IIM Kashipur Admission 2023 - CAT PDF Download

IIM Kashipur, a highly ranked B-school in India known for its high RoI, has achieved an 8% increase in the average salary, which now stands at Rs. 15.21 LPA for its MBA 2020-22 batch, despite the program fees having increased to Rs. 15.42 lakhs for the 2022-24 batch. The two-year MBA program is a full-time residential course, and admission to IIM Kashipur requires a mandatory CAT 2022 exam. In addition to the flagship MBA, IIM Kashipur offers a two-year full-time residential MBA Analytics program.
For the flagship MBA 2023-25 batch, the IIM Kashipur admission criteria 2023 will award a 33% weight to the CAT 2022 percentile score in the final selection, with the remaining 67% weightage assigned to other components such as academics, diversity, work experience, and performance in PI-WAT.
IIM Kashipur will participate in the Common Admission Process (CAP) 2023, a common PI-WAT round for nine participating new and baby IIMs. The final merit list for MBA admission 2023 will be prepared by IIM Kashipur based on the performance in the CAP round and other components such as CAT 2022 score, academics, diversity, and work experience.
The IIM Kashipur admission application is currently open through CAT 2022, with the deadline being September 14, 2022. The article provides information on the IIM Kashipur admission criteria 2023, the key USPs of IIM Kashipur, cut offs, programs offered, fees, placements, and more.

IIM Kashipur Admission 2023-24: Key Changes

• CAT 2022 Cut off is reduced to 92 percentile for 2023 Admission
• CAT 2022 sectional cut off reduced to 70 percentile for admission 2023 for General category
• EWS category overall cut off reduced to 70 percentile
• 33% weightage is awarded to CAT exam score in preparing final merit list
• 6% weightage awarded to female applicants for final admission 2023
• 20% Weightage to Class 10, 12, Bachelor’s Degree marks and for professional degree
• 6% Weightage to Academic Diversity in final selection 2023
• 10% Maximum Weightage for work experience earned between 24 and 30 months    

IIM Kashipur Admission 2023 through CAP 2023: Key Details

The participating new and baby IIMs will conduct a Common Admission Process (CAP) for MBA admissions in 2023. During the initial stage of shortlisting, all IIMs will follow a common set of criteria.

List of IIMs Participating in CAP 2023
The CAP round is organized for the IIMs which started operation in 2010-11 and for the new generation IIMs that started operating in 2015-16.  It is the final selection round comprising common PI process for following 9 IIMs which are participating in CAP 2023:

• IIM Udaipur
• IIM Tiruchirappalli
• IIM Kashipur
• IIM Raipur
• IIM Ranchi
• IIM Bodh Gaya
• IIM Jammu
• IIM Sambalpur
• IIM Sirmaur

IIM Kashipur: Key Highlights and USPs

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kashipur is the second generation IIM set up in 2011 and has grown up to one of the top B-schools in India. The Key highlights and USPs of IIM Kashipur are:

