PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Jan 15:In a move to bring classroom learning closer to communities, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur and the Tata Steel Foundation (TSF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the areas of social impact, public policy, sustainability, and inclusive development.
The partnership aims to strengthen education, research, and practice through experiential learning, knowledge creation, and capacity building for students, professionals, and development practitioners.
Bridging Academia and Grassroots Work
IIM Raipur is a leading public management institute, while Tata Steel Foundation is the social development arm of Tata Steel, working across education, healthcare, livelihoods, environment, social justice, and community development.
The collaboration seeks to integrate academic expertise with grassroots experience, enabling practical learning and impactful research.
MoU Exchange and Key Participants
The MoU was formally exchanged in the presence of Dr Sanjeev Prashar, Director-in-Charge, IIM Raipur; Dr Saroj Pani, Dean (Academics); Dr Navneeth Bhatnagar, Area Chair – Strategy; Dr Rahul Hiremath, Dr Suneetha S, and Dr Sandeep S from the MSI team.
Representing Tata Steel Foundation were Sourav Roy, CEO, TSF, and Dr Vinayak Kishore, Consultant – Public Policy and Research.
Joint Programmes and Research Focus
Under the collaboration, both institutions will co-design courses, develop immersive learning programmes, and undertake community engagement initiatives. The partnership will also focus on joint research, development of knowledge products, and creation of platforms that promote indigenous community representation.
A key component of the MoU is the Unurum – Social Immersion Programme, which will provide IIM Raipur students with first-hand exposure to grassroots development work. Continuous exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two institutions will further strengthen their capacities.
Tata Steel Foundation has earlier partnered with academic institutions such as XLRI Jamshedpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Raipur, and the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad, to co-create and deliver programmes on social impact, public policy, management, and strategy.
Leaders Speak
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sanjeev Prashar, Director, IIM Raipur, said the collaboration would help sensitise future leaders to societal realities and encourage decision-making that balances economic growth with social responsibility.
Sourav Roy, CEO, Tata Steel Foundation, said the partnership would combine academic depth with grassroots insights to create meaningful learning journeys, generate relevant knowledge, and nurture leaders aligned with community realities.
Through this collaboration, IIM Raipur and Tata Steel Foundation aim to bridge academic learning with on-ground practice to address social challenges and advance inclusive and sustainable development.
