PM Narendra Modi has announced that the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore will establish its first overseas campus in Indonesia, marking a significant milestone in India’s efforts to internationalise higher education and deepen educational ties with Southeast Asia. The announcement was made during his official visit to Indonesia following bilateral talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
The proposed campus is expected to serve students not only from Indonesia but also from countries across the ASEAN region, reinforcing India’s ambition to become a global education hub while strengthening its strategic partnership with Indonesia.
Campus to be established in Singhasari SEZ
According to the announcement, the new IIM Bangalore campus will be located at the Singhasari Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Malang, East Java. The SEZ has emerged as Indonesia’s innovation and technology hub, making it an ideal location for an institution focused on business education, technology and leadership development.
Prime Minister Modi described the initiative as an important step towards empowering young people across the ASEAN region with world-class management education. He noted that the campus would create new opportunities for students, professionals and future business leaders while strengthening academic collaboration between India and Indonesia.
The move also reflects India’s broader vision of taking its premier educational institutions to the global stage through international campuses.
Executive programmes to begin in first phase
The overseas campus will be developed in phases. During the initial stage, IIM Bangalore will introduce executive education programmes designed for senior executives, government officials, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
These short-term professional programmes are expected to address leadership development, policy management and executive decision-making for professionals from Indonesia and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.
After the successful completion of the first phase, the institute plans to introduce full-fledged management degree programmes. The expansion into degree courses will depend on the implementation and performance of the executive education programmes during the initial years.
Curriculum focused on emerging global sectors
The academic curriculum has been designed to prepare future business leaders for rapidly evolving global challenges. The programmes will place special emphasis on emerging sectors that are transforming industries worldwide.
Key areas of study will include artificial intelligence, digital transformation, global supply chains, climate sustainability and healthcare management. These disciplines have been identified as priority sectors where demand for skilled management professionals continues to grow.
Also Read: Wayanad: 2 Killed, Several Feared Trapped After Landslide Hits Tunnel Project Site
Students enrolled at the Indonesia campus will also have opportunities to interact with global industry experts, experienced academicians and corporate leaders through lectures, workshops and collaborative learning programmes.
Academic exchange with Bengaluru campus
An important feature of the initiative is the academic linkage with IIM Bangalore’s main campus in India.
Participants studying in Indonesia will be offered opportunities to visit the Bengaluru campus through short-term academic immersion programmes. These visits are expected to expose students to India’s innovation ecosystem, startup culture, entrepreneurship environment and industry partnerships.
The exchange programmes aim to strengthen cross-border learning while providing international exposure to participants from Southeast Asia.
The campus is expected to primarily serve Indonesian students, although applicants from other ASEAN nations will also be encouraged to participate, making it a regional centre for management education.
Strengthening India-Indonesia strategic partnership
The announcement formed part of a wider package of agreements signed during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Indonesia. Both countries agreed to expand cooperation in several strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, telecommunications, startups, space research and emerging technologies.
Education has become one of the central pillars of the growing India-Indonesia partnership. The establishment of an overseas IIM campus is expected to complement collaboration in technology, innovation and skill development while promoting greater people-to-people engagement.
Officials believe the initiative will contribute to building a stronger knowledge economy across the Indo-Pacific region while supporting the development of future business leaders equipped for global challenges.
Supporting the National Education Policy vision
The international expansion aligns with the objectives of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages premier higher education institutions to establish campuses abroad and enhance India’s global academic presence.
Over the past few years, several leading Indian institutions have expanded internationally. IIM Ahmedabad established an overseas campus in Dubai, IIT Delhi opened a campus in Abu Dhabi, and IIT Madras launched its international campus in Zanzibar. The new Indonesia campus represents another major step in this strategy to project India’s educational excellence globally.
Expanding India’s educational influence
Experts believe the establishment of IIM Bangalore’s first international campus will significantly enhance India’s reputation as a provider of quality higher education. The initiative is expected to attract talented students from across Southeast Asia while encouraging greater academic collaboration, research partnerships and innovation.
As India continues to strengthen diplomatic, technological and economic ties with ASEAN nations, educational initiatives such as the Indonesia campus are likely to play a key role in fostering long-term cooperation and developing future leaders capable of driving regional growth.
The project also underscores India’s growing confidence in exporting its globally recognised educational institutions and management expertise beyond its borders, positioning the country as an influential knowledge partner for the Indo-Pacific region.
Click here to join us on WhatsApp Channel and get all the latest news updates