• Ranking & Accreditation: IIM Kashipur is ranked #33 in Govt. of India MHRD NIRF Ranking 2022 for 125 Management institutes. In the MBAUniverse.com B-School Ranking 2022, IIM Kashipur is ranked # 21 among top B-schools of India. IIM Kashipur is a member of the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and EQUIS (EMFD Quality Improvement System).
• Awards Degree instead of Diploma: IIM Kashipur is now empowered with the legal authority to award MBA degree instead of Post graduate diploma. 
• IIM Kashipur Intake: IIM Kashipur seats for flagship MBA program are 280 plus 15 supernumerary seats for female students. Total intake for MBA at IIM Kashipur has gone up at 295 students  
• IIM Kashipur Fees: IIM Kashipur MBA fees is Rs.15.42 lakhs for 2 years. The fee is much lower than is charged by other top IIMs and top B-schools
• IIM Kashipur Placements: IIM Kashipur has a consistent record of high placements. Average salary in IIM Kashipur Placement 2022 has gone us by 8% at Rs.15.21 LPA and highest domestic salary stood at Rs.28.80 LPA.
• Top Recruiters: IIM Kashipur is a favourite placement destination for top companies. Top recruiters in Placement 2022 included Accenture, Cognizant,  Deloitte, HCL Technologies, ICICI Bank, Infosys, L&T, Mindtree, Mu Sigma, CRISIL, ZS Associates
• Encouraging Gender Diversity: To improve gender diversity in its class rooms, IIM Kashipur has added 15 supernumerary seats in MBA program for girl students. This is an additional approved intake from 2019-2021 batch onwards only for girl students  .
• International Exchange: IIM Kashipur has student exchange tie-ups with top business schools across the globe like Aalborg University, Denmark;  Alba Graduate Business School, Greece; ESDES, Lyon, France; Tel Aviv University, Israel; University of Lima, Peru; Woosong University, South Korea; Linnaeus University, Sweden; Soochow University, Taiwan; Salford University, UK; FPT, Vietnam; Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand; and CTBC Business School, Taiwan.
• Centres of Excellence at IIM Kashipur: IIM Kashipur has established three centres of excellence that are envisaged to serve as the intersection of scholarship, education, training, research and consultancies putting a breakthrough interdisciplinary approach at the service of students as well as government and private entities.These centres of excellence facilitate interdisciplinary programmes and research. Currently, there are three centres of excellence: the Centre of Excellence on Public Policy and Government (COEPPG); Design Innovation Centre (DIC); and Foundation for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development (FIED). Each centre is committed towards cutting-edge research, innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and sustainability while enabling the ecosystem to achieve the institute’s strategic goals.
• Strong Alumni Base: IIM Kashipur has a rich alumni network of young management professionals from diverse backgrounds. They actively engage in sharing their rich experiences, providing live projects, Internships and placements.
• Industry & Institutional Partnerships: IIM Kashipur has partnered with Life Insurance Corporation (LIC); Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC); Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL); Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA); Bharat Electricals Ltd (BEL); National Academy of Defence Production (NADP); National Project Implementation Unit (NPIU); Uttarakhand Academy of Administration; State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Uttarakhand; Maulana Azad Education Foundation, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt. of India.
• Student Driven Institute: IIM Kashipur is a student driven campus – from placements to functional work, from academic to non-academic activities, there is a student body for each discipline. The students organize various flagship programmes such as Agnitraya – the annual cultural fest; TEDx; Management Conclave; Uttishtha – the annual entrepreneurship summit; Tejas – Leadership Talk Series and the MBA lecture series. 
• Accomplished Faculty: IIM Kashipur has well-qualified internal faculty complemented by carefully selected adjunct faculty with considerable industry or domain expertise.
• Campus Infrastructure: IIM Kashipur is bestowed with the bounty of nature’s beauty which lends a wholesome experience to academic rigour. The 200-acre campus is well equipped with ultra modern facilities,wi-fi enabled, rich library, well lighted and ventilated AC class rooms, Hostel campus, medical facilities, sports facilities, cafeteria and mess among others. IIM Kashipur is situated 25 kms away from Jim Corbett National park and is nestled in the lap of Himalayas. The institute is also situated in one of the dense industrialized districts with more than 180 ventures that have set up their plants in and around the region. This strategic geographical positioning provides a vantage point for IIM Kashipur when it comes to ‘Learning by Doing’ through regular industry interaction and live projects. 

IIM Kashipur Leadership

Dr. Kulbhushan Balooni is the Director of IIM Kashipur, having joined the institution in June 2019. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Balooni had been associated with IIM Kozhikode for over 20 years and had served as a visiting faculty member at several prestigious universities, including the National University of Singapore, University of Copenhagen, Uppsala University, Wageningen University, and the University of Tokyo. During his tenure at IIM Kozhikode, he was the Director (i/c) from 2014-18 and also played a key role in establishing IIM Amritsar as a mentor director. Dr. Balooni has completed post-doctoral research at the University of Tokyo and his doctoral research at the RBI Endowment Unit, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). As a Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) fellow, he conducts interdisciplinary research on environment, resources, development policy, sustainability, and agribusiness in the context of developing countries.

