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Synopsis:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that IIM Bangalore will open its first overseas campus in Indonesia. The campus will offer executive and degree programs, strengthening India-Indonesia education ties while creating leadership opportunities for students across the ASEAN region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) will set up its first overseas campus in Indonesia. The move makes IIM Bangalore the second Indian Institute of Management to establish an international campus and marks a major step in expanding India's higher education presence in Southeast Asia.
The announcement came during a joint press statement with Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “We are going to establish a campus of India's prestigious management institute, IIM Bangalore, in Indonesia, which will greatly benefit the youth across the entire ASEAN region”.
The Prime Minister also highlighted that India and Indonesia have signed an important agreement to strengthen cooperation in technology. The partnership will focus on areas such as artificial intelligence, telecommunications, Digital Public Infrastructure, and stronger collaboration between the startup ecosystems of both countries.
According to IIM Bangalore, the new campus reflects the shared vision of India and Indonesia to develop future-ready business leaders and strengthen academic collaboration. The institute said the campus will serve students and professionals from Indonesia as well as the wider ASEAN region.
The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIM Bangalore and the Singhasari Special Economic Zone (SEZ), where the international campus is expected to be established.
The institute plans to launch the campus in two phases. In the first phase, it will introduce short-term Executive Education Programs (EEPs) for working professionals and senior executives. In the second phase, it will begin offering full degree programs.
Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-Charge of IIM Bangalore, said the initiative will help build a strong leadership pipeline for Indonesia and beyond. He said, “This partnership will create a significant impact by developing a leadership pool that will lead not only companies in Indonesia but also global corporations”.
Prof. Desai, Member of the Board of Governors at IIM Bangalore, said the institute's expertise in management education and research positions it well to deliver globally recognized programs in Indonesia.
He said, “With our significant strength in management education and research, IIMB is well positioned to deliver high-quality, high-reputation management programs and make Indonesia a global hub in business education. We believe that this program will lead to significantly improved employment opportunities for Indonesian citizens and expatriates alike and push the envelope in making the Global South region the preferred destination for both quality education and business leadership”.
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The Indonesia campus will offer executive programs tailored for senior leaders and professionals preparing for leadership roles. The curriculum will cover core management subjects along with emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, global supply chains, climate and sustainability, and healthcare.
Beyond academics, the initiative also aims to promote research partnerships, faculty development, consulting projects, policy collaboration, student exchange programs, and stronger industry engagement across Indonesia and the broader ASEAN region.
Participants will also gain access to IIM Bangalore's extensive collection of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). As the nodal agency for management education under Swayam and a recognized leader in online learning, the institute will combine digital learning resources with classroom-based education to provide flexible learning opportunities.
The new campus is expected to deepen educational cooperation between India and Indonesia while expanding access to world-class management education for learners across Southeast Asia.