New Delhi, Nov 12: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur has signed an MoU with the Retailers Association of India (RAI) to boost retail education, skill development, and research through a strong industry-academia partnership.
The initiative aims to create a dynamic learning platform that enables students to understand the evolving retail landscape, gain practical exposure, and build competencies aligned with contemporary industry demands.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpurand Dr. Lawrence Fernandes, Director Retail Learning & Member Relationship, RAI, in the presence of faculty members, students, and representatives from RAI.
Under this agreement, IIM Sambalpur will get academic membership from RAI, along with access to its vast industry network and participation in retail events such as the Retail Leadership Summit, ReTechCon, and the Retail HR Tech Summit. Additionally, RAI will support the organization of the Annual Retail Conclave at IIM Sambalpur and provide international exposure through curated visits and interactions with leading global retailers.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, said, “This partnership signifies a new era of brand in India concept in Indian management education to nurture responsible, skill-oriented, and innovative industry experience among business students. We believe management education must remain closely linked to real-world practice, and this MoU will enable our students to gain direct learning experiences from the retail industry.”
Kumar Rajagopalan, Chief Executive Officer, Retailers Association of India, remarked, “Retail in India is at a defining moment, growing rapidly, embracing technology, and creating new formats every day. Through this partnership with IIM Sambalpur, RAI continues its mission to bridge industry and academia, ensuring that future leaders are equipped with the skills, exposure, and mindset needed to shape modern retail. This collaboration is not just about education, but about co-creating pathways that strengthen India’s retail ecosystem and make it future-ready.”
The partnership underscores IIM Sambalpur’s commitment to developing industry-driven learning models and RAI’s dedication to advancing retail excellence through education and skill development. Together, the two institutions intend to create future-ready managers equipped to lead India’s vibrant retail sector toward sustained growth.
