IIM Visakhapatnam Celebrates 12th Foundation Day
Visakhapatnam, January 17, 2026: The Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam (IIMV) celebrated its 12th Foundation Day today, marking a significant milestone in its journey of fostering entrepreneurial leadership, academic excellence, and nation-building. The occasion was graced by Ms. Sumita Dawra, IAS (Retd.) [AP:1991], Former Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Labour & Employment, as the Chief Guest.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. M. Chandrasekhar, Director, IIM Visakhapatnam, highlighted the Institute’s remarkable progress over the past decade. He noted that in a little over ten years, IIM Visakhapatnam has established a strong reputation for delivering high-quality management education that seamlessly blends theory with practice. The Institute has emerged as a nurturing ground for future leaders contributing meaningfully to the private, public, and social sectors as professional managers, entrepreneurs, and stewards of emerging enterprises. He also expressed sincere gratitude to the Central and State Governments for their continued support and guidance.
In her Foundation Day address, Ms. Sumita Dawra, who previously served as the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, expressed her delight at returning to IIM Visakhapatnam. She recalled her association with the Institute during her visit in 2016 for a leadership conclave organised in collaboration with IIMB, and appreciated the remarkable growth the Institute has achieved since then. Speaking on India’s transition from demographic advantage to demographic dividend, she emphasized that the country is currently witnessing a rare “Goldilocks period.”
She underscored the importance of skilling, reskilling, and upskilling, along with the need for continuous learning, unlearning, and relearning in a rapidly evolving global economy. Drawing from her rich administrative experience, she cited initiatives such as PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) and PM Gati Shakti as case studies of effective governance and execution. She highlighted the critical importance of analytical and critical thinking, technological literacy, leadership, flexibility, agility, and creative problem-solving. Ms. Sumita Dawra also spoke about how Artificial Intelligence, while disruptive, can be leveraged as a significant advantage for the gig economy and the growth of Global Capability Centres in India, and congratulated IIM Visakhapatnam on its achievements.
The journey of IIM Visakhapatnam began on 17 January 2015, when the foundation stone was laid by the then Hon’ble Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Smt. Smriti Irani, in the august presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the then Hon’ble Union Minister for Urban Development and later Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, and the then Hon’ble Union Minister for Civil Aviation and current Hon’ble Governor of Goa, Shri P. Ashok Gajapati Raju, along with several Hon’ble Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished public representatives.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, virtually inaugurated the Institute’s magnificent 241-acre campus located at Gambheeram Village, Anandapuram Mandal, on 20 February 2024.
Today, IIM Visakhapatnam serves the learning aspirations of over 6000 learners annually from across the globe through its on-campus, online, and hybrid programmes. The Institute continues to scale new heights with its flagship MBA programme, supported by a strong and diverse faculty base, and a sharp focus on research, innovation, and leadership development. IIMV hosts IIMV-FIELD, one of India’s fastest-growing incubators, nurturing nearly 200 startups, of which 75% are led by women entrepreneurs. A preferred destination for executive education, the Institute collaborates with leading stakeholders, including Ministries and Departments of the Government of India, major Central Public Sector Enterprises, the Central Vigilance Commission, the Capacity Building Commission, the World Bank, and prominent private and not-for-profit organisations.
As part of the celebrations, Ms. Sumita Dawra presented Merit Certificates to eight high-performing PGP students in recognition of their outstanding academic performance. Awards were also presented to students, faculty, and staff for excellence in sports and other achievements.
IIM Visakhapatnam remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and leadership as it continues to shape future-ready leaders under the visionary guidance of Prof. M. Chandrasekhar.
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