Prof. (Dr.) P C Biswal joins IMI Bhubaneswar as Director.

The RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group announces the joining of Dr. Pratap Chandra Biswal as Director and Professor at International Management Institute, Bhubaneswar from April 2024. 

Dr. Biswal is an academic with 22 years of experience in teaching, training, consulting, research, and academic administration. A passionate and highly effective academic administrator who demonstrated success in implementing innovative strategies to promote academic excellence and continuous improvements in institutional processes during his career.   

Dr. P. C. Biswal is a Professor of Accounting and Finance at Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon since Jan 2010. He demonstrated effective leadership skills while working as a Dean at MDI Gurgaon in various capacities during May 2018 – Mar 2023 and led many significant initiatives of the school. Prior to MDI Gurgaon, Dr. Biswal worked as ICICI Bank BFSI Chair Professor with T. A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal and Assistant Professor at Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi.   

Dr. Biswal has taught various courses in India and abroad in the areas of Risk Management and Derivatives; Risk Management in Banks and FIs; Financial Modelling, Alternative Funds Management, International Corporate Finance; Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management; Financial Markets and Institutions; and Open Economy Macroeconomics. He has conducted numerous training programmes for senior and mid-level executives of Government of India (GoI), banks, PSUs and private sector companies. His research and consulting interest is in Risk Management and Derivatives; Basel Norms and Risk Management; Commodity Derivatives; Macroeconomic Policy Research; and Applied Econometrics. Prof Biswal has presented papers in National and International Seminars and Conferences on wide range topics in finance and economics. His works are published in academic journals, magazines and newspapers often. He has been part of many research and consulting projects of Government of India, World Health Organization (WHO), CDC (USA), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and various banks in India.

Team Campusutra spoke to Prof. Biswal to gather his thoughts on his new role :

1. What triggered the shift from a top B School like MDI and a happening location like Gurgaon, to IMI Bhubaneswar. Was it a hometown calling or something beyond that ? 

Prof. Biswal : The decision to move from MDI Gurgaon to IMI Bhubaneswar was not solely driven by hometown calling. No doubt Gurgaon offered a thriving business environment and MDI provided an excellent academic platform for professional growth. IMI Bhubaneswar located in a rapidly evolving smart city like Bhubaneswar, had a different appeal of its own beyond personal consideration.

My decision to join as the director of a fast-growing business school is driven by a combination of various factors. These include alignment with the institution’s vision and values, the opportunity to lead and shape its growth trajectory, and the potential for making a meaningful impact in a dynamic educational landscape. 

The institute’s commitment to academic excellence,  ambitious vision,  supported by top-notch faculty and infrastructure, coupled with the backing of the RP-Sanjeev Goenka Group, presents potential for impact, thus an exciting challenge. Additionally, the prospect of unlocking Odisha’s potential in the startup ecosystem and entrepreneurship, coupled with the opportunity to leave a positive impact on the local community, was highly compelling. Additionally, factors such as professional growth, career aspirations, and the desire to take on new challenges and responsibilities also influenced this decision. Ultimately, it’s about finding a role and environment that aligns with one’s aspirations for making a difference.

2. So, What are a few ‘Immediate Plan of Actions’ that come to your mind to take IMI B to the next level ?  

Prof. Biswal : As the new Director of IMI Bhubaneswar, my vision is to propel the institute to the forefront of competitiveness by capitalizing on our esteemed faculty, developed infrastructure and resources, backed by RP-Sanjeev Goenka Group. Despite our impressive track record of international and national recognition, including prestigious accreditations and successful student exchange programs with top B-schools globally, our challenge lies in improving rankings and visibility amidst a very competitive higher education landscape. 

• Focus areas would be brand building and visibility especially in digital space, academic excellence through experiential learning and global engagement, and emphasis on technology enabled learning environment to equip our students with the essential skills. 
• Recognizing Odisha’s untapped potential in the startup ecosystem, our focus will be on fostering entrepreneurship and further building a robust ecosystem to nurture entrepreneurial opportunities for not only students of the IMI but also other aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Aligning curriculum to bring more focus to social sensitivity, aiming to positively impact the local community. Additionally, forging stronger partnerships with industry leaders will be essential in positioning IMI Bhubaneswar as a distinguished national brand.

International Management Institute Bhubaneswar

Established in 2011 by RP-Sanjeev Goenka Group under the aegis of IMI-Delhi, IMI Bhubaneswar stands as a 16-acre lush green campus dedicated to cultivating socially conscious and ethically grounded managers equipped with contemporary management acumen. IMI Bhubaneswar embraces an interdisciplinary approach and contemporary analytics domain to address evolving business challenges. 

Over the last 13 years, IMI Bhubaneswar has achieved numerous milestones. IMI Bhubaneswar has attained accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), Graded Autonomy granted by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), AIU, USBES, and NAAC. Notably, the institute has consistently performed well in national rankings, securing the 67th position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2023 in Management Category, underscoring its commitment to high-quality teaching, training, research, and consultancy.

The institute offers a two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), a two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM – Online) and Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) approved by AICTE. Recognized as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work Institute – India survey, IMI Bhubaneswar upholds values such as respect for the community, passion for excellence, high ethical standards, and a research-driven approach.

Admissions to IMI Bhubaneswar are through examinations such as CAT, XAT, CMAT, and GMAT, ensuring a diverse and competitive student cohort.