IIM Ahmedabad Opens 1st Overseas Campus

• 13 Sep 2025

Why in News?

Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the first-ever overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) at the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC).

• In another development, India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi — the first-ever overseas AIC hosted by an Indian institution.

Key Points

• IIM-A Dubai will tentatively begin its academic activities by the end of September with a full-time one-year MBA for working professionals and entrepreneurs.
• India’s Union Education Minister also held a roundtable discussion with officials of Indian institutions, Manipal University, Symbiosis University, BITS Pilani, and Amity University, which have established their campuses in Dubai, and outlined the need to move research from papers to products. 
• He also interacted with principals of 109 Indian schools in the UAE (with others joining virtually) and announced that 12 UAE schools will set up Atal Tinkering Labs to promote innovation among students.

Note:

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is the Government of India’s endeavor to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. 
  • Under its core objectives, AIM intends to support the establishment of new incubation centres called Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) that would nurture innovative start-up businesses in their pursuit to become scalable and sustainable enterprises. 
• Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) are set up in schools to foster innovation in students (grades 6-12) using tools like 3D printing.