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. 

Shri 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.” 

“I am deeply impressed by the vision of the Centre and highly confident that it will support case method of teaching and learning at the Institute and beyond. It is a vitally important initiative,” he added.  

Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, Mr. 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, Mr. 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.” Mr. Patel also emphasised the use of technology and more audio-visual tools to make case studies more engaging.

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.” 

Prior to the inauguration of the Centre, an invited conference titled ‘Case Method in 2025: Taking Stock and Moving Forward’ was also organised by MMCoECML yesterday. It featured faculty members and representatives from various management institutes who presented case pedagogy-related initiatives in their respective institutions. This was followed by a roundtable discussion on how institutes and stakeholders can collaborate to strengthen the case ecosystem. 

This collaboration between IIMA and Mr. Madan Mohanka to establish the Centre was facilitated by the IIMA Endowment Fund (IIMAEF), the Institute’s unified fundraising and philanthropic arm for all donations from alumni, as well as corporate and CSR partners. Mr. Mohanka is also one of the founders of the IIMAEF.