XLRI’s Booster Shot

XAVIER SCHOOL OF Management (XLRI) celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. The B-school, established in the steel city of Jamshedpur by the Society of Jesus in 1949 to offer management-focused courses for trade unions, has carved a niche with academic offerings, culture, and placements over the years.

As XLRI approaches its centennial, the institution is expanding its global footprint and academics. The school, with campuses in Jamshedpur and Jhajjar (Delhi), has recently operationalised new campuses in Mumbai (Neral) and Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh). “One of our primary objectives is to explore international collaborations with universities and organisations worldwide. These partnerships will not only enrich our students’ exposure to global perspectives, but also enhance our faculty’s research capabilities,” says Sebastian George, S.J., director, XLRI.

In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, XLRI has already applied for deemed university status. It will provide the institution greater autonomy in designing innovative programmes, encourage interdisciplinary learning, and cater to emerging industry needs. If the plan materialises, XLRI will be the third institution in Jharkhand to be converted into a deemed university. At present, Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, and Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, are two deemed universities in the state.

Nationally, there are around 170 deemed institutions, which have the freedom to design their own curriculum and set their own academic standards.

Additionally, accreditation remains a key focus for XLRI as well. S. George, S. J., who joined as the 14th director of XLRI on August 14, 2022, has decided to take the institution through the international accreditation process of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) quality improvement system (EQUIS), also known as the European Quality Improvement System. XLRI already holds accreditations, including the U.S.-based Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the U.K-based Association of Masters in Business Administration (AMBA), and has full membership of EFMD.

Being a deemed university will provide XLRI with the autonomy to introduce new courses that address emerging areas of study, and foster more research opportunities. According to the management, this transition will grant the institution greater academic flexibility, allowing it to design more innovative and interdisciplinary programs in line with NEP’s emphasis on holistic, flexible, and multi-disciplinary education. Meanwhile, XLRI Jamshedpur continues to be recognised among the top 10 management schools in India, largely dominated by the IIMs.

XLRI offers two-year diplomas in management — the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management. It also offers an 18-month full-time residential Postgraduate Diploma in General Management, a three-year Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management for working executives, a Fellow Programme in Management, and a Programme on Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Venture Creation. Recently, XLRI Delhi-NCR launched a new school of automobile design and management, expected to be operational by 2025 end.

Building A Sustainable Future

Sustainability is a core pillar of XLRI’s mission and vision. In 2006, XLRI Jamshedpur became the first B-school to incorporate sustainability as a core subject in its curriculum. It is in the process of establishing a Centre for Sustainable Development, aimed at fostering research, education, and advocacy in this critical area.

The institute also works with businesses to develop in-company programmes. It recently partnered with the JRD Tata Foundation for Business Ethics to enhance the discourse on ethics in business.