IIM Visakhapatnam Inaugurates Mid-Career Management Development Programme for ICMR Scientists
03-08-2026
The Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam inaugurated the two-week Mid-Career Management Development Programme under the aegis of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on 3rd July 2026. The programme has brought together 43 senior scientists from various ICMR centres across the country to strengthen their managerial and leadership capabilities.
The programme, led by Prof. Prashant Premkumar Nair and Prof. Kaveri Krishnan, features a thoughtfully designed curriculum based on the 70:20:10 learning model. It integrates immersive learning sessions on leadership, strategic decision-making, resource management, gamified learning, emerging technologies such as the metaverse, and collaborative approaches to problem-solving. Emphasising that leadership and decision-making have a multiplier effect, the Programme Directors noted that the initiative aims to build meaningful, scalable, and sustainable capacity among participants.
Prof. M. Chandrasekhar, Director, IIM Visakhapatnam, welcomed the participants and the Chief Guest. He thanked Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Dr. Sanghamitra Pati, Additional Director General, ICMR; Dr. Richa Pandey, ICAS, Senior Financial Advisor, ICMR; and Shri Jagdish Rajesh, Deputy Director General (Administration), ICMR, for their continued support to the collaboration between ICMR and IIM Visakhapatnam.
In his address, he highlighted ICMR's endeavour of taking research from the lab to the land and noted that this initiative brings traction to that endeavour. He remarked that programmes such as these strengthen the leadership and decision-making capabilities of scientists, creating a multiplier effect that extends beyond individual learning. Through immersive sessions, exposure to emerging ideas, and collaborative learning, the programme seeks to build meaningful and scalable capacity among participants.
Shri Vivek Kumar Daksh, IPoS, Senior Deputy Director General (Administration), ICMR, graced the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. In his address, he emphasised that management extends beyond day-to-day administrative activities and is a structured discipline supported by well-established methodologies. He noted that scientists are increasingly called upon to take on leadership roles, making management education an essential complement to their technical expertise. Appreciating the programme's lively and interactive curriculum, he highlighted its role in translating research into meaningful outcomes that contribute to nation-building.
