IIM Ahmedabad Sets Up Madan Mohanka Centre of Excellence for Case-Based Pedagogy

Centre has been established to further legacy of case method pedagogy at IIMA and to promote research, teaching, and training in the field

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has inaugurated Madan Mohanka Centre of Excellence in Case Method of Learning (MMCoECML) o further strengthen its case method pedagogy. Centre has been established with support from 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.

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.”

Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, Madan Mohanka, an IIMA alumnus of the PGP 1967 batch and Chairman, Tega Industries Limited, described this milestone as the spirit of the Guru Shishya Parampara and attributed it to the tireless efforts of many, including his teachers, Professor Gajanan R Kulkarni and Professor V. L. Mote, who were among the founding faculty members credited with bringing the case method of pedagogy from Harvard Business School to IIMA. He said, “I want this moment to mark not only the birth of a Centre but the beginning of a movement in our beloved nation Bharat – in how we think, how we teach, and how we learn. I have increasingly felt that education in India needs to be centred around experiential learning. If Bharat must be Viksit Bharat by 2047, then we need more job creators than job seekers.”

He added that this Centre is not the culmination of a project – it is the beginning of a commitment. A commitment to excellence, relevance, and learning that lasts far beyond the classroom.

Addressing the audience, Pankaj Patel, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIMA, shared an anecdote about how philanthropic contributions from various members of society, amounting to about rupees nine lakhs at that time, in addition to the state government’s support, made this iconic Institute. Acknowledging the active engagement of IIMA alumni with their alma mater, he said, “IIMA alumni have always looked back at the Institute and given back in terms of knowledge and financial support. I congratulate and thank Mr. Madan Mohanka, who has always actively contributed to this Institute in multiple ways, for establishing this centre.”

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.”