DAVV expands high-demand five-year MBA programme to IMS, adds AI & data analytics

Indore: In a major academic expansion aimed at aligning management education with industry needs, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya has decided to introduce its flagship five-year Integrated MBA programme at the Institute of Management Studies (IMS) from the 2026-27 academic session.The programme, which has traditionally been offered only at the International Institute of Professional Studies (IIPS), has consistently recorded the highest admission cut-off among the university's undergraduate courses.The new programme will retain the integrated MBA structure but replace the Management Science (MS) specialisation with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics, reflecting the growing demand for technology-driven management skills.

The university has initially approved 60 seats for the programme, while the fee structure will be announced shortly.Admission to the course will be conducted through the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate programmes (CUET-UG) counselling. The programme will be added to the list of courses available during the university's CUET-UG counselling process. Students seeking admission will be required to complete CUET-UG counselling registration, which has already begun.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Rakesh Singhai said that the integrated MBA programme has remained the university's most sought-after undergraduate management course for nearly a decade, with applications far exceeding the available seats every year. He said that the university was working to expand high-demand programmes by increasing seats or introducing them in additional teaching departments. The inclusion of AI and Data Analytics is intended to make the curriculum more relevant to emerging industry requirements.The programme will also follow the multiple exit policy under the National Education Policy. Students completing three years of study will have the option to exit with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree instead of continuing for the full five-year MBA.IMS director Dr Deepak Srivastava said that only candidates who have appeared for CUET-UG would be eligible to participate in the counselling process. Seats will be allotted on the basis of merit and candidates' course preferences during the online counselling process.