IIM Visakhapatnam inaugurates 2nd Batch of Executive Post-Graduate Diploma Program in Management for Defence Sector
The Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam (IIMV) inaugurated the 2nd Batch of the Executive Post-Graduate Diploma Program in Management (EPGDPM) for officers and executives from the Defence Sector.
Developed under the guidance of the Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, and in knowledge partnership with HAL Management Academy, BEL Academy for Excellence (Nalanda), and the National Academy of Defence Production (NADP), the one-year program aims to strengthen leadership and management acumen in the defence sector.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Capt. Ganti Venkateswarlu, Chairman and Managing Director (Additional Charge), Hindustan Shipyard Limited, as the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, he lauded IIM Visakhapatnam for the successful completion of the first batch of EPGDPM and called upon the participants to work towards self-reliance in the defence sector. He emphasized that leadership requires multifaceted personalities capable of navigating complexity, inspiring teams, and driving transformation. He encouraged the participants to strive to achieve even an incremental change that can collectively create a significant impact.
Prof. M. Chandrasekhar, Director, IIM Visakhapatnam, highlighted the program’s strong academia-industry collaboration and its case-based, curated management learning approach. He emphasized defence as a strategic growth sector and noted that IIMV has conceptualized the program to address the specific needs of the defence industry.
The ceremony began with a warm welcome by Prof. Prashant Premkumar Nair, Admissions Chair, who introduced the cohort profile. The batch includes participants from 6 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), NAD, and a private defence firm. The cohort has an average age of 38 years and over 12 years of work experience.
Prof. B. Srirangacharyulu, Program Chair, briefed the participants on 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 successful completion of the first year, with an option to continue for a second year to earn an MBA.
Delivered in a hybrid format, the program includes online sessions and six weeks of campus immersion. The first two-week immersion is held 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), and one week at NADP, Nagpur. The third two-week immersion is held at ESCP Business School, Paris, France.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Prashant Premkumar Nair. He expressed gratitude to the participants and their families for their commitment, the Ministry of Defence for its trust and partnership, and the faculty and staff of IIM Visakhapatnam for their support in making the program possible.
