General Management Programme1

General Management Programme

The General Management Programme (GMP) by IIM Ahmedabad is a flagship international executive programme designed for global professionals across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. With immersive modules in Dubai and India, it delivers cross-functional leadership insights, global business perspectives, and IIMA’s prestigious alumni credential, empowering participants to step into senior management roles with confidence and clarity.

Course Starts: March, 2026

Course Duration	Application Deadline	Course Fees	Programme Mode	Class Timings
6 to 8 Months (22–32 weeks)	7^th December 2025	AED 49,500 + 5% VAT	Direct to Device and On-Campus Modules	Saturdays, 2 PM – 6 PM UAE Time & Selected Sundays

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Course Overview

The General Management Programme (Batch 24) by IIM Ahmedabad is a globally benchmarked executive learning experience crafted for ambitious professionals across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. With a stellar legacy of 23 successful batches, GMP blends IIMA’s academic excellence with real-world application through a future-forward curriculum spanning strategy, cross-functional execution, leadership, and digital disruption.

Participants explore cutting-edge themes like AI/ML for business, analytics-driven decision-making, and global market dynamics delivered through live sessions, immersive modules in Dubai and Ahmedabad, and peer-driven learning.

This is your platform to transition from domain depth to enterprise-wide influence while earning a prestigious IIM Ahmedabad credential and global network.

Key Highlights

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100 Immersive Sessions
60 Online + 40 in person sessions

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Real-world Case studies
Timeless cases from Harvard and IIM Ahmedabad

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Most Coveted Alumni Status
Join IIM Ahmedabad’s prestigious global network

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Diverse Peer Network
Participants from Global Industries

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World-Class Faculty
Sharpen Critical Decisions

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Industry-relevant Curriculum
Rooted in Strategic & Leadership Depth

The Programme is Curated for

The General Management Programme by IIM Ahmedabad is designed for professionals ready to rise beyond functional excellence and lead at an enterprise level.

Senior Executives

Elevate your leadership impact with advanced management frameworks to drive growth, transformation, and competitive advantage across global markets.

Functional & Project Leaders

Go beyond operational excellence to strategic influence. Master decision-making, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration to lead high-impact initiatives.

Entrepreneurs & Business Owners

Scale your venture with a global perspective. Learn finance, operations, and innovation strategies to build sustainable businesses and lead with clarity.

CXOs & Business Leaders

Designed for CEOs, COOs, CFOs, and senior directors aiming to sharpen global perspectives, foster innovation, and lead complex business environments.

Mid-Career Professionals

Accelerate your transition from functional roles to leadership positions by gaining a 360° understanding of global business management.

Consultants & Advisors

Strengthen your consulting expertise with advanced strategy, analytics, and leadership insights to better advise clients on growth and transformation.

Aspiring Global Leaders

Ideal for professionals targeting senior leadership or international roles, equipping them with cross-cultural management skills and strategic foresight.

Eligibility

To apply for this programme, applicants must:

Hold a Diploma, Bachelor's, or Master's degree
Participants should have a minimum of 5 years of work experience across any function or industry

Please note: Internships and training periods are not counted toward the experience requirement.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the programme is by invitation only and follows a rigorous, merit- based evaluation. Candidates must demonstrate accelerated career progression, strong leadership potential, and a high intent to learn.

Selection Steps:

Begin your application by paying the registration fee.
Submit your resume and Statement of Purpose (SOP) for the shortlisting process.
If shortlisted, you will receive an official offer letter.
Confirm your admission by accepting the offer and paying the first instalment.

Key Outcomes of Your Learning Journey

Strengthen your ability to think strategically, execute cross-functionally, and lead with agility in today’s complex business environments.
Deepen your understanding of how technology, leadership, and global strategy converge to drive future-ready organisations.
Apply cutting-edge frameworks to real-world challenges from digital transformation to customer-centric innovation.
Evolve from a domain expert to an enterprise-wide influencer with greater clarity, confidence, and decision-making authority.
Broaden your global outlook through immersive modules that help you navigate dynamic markets, cultures, and business systems.
Graduate with a mark of distinction from IIM Ahmedabad equipped with a sharper purpose, perspective, and leadership maturity.

Programme Curriculum

The modular format, supported by IIM Ahmedabad faculty and rich cohort of participants allows participants to learn in manageable stages, apply insights directly to their work, and build a cumulative understanding of management. By the end of the programme, participants emerge with a well-rounded, integrated view of how businesses function and how leaders can drive them forward.

