IIM Ranchi inaugurated the 6th Batch of its flagship Nurturing Future Leadership Program (NFLP), welcoming 33 participants from over 25 institutions across India. Designed as a five-day residential leadership development initiative, the program is conducted under the aegis of the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme (MMTTP) of the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Delivering the welcome address, Prof. Amit Sachan, Dean Executive Education & Consulting (EEC), greeted the participants and shared insights into IIM Ranchi’s academic programs, student community, and its expanding scope in executive education. He emphasized the importance of faculty leadership, noting that while faculty primarily focus on teaching and research, leadership in academia demands effective management of administrative responsibilities and multiple stakeholder relationships. Encouraging participants to make the sessions interactive, he urged them to learn collaboratively, exchange perspectives, and make the most of their time at IIM Ranchi.

Following his address, the ceremony witnessed the Lamp Lighting and Saraswati Vandana, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

In his address, Prof. Manish Bansal, Chairperson (EEC) and Programme Director, extended a warm welcome to the participants and highlighted the program’s alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which calls for early identification and development of academic leadership potential. He shared that the vision of the NFLP resonates deeply with the legacy of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, who believed that education must combine knowledge with character, values, and societal contribution.

Prof. Bansal underscored that the NFLP is not a conventional classroom program, but a transformative leadership experience rooted in experiential learning - through case studies, simulations, group discussions, and peer interactions. He elaborated that the five-day program follows a carefully designed progression: it begins with self-awareness and personal reflection on Day 1: Foundation - Know Thyself, moves to interpersonal and team leadership on Day 2: Interpersonal Excellence - Leading Others, strategic decision-making on Day 3: Strategic Leadership - Thinking Like a Leader, operational effectiveness on Day 4: Operational Excellence - Making It Work, and culminates with purpose, ethics, and legacy on Day 5: Purpose-Driven Leadership - Ethics, Impact, and Legacy.

He added that the final day encourages participants to reflect on ethical leadership, sustainability, and inclusivity, culminating in personal leadership pledges and an action plan for institutional transformation.

Continuing the inaugural session, Prof. Kushagra Sharan, Programme Director, reflected on the evolving higher education landscape in India, with over 45,000 institutions, and the growing need for visionary academic leaders who can guide institutions with clarity, inclusivity, and innovation. He noted that leadership is not a position, but an action, and that the NFLP aims to nurture faculty as holistic leaders through its four foundational pillars - ecosystem building, pool expansion, proactive contribution, and capability assessment.

Prof. Sharan also highlighted the rich diversity of the cohort, comprising participants with experience ranging from three years to nearly four decades in academia, representing a broad spectrum of institutions and regions across India. He expressed confidence that the program’s immersive and reflective learning journey would prove deeply meaningful and transformative for all participants.

The inauguration concluded with a group photograph, marking the beginning of a transformative learning journey for the participants of the Nurturing Future Leadership Program at IIM Ranchi.