IIM Kashipur MBA Programs offered

IIM Kashipur offers following management programmes:

• 2 years full time Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• 2 years full time Master of Business Administration in Analytics (MBA Analytics)
• 2 years part time (Week end) Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Executive Development Programmes - Online Certificate Programmes

IIM Kashipur Redesigns its MBA Programs

IIM Kashipur has recently revamped its MBA program to equip students with cutting-edge skills and perspectives in order to prepare them for the future job market. The new curriculum incorporates innovative core courses such as Design Thinking and Experiential Learning to provide a diverse set of skills and perspectives. The program also emphasizes critical thinking, leadership, and leadership communication, as well as a strong focus on analytics through a combination of core and elective courses. Overall, these differentiators aim to prepare students for a promising career in the ever-evolving industry.

IIM Kashipur MBA Program Offers Diverse Specializations

IIM Kashipur offers wide range of specializations in its MBA program. These are Communications, Economics, Finance, Information System, Marketing, OB & HR, Operations & Decision Sciences and Strategy. 

IIM Kashipur Fees & Scholarships

• IIM Kashipur Fee for the 2 years MBA Programme of Resident Indian Category is Rs 15,42,000/-.
• The course fee includes Hostel accommodation, access to lectures, computer facilities, library etc. It also includes caution deposit fee of Rs.30,000 and alumni fee Rs.2400/-
• Out of this fee, an amount of Rs.29,000 is refundable
• Laptop computer, text books, Insurance, personal expenses on travel, clothes and laundry are extra.
• The total programme fees for the 2023-25 batch may increase to adjust inflation

IIM Kashipur Scholarships

IIM Kashipur will provide full waiver of Tuition Fees for upto 23 students in first and 23 students in second year. Accordingly, upto 46 students in first and second year can avail full waiver of Tuition Fee in an Academic Year.

IIM Kashipur Intake: 295 Seats in Flagship MBA

IIM Kashipur has increased its intake during last 2-3 years. Presently IIM Kashipur seats for 2 year full time MBA programs are as below

IIM Kashipur Placements 2022

IIM Kashipur has achieved a 100% placement rate for its MBA 2020-22 batch and the first MBA(Analytics) 2020-22 batch, marking the 11th consecutive year of successful placements. A total of 150 prestigious organizations participated in the placement drive, offering 365 positions across several domains such as IT & Analytics, BFSI, Consulting, Strategy, Sales and Marketing, Operations, and HR.

IIM Kashipur Placement 2022: Highlights

• Legacy of 100% Placement
• Students Eligible for Placement: 322
• Total Recruiters in Placement 2022 have gone up at 150 from 127 last year
• Placements offers made: 365
• No. of PPOs increased by 47% at 53 in 2022 from 36 last year
• Average Salary increased by 8.25% at Rs.15.21 LPA in Placement 2022 from 14.05 LPA last year
• Median Salary has gone up by 16.5% at Rs.14.82 LPA in 2022 from Rs.12.72 LPA last year
• Highest Salary stood at Rs.28.82 LPA
• Average Salary for top 20% Students at Rs.21.51 LPA
• 60+ New Recruiters
• IT & Analytics was the top recruiting Sector with 39% share in placements followed by BFSI with 30% share
• Top Recruiters Include Accenture, Cognizant,  Deloitte, HCL Technologies, ICICI Bank, Infosys, L&T, Mindtree, Mu Sigma, CRISIL, ZS Associates

