To further strengthen its renowned case method pedagogy, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) inaugurated the Madan Mohanka Centre of Excellence in Case Method of Learning (MMCoECML) at its campus on August 30, 2025.
Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest; and Professor Srikant Datar, Dean of the Faculty, Harvard Business School, delivered the keynote address through video-conferencing. Shri Joshi was joined on stage by Mr. Madan Mohanka, Chairman, Tega Industries Limited; Mr. Pankaj Patel, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIMA; Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA; and Professor Saral Mukherjee, Chairperson, Madan Mohanka Centre of Excellence in Case Method of Learning. The inaugural event, held at the Institute’s JSW auditorium, was attended by faculty members, students, alumni, and staff of IIMA.
The Centre has been established with support from Mr. Madan Mohan Mohanka, an IIMA alumnus of the PGP 1967 batch and Chairman, Tega Industries Limited, who has made significant contributions to management education and industry.
The case method has been integral to IIMA’s pedagogical approach since its inception. This new Centre has been established to take forward that legacy and to promote research, teaching, and training in the case method of learning. The Centre’s efforts will include training faculty members to excel as case method instructors and supporting the development of cases through funding, research assistance, reviewing, and editing. Additionally, it will undertake research on case pedagogy and propagate the case methodology by organising conferences, workshops, and short-term Faculty Development Programmes.
The case-based pedagogy helps students to experience real-world business scenarios and solve complex industry problems. It brings the classroom alive with real-world dilemmas, blurs the line between theory and practice, and transforms students from passive recipients of knowledge to active participants in their own learning journey. They assume the role of the decision maker and evaluate multiple perspectives before arriving at a conclusion because learning through the case method teaches students how to think, not what to think.
Shri Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India, congratulated IIMA for establishing the Centre and said, “Today’s world demands leaders who are flexible and can take decision in an uncertain environment. The case method of teaching and learning cultivates these very qualities in learners. The establishment of this Centre will enhance not only student learning but also the teaching practices of faculty. In today’s geo-political context, it is imperative for India to strengthen its self-reliance through innovation, adoption of new technologies, and by nurturing more job creators rather than job seekers. I am confident that IIM Ahmedabad will play a pivotal role in driving this transformation.”
Delivering the keynote address via video conferencing, Professor Srikant Datar, Dean of the Faculty, Harvard Business School, reflected on his time spent at IIMA and how the case study method played a vital role in transforming his career. He mentioned, “I firmly believe that the case method of teaching and learning will remain relevant even in today’s age of artificial intelligence and large language models. The case method is a powerful tool which offers immense benefits to both the students and faculty. It helps in faculty development by ensuring that the faculty remains close to practice and enhances students’ learning even outside the classroom.”
Speaking during the event, Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, said, “The case method of learning was pioneered in India by IIMA, shaping leaders who can think critically and view challenges from multiple perspectives. The establishment of this Centre will strengthen our ability to innovate in case pedagogy and serve as a hub for research, collaboration, and faculty development in this field. We are grateful to Mr. Madan Mohanka for his generous support, which will help us to advance further in this field and extend its impact in management education.”
Professor Saral Mukherjee, Chairperson of the newly-inaugurated Centre, mentioned, “With the inauguration of the centre devoted to strengthening the case pedagogy, IIMA wishes to support young academics and doctoral students in exploring how they can craft transformative learning experiences for the next generation of management students.”
