Inaugural Ceremony of Executive Post-Graduate Diploma Program in Management Batch-1
The Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam (IIMV) on Saturday started the Executive Post-Graduate Diploma Program in Management (EPGDPM) for officers and executives from the Defence Sector. This unique one-year program, tailored to equip defence personnel with advanced managerial and leadership skills, aligning with the evolving needs of a dynamic, technology-driven global landscape, has an international component too with the ESCP Business School (EBS), Paris, France.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Cmde Hemant Khatri, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, as the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, he lauded India's growth as the fourth-largest economy and emphasized the country's leadership in areas such as digital infrastructure, innovation through initiatives like Vande Bharat, and the march toward 6G technologies. He inspired the participants to become leaders of transformation and nation-building, urging them to develop skills in critical thinking, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and creative problem-solving—capabilities essential for an AI-driven future.
Prof. M. Chandrasekhar, Director, IIM Visakhapatnam, spoke about the program’s relevance and alignment with industry needs. Highlighting 2025 as a landmark year of reforms for the Ministry of Defence, he underscored IIMV’s strategic advantage with its accomplished faculty, strong academic ecosystem, and successful track record in public procurement training and Young Scientists Induction Programs.
The EPGDPM's inauguration was commenced with a warm welcome by Prof. Prashant Premkumar Nair, Admissions Chair, who also introduced the cohort’s impressive profile. The batch has an average age of 38 years and average work experience of 13 years, with participants hailing from various regions across India, representing a wide range of professional backgrounds in defence services.
Prof. B. Srirangacharyulu, Program Chair, took the participants through the curriculum, delivery model, and learning objectives of the program. The EPGDPM is structured as a modular MBA, where participants are awarded an executive Post Graduate Diploma upon successfully completing the first year, with an option to continue for a second year to earn an MBA. Delivered in a hybrid format, it includes online sessions and six weeks of immersive campus engagement, including:
The first two-week immersion is at IIM Visakhapatnam at the start of the Program. The second two-week immersion includes one week at HAL Management Academy and BEL Academy for Excellence (Nalanda) together and one week at National Academy of Defence Production (NADP), Nagpur. The third two-week immersion is at ESCP Business School (EBS), Paris, France.
The campus immersion at IIM Visakhapatnam will continue until 13 June 2025, setting the stage for transformational learning, collaboration, and leadership development.
The program is developed under the aegis of the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, in partnership with HAL, BEL, and NADP, reinforcing the commitment to capacity building and excellence in defence management education.
The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Kaveri Krishnan, Dean Administration at IIMV. She expressed deep gratitude to the participants and their families for their commitment, the Ministry of Defence for its trust and partnership, and the staff and faculty of IIM Visakhapatnam for their unwavering support in making the program possible.
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