MoU aims to
empower students to understand and contribute to India’s Retail Future &
Brand
New Delhi:
One of the premier B-Schools of India, Indian
Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur, has signed a pact with
the Retailers Association of
India (RAI) to boost retail education, skill development, and
research through a strong industry-academia partnership. The initiative aims to
create a dynamic learning platform that enables students to understand the
evolving retail landscape, gain practical exposure, and build competencies
aligned with contemporary industry demands.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM
Sambalpur and Dr.
Lawrence Fernandes, Director Retail Learning & Member Relationship, RAI,
in the presence of faculty members, students, and representatives from RAI.
Under this agreement, IIM
Sambalpur will get academic membership from RAI, along with access to its vast
industry network and participation in retail events such as the Retail Leadership Summit, ReTechCon,
and the Retail HR Tech Summit.
Additionally, RAI will support the organization of the Annual Retail Conclave
at IIM Sambalpur and provide international exposure through curated visits and
interactions with leading global retailers.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM
Sambalpur, said, “This partnership signifies a
new era of brand in India concept in Indian management education to nurture
responsible, skill-oriented, and innovative industry experience among business
students. We believe management education must remain closely linked to
real-world practice, and this MoU will enable our students to gain direct
learning experiences from the retail industry.”
Kumar Rajagopalan, Chief
Executive Officer, Retailers Association of India, remarked, “Retail in India
is at a defining moment, growing rapidly, embracing technology, and creating
new formats every day. Through this partnership with IIM Sambalpur, RAI
continues its mission to bridge industry and academia, ensuring that future
leaders are equipped with the skills, exposure, and mindset needed to shape
modern retail. This collaboration is not just about education, but about co-creating
pathways that strengthen India’s retail ecosystem and make
it future-ready.”
The partnership underscores
IIM Sambalpur’s commitment to developing industry-driven learning models and
RAI’s dedication to advancing retail excellence through education and skill
development. Together, the two institutions intend to create future-ready
managers equipped to lead India’s vibrant retail sector toward sustained
growth.