New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Management Jammu and the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, have strengthened their global academic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 13 February 2026, followed by the formal launch of the Dual Degree MBA Program in Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics on 12 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, during the Bharat Bodhan AI Conclave 2026. The conclave marked the first national convening of India’s AI-in-Education ecosystem and serves as a foundational initiative of the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Education at the IIT Madras Bodhan AI Foundation.
The program was formally launched by Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, in the presence of Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Minister of State for Education; Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State for Education; Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education; Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India; S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India; and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras. The occasion was graced by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, along with Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research; Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu, and other distinguished dignitaries from academia, government, and industry.
The MoU was signed by Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and Professor Pai-Chi Li, President, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, marking a significant milestone in strengthening academic cooperation between India and Thailand.
The signing ceremony was attended in online mode by senior faculty and academic leaders from IIM Jammu, including Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research; Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu and Dr. Malaya Ranjan Mohapatra, Chairperson, International Relations. From the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, Prof. Yousse Badir, Acting Dean, School of Management; Dr. Sumana Shrestha, Director, International Affairs, Office of International and Public Affairs; and M Zia Islam, Coordinator, Outreach, Rankings & Accreditation and Executive Assistant to the Dean, School of Management, also joined the ceremony in online mode, reflecting the strong institutional commitment from both sides toward advancing this international academic collaboration.
The agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for collaboration encompassing faculty, student, and staff exchange programs; the Dual Degree MBA Program; a Dual Degree Doctoral Program; joint professional certification programs; collaborative research in management, technology, sustainability, and allied domains; and joint conferences, seminars, symposia, summer programs, and study treks, thereby institutionalizing long-term academic and research cooperation between the two institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. B. S. Sahay stated that Artificial Intelligence is not merely a technological advancement but a transformative force redefining leadership, governance, industry, and society. He emphasized that the Dual Degree MBA in AI and Business Analytics is designed to create ethically grounded, technologically empowered, and globally competitive leaders who can harness AI for inclusive growth, sustainable innovation, and strategic nation building. He further noted that IIM Jammu remains committed to aligning cutting-edge AI education with India’s developmental aspirations and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
Professor Pai-Chi Li remarked that the partnership represents a forward-looking alliance between two institutions committed to shaping the future of technology-enabled management education. By combining AIT’s strengths in innovation and technology with IIM Jammu’s excellence in management and leadership development, he stated, the collaboration will create a strong academic bridge between South and Southeast Asia, catalyze high-impact research, foster entrepreneurial and technological innovation, and enable dynamic student and faculty mobility to nurture globally agile leaders equipped to address complex regional and global challenges.
Present on the online mode were Prof. Pranab Ranjan Das, Professor of Practice; Dr. Gaana J, Chairperson, Accreditation; Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Chairperson, MBA Healthcare; Dr. Rambalak Yadav, Chairperson, Doctoral Program; Dr. Anuja Akhouri, Chairperson, Library; Dr. Sarbjit Singh, Chairperson, Admissions; Prof. Sanjeev Pathak, Chairperson, Executive Education and Consultancy; Dr. Arup Bhattacharya, Chief Program Officer; and Cmdr. Kesavan Baskkaran, CAO, IIM Jammu.
The Dual Degree MBA Program represents a landmark international academic collaboration integrating IIM Jammu’s strong foundation in management education with AIT’s expertise in technology-driven innovation. With the MoU signing and the formal launch of the program, IIM Jammu reinforces its commitment to internationalization, academic excellence, innovation, and building global bridges that foster knowledge creation, leadership development, and sustainable regional and global growth.DD
Correspondent Jammu