IIM Kashipur Eligibility criteria 2023

• IIM Kashipur Eligibility criteria require that the candidate must hold a bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years duration after class 12, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (in case of the candidate belonging to SC/ST/PwD category, the eligibility criterion is relaxed to 45%
• One of the key requirements in the IIM Kashipur Admission Eligibility criteria for MBA 2023-25 batch follows the changes in the eligibility criteria for CAT. The Candidates who graduated in the years 2020 or 2021 or 2022, for whom the university did not conduct the exams or did not award marks or CGPA but awarded only pass or pass marks or promotion in one or more years/semesters of bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification, can also apply. Such candidates will have to submit a certificate from the Principal/Registrar of his/her University/College/Institute stating that the university did not conduct the exams or did not award marks or CGPA but awarded only pass or pass marks or promotion in one or more years/semesters, as the case may be.
• The candidate should appear in CAT 2022 exam and must score minimum prescribed sectional and overall score to be considered for shortlisting
• If the candidate is awarded grades/CGPA instead of marks, the equivalence to determine PGP admission eligibility would be based on the equivalence certified by the institution/university from where the bachelor's degree is obtained. In case the institution/university does not have any scheme for converting the CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence would be established by IIM Kashipur by dividing the obtained CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the resultant by 100 to confirm the Admission eligibility of the candidate. 
• The candidates appearing for the final year bachelor's degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed the degree requirements and are awaiting results are also eligible to apply for IIM Kashipur Admission 2023-24. Such a candidate must produce a certificate from the principal/head of the department/ registrar/director of the institution/university certifying that the candidate is currently in the final year or is awaiting final results and has obtained at least 50% marks or equivalent (45% in case of the candidate belonging to SC/ST/PwD category) based on latest available grades/marks.
• IIM Kashipur Eligibility further clarifies that such a candidate, if selected, will not be eligible for the IIM Kashipur admission unless he/she submits a certificate latest by June 30, 2023 from the principal/head of the department/registrar/director of the institution/university (issued on or before June 30, 2023) stating that they have completed all the requirements (the result may, however, be awaited) for obtaining the bachelor's degree/equivalent qualification on the date of issue of the certificate.
• It is mandatory for a final year student, who is provisionally considered eligible by IIM Kashipur and offered admission, to submit the mark-sheet and degree certificate of the final year bachelor's degree examination held on or before June 30, 2023.  The deadline to submit the mark-sheet and the certificate is December 31, 2023. 

IIM Kashipur Admission Application Process 2023: How to Apply?

Submission of Application for IIM Kashipur Admission 2023 is a two step process. The first one is to apply for CAT 2022 based on which IIM Kashipur will consider you for next round of admission process and second is to register separately for IIM-CAP 2023 for IIM Kashipur admission 2023 in January 2023 after release of CAT 2022 result. Let us understand each step:
Step-1: CAT 2022 registration process has started from August 3, 2022. Candidates have to apply for CAT 2022 by the last date of September 14, 2022. Check below the key points in IIM Kashipur admission application process through CAT 2022:

• It is mandatory to register and apply for CAT 2022 for IIM Kashipur Admission 2023
• On the page 4 of CAT 2022 application form, you need to select IIM Kashipur MBA/MBA-Analytics and select the interview city

Step-2:  In January 2023, after declaration of CAT 2022 exam result, registration for Common Admission Process (CAP) will open. You need to register for CAP round to participate in PI-WAT process at the official IIM CAP website.   

IIM Kashipur Application Fees

IIM Kashipur has not prescribed any separate application fee. The CAT 2022 registration & Application fee includes the IIM Kashipur application fees, as detailed below

IIM Kashipur Admission 2023: Important Dates

All the candidates who have registered and applied for CAT 2022, who have opted for admission in IIM Kashipur in the CAT 2022 application form, and score the required cut off percentile, will be considered for next stage of IIM Kashipur Admission criteria.  Important dates related to admission activities 2023 at IIM Kashipur are as below:

IIM Kashipur Cut off

IIM Kashipur has relaxed its cut-off requirements for admission in 2023. Candidates who score above the minimum cut-offs in CAT 2022 sectional percentile ranks, overall percentile rank, and a positive raw score in all sections will be considered for shortlisting. The table below indicates the minimum expected performance for shortlisting, but meeting the cut-off percentile in CAT alone is not enough to guarantee selection by IIM Kashipur.
The actual cut-off percentiles for the 2023-25 batch may be higher, and the number of candidates called for PI & WAT may vary by category, which could affect the cut-off percentiles.

Minimum CAT Cut off: Relaxation is Possible

The criteria for actual CAT 2022 score cut-off will be determined in a meeting of participating IIM Directors in January 2023. There is a possibility that the actual cut-off may increase or decrease. In case the actual number of shortlisted candidates falls below the required number for the WAT and PI in one or more categories, the individual CAT 2022 sectional and overall percentiles may be lowered. This relaxation in the cut-off criteria is to ensure that there are enough candidates for each category to participate in the WAT and PI process.

