty and research oriented approaches”

IRMA has a talented pool of faculty members across areas from around the world. They are actively involved in the triumvirate of knowledge creation, viz. classroom sessions for IRMA’s programmes, research and consultancy work, as well as conducting Management Development Programmes (MDPs). IRMA has enabled research impacting Public Policy and Bottom of Pyramid businesses in India through consultancy projects and research studies. I am sure that in time to come, they will continue to add to the knowledge base of generations of students. 

How has the pandemic changed the face of education in India?

“Redirection towards online and more innovative set ups”

I think the biggest change that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about is with respect to the delivery of the course material and the basis of the teaching-learning process, i.e. the interaction between the teachers and the students. It is difficult for the teachers to gauge the response of the students in the online setup, but the onus on the students is even more pronounced as they need to keep themselves motivated to be attentive and keep studying. That’s a challenge that the education sector has to contend with and bring out more innovative ways to make the learning more fruitful.

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth?

“Have wider senses for a great nation”

The youth of today is the future of our great nation tomorrow. The only humble suggestion I have for them is to think of the greater good and not just personal good while making life-altering decisions. Prepare, challenge and strive to make India’s growth story more inclusive by focusing on personal social responsibility. 

Click Institute of Rural Management Anand Placement

Any insights of unique practices for the course you are offering?

“Professionalizing rural management education”

Rural India is defined by its remote inaccessible geographies, agrarian economies and high incidence of poverty. To make an impact for the 74% underserved economy, India needs a higher education model that combines a thorough understanding of the rural and urban under-served segments, with professional management. It is this collective population that IRMA strives to serve through its Postgraduate courses. The unique strength of the institute lies in its ability to blend development concerns with a management aptitude through its endeavours. We offer specialised management programmes and it thus becomes imperative that we reach out to aspirants who are really dedicated towards pursuing rural management as a choice of career. IRMA has also designed the MBA in Rural Management for MHRD-aided universities at the request of AICTE (MHRD).