Classrooms move closer to communities through a new collaboration between IIM Raipur and Tata Steel Foundation

Dr Sanjeev Prashar of IIM Raipur and Sourav Roy of Tata Steel Foundation outline a partnership focused on social impact, policy, and inclusive development

Jamshedpur, Raipur, Ranchi, January 15, 2026: Academic learning and grassroots development converged with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Institute of Management Raipur and Tata Steel Foundation, marking the beginning of a structured collaboration focused on social impact, public policy, sustainability, and inclusive development.
The partnership is designed to strengthen education, research, and practice through experiential learning, joint knowledge creation, and capacity building for students, professionals, and development practitioners. By combining IIM Raipur’s academic expertise with Tata Steel Foundation’s on-ground experience, the collaboration seeks to bridge classroom learning with real-world social challenges.

The MoU was formally signed and exchanged in the presence of senior representatives from both institutions. Attendees included Sanjeev Prashar, Director of IIM Raipur; Dr Saroj Pani, Dean Academics; Dr Navneeth Bhatnagar, Area Chair Strategy; Dr Rahul Hiremath; Dr Suneetha S; Dr Sandeep S from the MSI team; Sourav Roy, CEO of Tata Steel Foundation; and Dr Vinayak Kishore, Consultant Public Policy and Research.
Under the collaboration, the two institutions will co-design courses, immersive learning programmes, and community engagement initiatives. A central element of the partnership is the Unurum Social Immersion Programme, which will provide IIM Raipur students with first-hand exposure to grassroots development work, enabling them to engage directly with communities and development practitioners.

The partnership also places emphasis on joint research and the creation of knowledge products that support indigenous community representation and inclusive development. Continuous knowledge exchange forms a key pillar of the collaboration, with both institutions sharing expertise to strengthen each other’s institutional capacities.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sanjeev Prashar said the collaboration aims to sensitise future leaders to societal realities and encourage decision-making that balances economic objectives with social responsibility. He noted that such engagements are essential for shaping leadership that is ethically grounded and development oriented.

Sourav Roy stated that the partnership reinforces a shared commitment to embedding societal perspectives within leadership and management education. He added that combining academic depth with grassroots experience can help create meaningful learning journeys, generate relevant knowledge, and nurture leaders aligned with on-ground realities. He further noted that the collaboration would contribute to building stronger impact ecosystems and scaling learning models that support inclusive development.
Tata Steel Foundation has previously engaged in academic collaborations with institutions including XLRI Jamshedpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Raipur, and the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Through these partnerships, foundation professionals participate in the co-creation and co-delivery of programmes focused on social impact, public policy, management, and strategy.
Through the current collaboration, IIM Raipur and Tata Steel Foundation seek to further integrate academic inquiry with development practice, creating pathways for students and professionals to engage meaningfully with India’s social and developmental challenges.

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