IIM Kashipur Admission Criteria 2023: Exam Accepted, Selection Process

IIM Kashipur Admission 2023 is a five-stage process

• Stage 1: Shortlist Release for CAP 2023 Round after CAT Result declaration
• Stage-2: Conduct of PA Round comprising Personal Interview (PI) & Writing Ability Test (WAT). The PA process will be common to IIMs which are participating in the Common Admission Process (CAP) 2023
• Stage-3: The Final Selection List based on CAT score, CAP Score and other parameters
• Stage-4: Offer for Provisional Admission for the MBA 2023-25 batch
• Stage-5: Reporting for joining the MBA 2023-25 program

Stage-1: IIM Kashipur Shortlisting Criteria 2023
IIM Kashipur will shortlist the candidates on the basis of CAT 2022 score, and other parameters for final selection round as under:

• The shortlisting for final selection round in IIM Kashipur Admission Criteria awards maximum weight to CAT 2022 score.
• The candidate must have scored minimum sectional percentile of 70 in each of the three sections of CAT 2022 – Quantitative Aptitude' (QA), ‘Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning' (DILR) and ‘Verbal and Reading Comprehension' (VRC)
• A candidate must have scored minimum overall percentile of 92 in CAT 2022
• If the candidate does not score minimum prescribed percentile in CAT 2022, he/she will not be considered for shortlisting for final selection stage.
• IIM Kashipur Admission Committee decides the number of candidates who would be shortlisted for PA round on the basis of criteria prepared for each category
• All the Candidates shortlisted for PA process have to attend PI – WAT which is a common process for all the participating IIMs

Stage-2: IIM Kashipur Final Admission Selection Process: CAP Round

• All the shortlisted candidates should participate in Personal Appearance (PA) round for admission to IIM Trichy
• Final Selection Round 2023 for IIM Kashipur Admission consists of Personal Interview (PI) & Writing Ability Test (WAT).
• The final selection PA round for IIM Kashipur Admission 2023 will be common for the IIMs who are participating in the Common Admission Process (CAP) 2023.

Stage-3: The Final Selection List based on CAT score, CAP Score and other parameters
The scores obtained by the candidate in PA process of CAP 2023 would be considered for preparing the merit list

• IIM Kashipur selection criteria after final admission round award 33% weight to CAT 2022  Score; 25% weight to Personal Interview(PI); 20% weight for Academic Profile & Professional Qualification; 10% Weight to Work Experience; 12% weight to Diversity Factor
• Candidates who do not obtain certain minimum scores in the Personal Assessment (PA) will not be considered for the merit list. The minimum scores will be decided by IIM Kashipur at its discretion.

IIM Kashipur Final Selection Criteria Weights for Admission 
Final selection criteria through CAP round includes Personal Interview and Written Ability Test. However, depending upon the COVID pandemic, WAT may or may not be conducted in the CAP 2023. The exact date for PI will be communicated by the CAP coordinating IIM, on behalf of all participating IIMs. Following are the key components and weightage to each area which will be awarded while preparing final merit list for admission:

Stage-4: Offer for Provisional Admission for the MBA 2023-25 batch

• IIM Kashipur will issue provisional admission offer on registered e-mail ID of the selected candidates after generating the final merit list in April last week/May first week 2023. You need to accept the admission offer online and should pay the admission fee by the stipulated date to avoid cancellation of candidature.

Stage-5: Reporting for joining the MBA 2023-25 program

• IIM Kashipur will notify and will send the communication to report at the institute to complete the joining formalities. The academic session is likely to commence in the first week of July.

IIM Kashipur Now offers MBA Degree instead of Diploma
After implementation of IIM Act 2017, IIM Kashipur has started awarding MBA degree to its students. The two-year MBA at IIM Kashipur is recognized by Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to a Master’s Degree of an Indian University for the purpose of admission to higher studies.

Role of IIM-CAP 2023 in IIM Kashipur Admission 2023

IIM Kashipur Admission criteria 2023 is based on Common Admission process (CAP) 2023. IIM Kashipur will have the same shortlisting criteria as that of all 9 participating IIMs for Common Admission Process (CAP) 2023 while CAT 2022 is the mandatory exam to be considered for shortlisting by IIM Kashipur.

