Diplomat Correspondent
Mumbai-Jammu,DD, The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, under the visionary leadership of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), one of India’s premier public sector enterprises, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 01st Aug 2025 to establish a robust framework for academic-industry collaboration.
The MoU aims to foster mutual learning, leadership development, capacity building, and collaborative knowledge creation between the two institutions to establish a long-term strategic partnership focused on capacity building, consultancy, research, case development, and academic collaboration. The MoU was signed during a Virtual Connect (VC) meeting held on 1st August 2025 and marks a significant milestone in building strong institutional linkages. The IIM Jammu delegation was led by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu.
The ceremony was attended by senior representatives from both organizations. From HPCL, the attendees included Ms. Sapana Shrikanth, Chief General Manager – Capability Building, HPCL and Mr. Prabhat Kumar, Senior Manager – HR, Capability Building, HPCL. Present on the occasion were Prof. Sanjeev Pathak, Chairperson, Executive Education and Consultancy, IIM Jammu, Prof. Rajesh Sikka, Co-Chairperson, Executive Education and Consultancy, IIM Jammu and Cmdr Kesavan Baskkaran (R), CAO, IIM Jammu,
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, emphasized that the MoU stands as a testament to the Institute’s unwavering commitment to building a dynamic interface between academia and industry.
He noted that the partnership with HPCL would pave the way for co-developing future-ready professionals equipped with industry-relevant skills, strategic thinking, and a problem-solving mindset. He further highlighted that the collaboration would also enable HPCL to leverage cutting-edge academic knowledge, research, and executive education to strengthen its leadership pipeline. He reiterated that such initiatives are in alignment with IIM Jammu’s broader vision of contributing meaningfully to the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Ms. Sapana Shrikanth, Chief General Manager – Capability Building at HPCL, shared that the partnership with IIM Jammu is a positive step in HPCL’s ongoing focus on employee learning and development. She mentioned that the collaboration will offer employees opportunities to benefit from academic resources and structured programs designed to support their professional growth. She added that HPCL hopes to work closely with IIM Jammu to create relevant learning modules, contribute to research efforts, and support capacity-building activities in a structured and consistent manner.
Prof. Sanjeev Pathak, Chairperson, Executive Education and Consultancy (EE&C), IIM Jammu, stated that the MoU reflects IIM Jammu’s strong commitment to empowering Public Sector Enterprises and supporting Government of India initiatives through high-impact executive education and training programs. He emphasized that this collaboration underscores the importance of linking academia with industry to address emerging challenges and foster innovation-driven growth.
As part of this collaboration, HPCL will offer summer internship opportunities to IIM Jammu students at its locations across India, participate in course curriculum design to align academic offerings with industry needs, and facilitate lectures by subject matter experts. IIM Jammu will conduct customized Management Development Programs (MDPs), short-term workshops, and long-duration certificate programs tailored to HPCL’s training requirements.
The Institute will also offer opportunities for HPCL employees to pursue its Executive MBA and Ph.D. programs, fostering advanced learning and research among working professionals.
The partnership also envisions collaborative initiatives such as joint research projects, consultancy, and development of case studies based on HPCL’s operations and best practices. IIM Jammu will assist in building a repository of academic resources drawn from real-world experiences, promoting a strong interface between theory and practice.
This collaboration underscores IIM Jammu’s commitment to developing meaningful partnerships that contribute to excellence in education, innovation, and nation-building.DD
