IIM Shillong launches first integrated program in management with inaugural cohort of 46 students

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 7, 2025

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong marked a historic milestone with the launch of its first-ever Integrated Program in Management (IPM) for the academic session 2025–2030. Designed as a five-year residential program, the IPM blends liberal education with rigorous management training, reflecting the institute’s vision of nurturing responsible leaders with an Indian ethos and a global outlook.

The program equips students with a strong foundation in critical thinking, communication, data-driven decision-making, and socio-economic awareness in the initial three years, before transitioning into the flagship Post Graduate Program in Management (PGP). Emphasis on sustainability, ethics, inclusivity, and values-based leadership is woven into the curriculum, drawing inspiration from principles such as Dharma (righteousness), Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), and Nishkama Karma (selfless action).

The selection process for the inaugural batch was highly competitive. Out of 30,220 aspirants who appeared for IPMAT 2025, 16,357 secured positive scores, with 1,588 applying to IIM Shillong. Following academic evaluation and interviews, 46 students were selected. The first batch reflects notable diversity: 32 male (70%) and 14 female (30%) students, with academic representation from Arts (46%), Commerce (30%), and Science (24%). The cohort spans 19 states, led by Madhya Pradesh (17.4%), Maharashtra (13%), and Gujarat (8.7%), along with participants from Meghalaya, Assam, and other regions.

The commencement ceremony took place at the IIM Shillong Auditorium on Saturday. The event began with the Lighting of the Lamp, followed by a presentation of the batch by Prof. Kailash Choudhary and an overview of the program by Prof. Sheetal, Chairperson – IPM.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Mahesh Y. Reddy, Chairman of the Infrastructure Industry & Logistics Federation of India, lauded IIM Shillong’s integrated model for preparing future-ready leaders. He highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary learning in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, urging students to play a central role in realising India’s $5 trillion economy vision.

Addressing the cohort, Nitin Sharma, Member of the Board of Governors, IIM Shillong, encouraged the students to embrace courage, collaboration, humility, and service as part of their leadership journey. Quoting from the Rig Veda and Swami Vivekananda, he underlined the importance of practising leadership daily with clarity and conviction.

Prof. Naliniprava Tripathy, Director (In-Charge), congratulated the students and noted that the program, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to develop resilient leaders equipped with global perspectives and grounded in Indian values. She urged students to step beyond their comfort zones and embrace challenges as opportunities.

The ceremony also featured a pledge led by Prof. Rohit Joshi, Dean Academics, and a Vote of Thanks by Prof. Vishakha Bansal. A panel discussion on “Going from 0 -1: Turning Ideas into Sustainable Business” brought further insights from industry leaders, including Kanika Raajdev, CEO of Mindcog; Sukhvinder Kaur, Chief General Manager – Retail Loans, SBI; and Pradeep Sekar, Managing Director, Optiv Inc.

With immersive residential learning, live projects, internships, and mentorship from faculty and industry experts, the IPM is set to be a transformative journey for its participants, expanding IIM Shillong’s academic offerings while reinforcing its mission of developing leaders who are rooted in Indian values yet equipped for global challenges.