IIM Bangalore’s Indonesia Campus: India Takes Its Management Education to Southeast Asia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that IIM Bangalore will establish a campus in Indonesia marks a major step in the global expansion of India’s higher education system. Announced during his visit to Indonesia on 7 July 2026, the proposed campus will be set up at the Singhasari Special Economic Zone in Malang, making it IIM Bangalore’s first international campus.

The initiative reflects the growing strength of the India-Indonesia strategic partnership. It also shows how education is becoming an important pillar of India’s global engagement, especially with countries of the Global South. After the overseas expansion of institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad in Dubai, IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi and IIT Madras in Zanzibar, IIM Bangalore’s Indonesia campus adds another strong chapter to India’s education diplomacy.

The move is also aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020, which encourages leading Indian institutions to build an international presence and offer world-class learning beyond India’s borders. By taking Indian management education to Indonesia, the project will help position India as a trusted knowledge partner in Asia.

The proposed IIM Bangalore campus in Indonesia is expected to serve as a regional hub for high-quality management education. While it will primarily cater to Indonesian students, it is also likely to attract learners from across Southeast Asia. This gives the campus the potential to become an important centre for leadership training, executive education and business research in the region.

The academic focus of the campus will be highly future-oriented. Its curriculum will cover five key areas: global supply chains, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, climate and sustainability, and healthcare management. These are sectors that are shaping the future of business, governance and development across Asia.

The programme rollout will take place in two phases. The first phase will begin with executive education programmes for senior professionals, business leaders and decision-makers. After the successful completion of the initial phase, the campus will move toward degree-granting management programmes. This phased approach will help the institution build local relevance, academic systems and industry linkages before expanding into full-scale degree education.

The campus will be developed through a Memorandum of Understanding between IIM Bangalore and PT Intelegensia Grahatama, the managing entity of the Singhasari Special Economic Zone. The location is important because a special economic zone can provide strong industry exposure, business connectivity and innovation opportunities for students.

One of the most valuable features of the initiative will be the connection with IIM Bangalore’s Bengaluru campus. Students in Indonesia are expected to benefit from academic immersion visits to Bengaluru, giving them exposure to India’s innovation ecosystem, start-up culture, technology sector, industry networks and entrepreneurial landscape.

For Indonesia, the campus can support human capital development in areas that are critical for its long-term growth. For India, it strengthens the country’s role as an exporter of knowledge, skills and institutional excellence. It also deepens people-to-people ties between two major Asian nations with strong cultural, economic and strategic links.

The announcement is more than an education-sector development. It is a sign of India’s rising soft power. Indian institutions are now moving from national excellence to global presence. By establishing campuses abroad, they are helping shape future leaders, deepen international partnerships and carry India’s academic reputation to new regions.

IIM Bangalore’s Indonesia campus can become a bridge between Indian management expertise and Southeast Asia’s growing development needs. It brings together education, diplomacy, innovation and economic cooperation in one platform. As India moves toward Viksit Bharat 2047 and Indonesia advances toward its own long-term development vision, this campus can become a symbol of shared growth and knowledge partnership.