Archive · 6 Oct 2026
IIM Calcutta Director Sees One-Year MBAs Gaining Ground
IIM Calcutta is a leading school that teaches people how to manage businesses.
Its director, Alok Kumar Rai, says some students are less interested in spending two full years on an MBA.
He thinks shorter one-year courses and learning that combines online and in-person study may become more popular.
The school is also adding AI to its teaching and plans to start an online MBA.
Rai says technology skills are useful, but they change quickly.
He believes students also need to learn how to think carefully, adapt, and lead.
IIM Calcutta said the share of women in its MBA programme increased this year.
It also said its internship pre-placement opportunities rose.
IIM Calcutta ranked second in Business Today India’s Best B-schools 2026-27 ranking.
Director Alok Kumar Rai said attracting students to traditional two-year full-time MBA programmes is becoming challenging.
Rai expects one-year and hybrid management programmes to grow, including an online MBA planned by IIM Calcutta.
He said AI and other emerging technologies matter, but management education should also build conceptual thinking, adaptability and leadership.
IIM Calcutta reported female participation in its MBA programme rose from 28% in 2025-26 to 36% this year, and said pre-placement opportunities increased.
- Who
- Alok Kumar Rai, director of IIM Calcutta, discussed management education and the institute’s plans.
- What
- Rai said one-year and hybrid programmes may grow and emphasized leadership, adaptability and conceptual understanding alongside technology skills.
- When
- The interview refers to the 2026-27 Business Today ranking and MBA participation figures for 2025-26 and the current year.
- Where
- IIM Calcutta, India.
- Why
- Rai said changing work demands and difficulty attracting students to traditional two-year full-time MBA programmes are prompting new learning models.
- Business Today ranking
- IIM Calcutta placed second in India’s Best B-schools 2026-27 ranking.
- Director
- Alok Kumar Rai took charge in July 2025.
- MBAEx work experience
- The programme requires at least five years of work experience; the batch average was 8.5 years this year.
- Female participation
- IIM Calcutta reported 28% female participation in its MBA programme in 2025-26 and 36% this year.
- Pre-placement offers
- The institute reported around 155 pre-placement offers during internships last year, among approximately 480 regular MBA students.
- Planned programme
- IIM Calcutta is planning to start an online MBA programme.