Foundational Modules

The journey begins with foundational modules that establish solid grounding in business essentials such as Economics, Accounting, Decision-Making Frameworks, Technology Landscape, Organizational Behaviour. These provide the baseline knowledge needed to engage with higher-level management topics and complex decision situations.

Building on the foundations, the functional modules explore the key pillars of business. Marketing, Finance, Operations Supply Chain, Human Resources, Organisation Design. Participants learn how different functions interact, and how to make informed decisions that balance short-term performance with long-term value creation. At this stage, the curriculum design embeds developing understanding about - Data-Based Analysis and Prediction, Digital Transformation, AI/ML Applications, Change Management.

Strategic Modules

Subsequently, the programme moves into strategic modules, focusing on Competitive Strategy, Business Model Innovation, Digital Transformation, Global Perspectives. Here, participants develop the ability to see the bigger picture, anticipate change, and craft strategies that create sustainable advantage.

Leadership Modules

Alongside, the leadership module helps participants reflect on their own leadership style, strengthen their ability to inspire and influence, and build skills for Managing Teams, Driving Change, and Leading In Uncertain Environments. Emphasis is placed on enhancing self-awareness, resilience, and communication capabilities of participants.

Governance Modules

Finally, the governance modules address the broader responsibilities of senior leaders, covering Governance, Ethics, Sustainability, Stakeholder Management. This ensures that participants are prepared not only to deliver results but also to lead responsibly and with integrity.

*Courses are subject to change.

Meet the Brilliant Minds behind Your Education

Prof. Bharat Bhasker
Director, IIM Ahmedabad

Prof. Bharat Bhasker holds a Ph.D. and Master’s in Computer Science from Virginia Tech, USA, and a Bachelor of Engineering from IIT Roorkee. He has served as Director of IIM Raipur (2017–2022), Acting Director of IIM Lucknow, and Mentor Director of IIM Sirmaur, and now leads IIM Ahmedabad. He was honoured with the ‘Best Director of Business Schools’ award for his transformative leadership. He has held prestigious academic positions worldwide, including ESSEC Business School (Paris), University of California, University of Texas, Chung-Ang University (Seoul), and University of Tenaga Nasional (Malaysia), and served as an international research advisor to Canada’s NSERC. Alongside his academic journey, Prof. Bhasker has industry experience with Connectix Corp., SYBASE Inc., Hughes STX, MDL Information Systems, and Tata Steel. He has also led professional bodies such as the Computer Society of India and the Indian Subcontinent Decision Science Institute.

Prof. Sunil Sharma
Dean, IIMA Dubai Campus

Prof. Sunil Sharma is a Professor of Strategy at IIM Ahmedabad where he teaches courses on Strategic Planning, Strategy Implementation, and Leading Professional Service Firms. He holds a Ph. D. in Strategy from IIM Ahmedabad. Prior to joining IIM Ahmedabad, Sunil has worked for 16 years in large corporations like McKinsey, ONGC, and NTPC. His most recent corporate stint was with Tata Power in a CXO role leading Strategy, Innovation, and Business Collaboration. He has also served as an Independent Director for ZEE entertainment and Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd. Sunil has held various administrative positions at IIMA in addition to being a member of the MBA program review committee. He was the Chairperson of IIMA Executive Education from 2018-21 and of IIMA’s one year MBA (PGPX) from 2016-18. He is currently the Chairperson of the IIMA Centre on Incubation and Entrepreneurship. Sunil has designed and delivered more than a hundred executive development courses for senior executives working in the private sector, entrepreneurs, bureaucrats in government, and public sector professionals. Sunil regularly advises companies on their strategy and organizational related issues. He has presented papers in leading international conferences and his work on capability building, innova- tion, and growth challenges has been published in international journals. He has also written cases on the topics of growth strategy, transformation, and manage- ment consulting.

Programme Co-chairpersons

Prof. Biju Varkkey
Human Resources Management, IIM Ahmedabad

Prof. Biju Varkkey, Fellow in Management from NIBM Pune, is a faculty member at IIM Ahmedabad specializing in HRM, strategy, and leadership. He has led major initiatives like IIMA’s ePGP program and worked on international projects with UNDP, ILO, IOM, and WHO. He has published extensively, co-authored a leading HRM textbook, and developed 35+ case studies for management education. His consulting and executive training portfolio spans corporates, government bodies, MNCs, and startups in India and abroad. Prof. Varkkey also serves on academic boards, editorial committees, and advisory panels, contributing to HR strategy, organizational development, and performance management practices.

