From satellite urban learning centres in India’s corporate hubs to overseas branch campuses, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are rethinking geography to capture executive demand, launch undergraduate degrees, and build global footprints.

The IIM model was built around self-contained, fully residential campuses. Most IIMs were designed as academic sanctuaries — often situated away from bustling commercial centres — and relied on a secluded environment to foster learning. But that model is changing. Driven by demands of working professionals, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 regulations, and the desire for global relevance, IIMs are stepping out of their walls.