Summary
IMI Kolkata recently hosted the 19th ISDSI Global Conference, bringing together business school directors, scholars, corporate leaders, investors, and policymakers from 26 countries. The four-day event focused on the evolving role of management education in a technology-driven, sustainability-focused world. Highlights included insightful panel discussions, the launch of a global investment summit, and significant collaboration across academia and industry.
IMI Kolkata Hosts the 19th ISDSI Global Conference
From December 26 to 29, IMI Kolkata welcomed directors of leading Indian business schools, international scholars, accreditation bodies, policymakers, corporate leaders, investors, and startup founders for the 19th ISDSI Global Conference. The event centered on exploring how management education can adapt and lead in a rapidly changing economy shaped by technology and sustainability priorities.
Global Participation and Research Contributions
The conference attracted participants from 26 countries and featured an impressive submission of 1,218 research papers alongside 220 business and startup ideas. Contributors represented all 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), universities, business schools, and incubators. This extensive participation reinforced ISDSI's status as one of India's largest global platforms for management research.
Keynote and Panel Discussions
Senior academic leaders from prestigious institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Tiruchirappalli, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sambalpur, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, IMT Hyderabad, and IIT Kharagpur (VG-SOM) actively engaged in plenary sessions and panel discussions. International perspectives were shared by scholars from universities in the US and New Zealand, along with representatives from accreditation bodies including EFMD, AACSB, and AMBA-BGA.
The inaugural session featured Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIM Ahmedabad, who emphasized the critical role of technology in achieving sustainability goals. He highlighted the importance of leveraging digital innovation to drive societal impact aligned with India’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.
Two directors’ panels anchored the academic discourse. The first panel discussed how technology and digitalization will shape the future of MBA education, agreeing that while AI will boost productivity, management education must focus on judgment, adaptability, and long-term career resilience. The second panel explored the role of business schools in India’s net-zero transition, stressing the integration of sustainability into curricula, research, campus operations, and industry collaboration.
Additionally, a panel on Indian Knowledge Systems examined how traditional wisdom can inform modern leadership and organizational decision-making.
Launch of IMI Kolkata's Global Investment Summit
The conference also marked the launch of IMI Kolkata’s Global Investment Summit under its business incubator, the IKN Innovation Foundation. After two months of mentoring, 57 startups pitched their ideas to investors, resulting in investment commitments totaling Rs. 5.1 crore for nine ventures.
Closing Remarks and Future Outlook
Concluding the event, Prof. Mohua Banerjee, Director of IMI Kolkata, highlighted how the conference strengthened collaboration among academia, industry, and policymakers. Prof. Bhimaraya Metri, President of ISDSI-Global, described the 2025 edition as a landmark event advancing global management research.
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