CAP 2023: Key Points 

IIM Kashipur participates in Common Admission Process (CAP) which is the WAT and PI round, conducted for admission to new IIMs. Last year 9 IIMs participated in the process.  Admission to the MBA Programs at IIM Kashipur for the year 2023-25 batch shall constitute the following parameters under Common Admission Process (CAP):

• CAT 2022 Examination valid CAT score, as applicable
• Common eligibility criteria for shortlisting to WAT and PI process: IIM Kashipur shall have the same shortlisting criteria as that of all other participating IIMs for CAP-2023
• CAP - Common Admission Process is the Personal Appearance (PA) Round: Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview are the two main components of PA in CAP Round  
• Announcement of the final selection/merit list on the basis of the composite score arrived at using weightages as per valid CAT-2022 score, WAT and PI score, academic profile, work experience and diversity (gender/academic disciplines)

It is mandatory for the candidates who wish to pursue MBA from IIM Kashipur to appear in the CAT  exam. A balanced score in all the three sections of CAT and good academic profile is the key to get admission in IIM Kashipur. MBA at IIM Kashipur is a master’s level program, leading to the grant of a degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA).

IIM Kashipur Admission 2023: Step by Step Process

Following steps are included in the IIM Kashipur Admission process:

• Step 1: The candidate must have appeared and scored the minimum required sectional and overall percentile in CAT 2022, a major component for Shortlisting candidates for CAP 2023. Category wise short-lists of the candidates are prepared for CAP round from among the candidates who have a valid CAT-2022 score, who have applied to the programme at the time of submitting the CAT 2022 application form and who satisfy the eligibility criteria for the programme of IIM Kashipur
• Step 2: Shortlisted Candidates have to attend Common Admission Process (CAP) 2023 for the participating IIMs. CAP 2023 will begin in February 2023 and will consist of  PI and WAT. Candidates not meeting the minimum performance in PI & WAT will not be considered for the final selection. The PI-WAT would be conducted at New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. The exact date for PI & WAT will be communicated to the shortlisted candidates by CAP coordinating IIM.
• Step 3: After the CAP score is received by IIM Kashipur, final merit list will be prepared and admission offers will be made by IIM Kashipur to successful candidates. The final selection is based on composite score of the candidates. This includes performance in CAT, performance in CAP, academics, work experience, diversity among others. Category wise merit list will be generated based on weightages awarded to various components. 
• Step 4: Final Admission Offer will be made to the candidates in the last week of April/first week of May 2023 on the basis of Final Merit Score and will be available on IIM Kashipur website. 

You can expect to get admission in MBA 2023 at IIM Kashipur with a CAT 2022 percentile of 92 and above, provided you fulfil other desired parameters for the B-school.

IIM Kashipur Admission 2024

• Many young students aspire to pursue an MBA from IIM Kashipur, but are currently in their second or third year of their bachelor's degree course and are not eligible for admission this year. However, they can apply for IIM Kashipur admission 2024 through CAT 2023. The IIM Kashipur admission policy has remained unchanged for the past 2-3 years, and it is expected that the admission process for 2024 will be similar to this year's process. To increase their chances of admission, these students should start preparing for the CAT exam early so that they are well-prepared by the time they become eligible to appear in CAT 2023.
• Established by the Government of India in 2011, the Indian Institute of Management Kashipur is a second-generation IIM that operates under the mentorship of IIM Lucknow. Its rigorous curriculum aims to cultivate a passion for knowledge and its application in real-life situations, while also emphasizing all-round personality development and instilling the values of leadership and integrity. The faculty at IIM Kashipur represents a blend of academic and industrial experiences, and the institute aspires to achieve excellence in management education through innovative teaching methods, high-quality research, and sustainable leadership.
• Over the past eleven years, IIM Kashipur has remained committed to its core values of collegiality, transparency, green consciousness, and proactive engagement with all stakeholders. As an institution of national importance, it plays a crucial role in management education and social transformation. Its strategic goals include improving the academic ecosystem, promoting synergy between educational theory, practice, and research, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and public service, empowering local stakeholders, supporting economically challenged sections of society, and promoting gender diversity.