IIM Bangalore launches Bachelor of Business Administration in Digital Business and Entrepreneurship, heralding a new era in business education

In a significant milestone, Bangalore Institute of Medical Information He launched the Bachelor of Business Administration in Digital Business and Entrepreneurship (BBA DBE) on 16th September 2024 through a virtual session. The event featured distinguished speakers including Director, IIMB, Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan, Mr. K. Sanjay Murthy from the Ministry of Education, Government of India, Dr. Devi Shetty from Narayana Health, Mukesh Bansal from Curefit & Meraki Labs, Professor Vasanthi Srinivasan from the Department of Midwifery & Human Resource Management & Chair, Digital Learning, and Professor Suresh Bhagavatula from the area of ​​Entrepreneurship & Chair, BBA (DBE). They addressed the inaugural cohort who participated in the session.

In his inaugural address, Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan reflected on IIMB’s decade-long experience and expertise in delivering digital education. “Our aim is to extend high-quality education to undergraduates across the country,” said Professor Krishnan. He emphasised the need to merge traditional business management with the changing demands of digital enterprises, ensuring a rich and interactive learning experience for the inaugural cohort of over 1,000 students.

During his inaugural address, Mr. K. Sanjay Murthy outlined the government’s vision for digital education. He highlighted platforms like SWAYAM to make education more accessible and underlined the pivotal role of IIM Bangalore as the national coordinator in this initiative.

Dr Devi Shetty welcomed the launch of the programme as a significant step towards making higher education more accessible in India. She noted, “In an era when education has become elitist, IIMB’s new programme opens doors to students who could only dream of such opportunities earlier.” Dr Shetty emphasised that graduates with digital skills and an IIMB degree will be highly sought after in the job market.

Mr. Mukesh Bansal discussed the potential of the programme to revolutionise education by ensuring high standards and accessibility. Drawing on his experience in e-commerce, he highlighted the importance of understanding consumer behaviour through a digital native perspective and encouraged students to take responsibility for their learning process.

Professor Vasanthi Srinivasan highlighted four essential competencies for future-ready students: critical thinking, collaborative learning, digital literacy and communication. Professor Srinivasan noted that IIMB’s digital platforms offer more than just educational content – ​​they equip students with vital digital and life skills.

Professor Suresh Bhagavatula highlighted BBA DBE’s focus on combining digital awareness with core business skills. “We aim to prepare students for a digitally driven world,” he said. He added, “The curriculum includes 30% in emerging digital business technologies, 30% in core business topics like finance, operations and marketing, and emphasizes an entrepreneurial mindset. The program combines pre-recorded course content with live sessions and offline exams. It includes community building through internships and projects with NSRCEL, one of India’s leading business incubators, offering flexible exit options and highly engaging content, all while complying with UGC and other national guidelines.” Professor Bhagavatula delivered the closing remarks, highlighting IIMB’s role in “developing the right talent to drive unprecedented digital transformations.”