An exclusive interview with Dr. V M Bansal
In an exclusive interview with The People Management magazine, Dr. V M Bansal shares how NDIM is incorporating AI and related technologies into its curriculum.
Q1. New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) has a strong placement record. How does the institution ensure students are industry-ready?
Our commitment to ensuring that every student is industry-ready is both strategic and deeply ingrained in our academic philosophy. Over the years, we have built an ecosystem where education and employability go hand in hand—driven by consistent industry linkages, dynamic curriculum design, and rigorous corporate readiness training.
We continuously gather input from the industry to identify skill and knowledge gaps, and we actively work on bridging them. Additionally, we seek ongoing feedback from our alumni to stay updated on emerging trends, challenges they face, and areas where we can further enhance our programs.
Our 97% placement and 3% entrepreneurship record for the 2021–23 batch is a direct result of NDIM’s embedded Corporate Skills Development (CSD) program, which delivers over 400 hours of individualized training per student. This includes resume building, mock interviews, soft skills, and company-specific preparation. Through 1,500 elevator pitches, 5,400+ group discussions, and personalized mentoring sessions, we ensure every student is prepared to meet recruiter expectations with confidence. Our eight full-time faculty trainers, each with over two decades of industry experience, lead this process with precision and purpose.
Equally crucial is our curriculum, which is revised twice a year with inputs from 132 senior industry leaders to ensure alignment with evolving market realities. Co-created with CEOs, CHROs, and business heads, it bridges academia and corporate practice effectively—earning NDIM recognition from AICTE-CII as India’s Best Industry-Linked B-School for three consecutive years across all streams. Our network of 335+ top recruiters—including KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Amazon, ITC, and Colgate—validates the strength of this approach, with students achieving salary packages up to ₹23 LPA.
Beyond placements, NDIM’s dual incubation centres (ASSOCHAM & NHRDN) nurture entrepreneurship, enabling students to launch ventures with mentoring from 72 industry experts and access to a ₹50 lakh seed fund. Through our unique mentoring model, over 354 professionals conduct 745+ one-on-one sessions annually, guiding students toward leadership and innovation.
Global readiness is another cornerstone of our approach. Our international immersion programs in the UK, Singapore, Dubai, and Thailand, along with Japan and Korea Centres of Excellence, give students the cross-cultural competence today’s global employers seek. Notably, 15% of placements in 2023 were secured with leading Japanese firms.
We take pride in producing professionals who combine business acumen with cultural intelligence and ethical leadership. At NDIM, being industry-ready is not an outcome—it is our promise.
Q2. Scholarships and financial assistance are often crucial for many students. Please brief if scholarship programs are available at NDIM and how students can benefit from them?
Scholarships continue to be an important focus for us. During admission interviews, outstanding students receive special consideration and immediate fee concessions — recognizing both their merit and financial need. Typically, scholarships are awarded based on academic performance after enrolment, but we ensure that deserving students are supported right from the start.
Additionally, scholarships are reviewed and granted after every semester based on students’ merit and specific cutoff criteria. Beyond financial aid, we also help students earn globally recognized certifications — such as those offered by Microsoft, Google, and other leading organizations — to enhance their employability and reward their exceptional performance.
Students are encouraged to appear for global certification exams, and once they qualify, the examination fee is fully reimbursed. In addition, NDIM provides attractive incentives to students who successfully earn these certifications — covering not only the exam cost but also offering a financial reward as recognition of their achievement. Whether termed a scholarship, incentive, or encouragement, these initiatives reflect NDIM’s commitment to supporting excellence.
Furthermore, to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, NDIM has sanctioned a ₹50 lakh seed fund, available to deserving students with promising startup ideas, helping them turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
Q3. With the increasing demand for skills in artificial intelligence and data analytics, how is NDIM incorporating AI and related technologies into its curriculum?
We understand that tomorrow’s leaders must be as comfortable working with algorithms and analytics as they are with business models and market strategies. To address this evolving reality, we have strategically embedded technology-driven learning into every layer of our academic and experiential framework.
We always look to the future, and a decade ago, we established a full-fledged department dedicated to AI/ML and Data Science, offering an independent specialization in these domains. Since then, we have integrated the latest AI/ML and Data Science tools across all our core disciplines—Marketing, HR, Finance, and Operations. This forward-thinking approach has transformed the landscape, positioning NDIM as a preferred destination for global top five companies that now repeatedly recruit our students for technology-driven and AI-related management roles—an achievement that was not the case just four years ago.
In close collaboration with industry experts, NDIM has incorporated advanced modules in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Cybersecurity, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and Metaverse Tools—ensuring our students gain a competitive edge in the digital economy. These modules are not taught as standalone concepts but are woven into real-world business contexts, helping students understand how data and technology drive decision-making, innovation, and organizational efficiency.
In addition to this, our institute is deeply tech-enabled, ensuring that innovation is not confined to the classroom but woven into every aspect of campus life. NDIM leverages technology to enhance both teaching and learning outcomes.
Q4. What qualities are new-age companies looking for in management graduates? How NDIM is preparing its students?
Today’s employers are not just looking for management graduates with degrees—they are seeking dynamic professionals who combine analytical thinking, technological fluency, leadership, and a global mindset. New-age companies value individuals who can innovate under pressure, collaborate across cultures, think digitally, and adapt to disruption with speed and purpose. At NDIM, we have built our entire ecosystem around these evolving expectations. Through our Corporate Mentorship Program, senior industry mentors personally guide students helping them bridge the gap between academic learning and the realities of the corporate world. Our faculty ensures that every classroom discussion is grounded in industry relevance and business practicality.
They are looking for graduates who can quickly adapt and re-adapt to changing situations, emerging scenarios, and new challenges every day. They seek individuals with a positive attitude—those who are open to company culture, receptive to feedback, and aligned with organizational expectations.
At NDIM, we have built our entire ecosystem around these evolving expectations. Through our Corporate Mentorship Program, senior industry mentors personally guide students helping them bridge the gap between academic learning and the realities of the corporate world. Our faculty ensures that every classroom discussion is grounded in industry relevance and business practicality.
Beyond technical and managerial skills, we emphasize innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Our ASSOCHAM-backed incubation centre and the flagship ‘Wommenovator’ initiative empower students to launch ventures and lead with purpose, while the REPA–NDIM Centre of Excellence in Renewable Energy instills environmental consciousness and sustainable business thinking. Equally important is global exposure. Our collaborations with leading universities such as Pepperdine University (USA), the University at Buffalo (USA), AIT Thailand, and our Japan and Korea Centres of Excellence, give students cross-cultural experience and access to global career opportunities.