Prof. Balagopal Gopalakrishnan
Finance and Accounting, IIM Ahmedabad

Prof. Balagopal Gopalakrishnan holds a Ph.D. in Finance & Accounting from IIM Ahmedabad, an MBA in Finance from SP Jain (Singapore/Dubai), and a BE in Electronics & Communication from NIT Surathkal. He is also certified in FRM by GARP. At IIM Ahmedabad, he teaches courses in Corporate Finance, Financial Reporting, Corporate Governance, Banking, and Venture Investing across PGP, PGPX, and Ph.D. programs. His research interests include corporate finance, banking, financial intermediation, and gold investment trends. Prof. Balagopal brings industry experience from roles at Commercial Bank International, Fullerton Financial Holdings/Dunia Finance (UAE), and Infineon Technologies (India & Germany.

The Prestigious IIM Credentials

Upon successful completion of the General Management Programme (GMP), participants will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). This prestigious credential from one of the world’s top business schools reflects your commitment to continuous learning and strategic growth. It can serve as a powerful milestone in your professional journey, both in India and globally.

IIMA Alumni Status & Privileges

Participants who complete the programme successfully will be awarded Alumni
Status by IIM Ahmedabad, which includes the following benefits:

Gain access to the IIMA alumni directory to expand your professional circle
Exclusive alumni portal login for continuous learning and updates
Invitations to select alumni events, webinars, and speaker sessions across the globe
Access to campus library (on-site, with permission) and selected digital resources
Opportunity to network with 60,000+ IIMA alumni across industries and geographies
Priority updates on new programmes, publications, and thought leadership initiatives from IIMA

The IIMA alumni tag is globally respected and often becomes a long-term career catalyst- offering doors to new opportunities, peer connections, and professional influence.

On-campus Immersions that Fuel Global Networking

Experience 10 days of immersive learning with 40 in-person sessions, designed to build strong peer-to-peer connections and global exposure:

24 sessions at the Dubai Campus
6 sessions at the IIM Ahmedabad Campus

Dubai Immersions:

1^st Immersion: 10 – 12 April 2026
3^rd Immersion: 20 – 22 November 2026
Timings: Face-to-face sessions: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (UAE Standard Time)
Online sessions: Saturdays and selected Sundays, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (UAE Standard Time)

IIM Ahmedabad Immersion:

2^nd Immersion: 22 – 25 July 2026
Timings: Face-to-face sessions from 8:45 AM IST

Overview of Previous Cohorts

Top Job Profiles	Top Industries
CEO Vice President Director General Manager Sr. Manager Manager Analyst Consultant Strategist	Information Technology Financial Services Marketing Sales Automotive Manufacturing Healthcare Consulting Advertising

Programme Fees

Particulars	Amount (in AED)
Programme Fee	49,500 + 5% VAT

Note:

Programme fee includes tuition, learning materials, food and refreshments during in-person sessions in Dubai and India, and accommodation during the IIM Ahmedabad campus immersion.
Alumni registration fee is not included and must be paid separately to the IIMA Alumni Office upon successful completion.
All payments must be made in AED.
If a participant wishes to drop out, a refund will be provided only if the request is received at least 15 days prior to the programme start date.
If a participant is unable to attend after paying the fee, the amount will be valid as credit for the next two years or two subsequent batches, whichever is earlier. The same or another participant may be nominated for the same or another programme during this period.
If a nomination is not accepted, the fee will be refunded.
In all other cases, the fee is non-refundable.
Refund policy will be strictly enforced without exceptions.

Instalment	Instalment Date	Amount (in AED)
Registration fees	At the time of Application submission	AED 3500 + 5% VAT
1^st Instalment	Within 10 days of Provisional Offer letter release	AED 9500 + 5% VAT
2^nd Instalment	April 10, 2026	AED 9500 + 5% VAT
3^rd Instalment	June 10, 2026	AED 9500 + 5% VAT
4^th Instalment	August 10, 2026	AED 9500 + 5% VAT
5^th Instalment	Spetember 10, 2026	AED 9500 + 5% VAT
Corporate Scholarship: 10% Scholarship – Applicable for 4 or more participants from the same organisation, provided payment is made as a single transaction.