IIM Bodh Gaya successfully organized a 5-day residential Nurturing Future Leadership Program (NFLP) for Women Academic Leaders under the aegis of the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme from 11th Nov to 15th Nov 2024. Funded by the Ministry of Education, the program aims to inculcate leadership development in higher educational institutions (HEI). The programme brought together esteemed faculty members from diverse disciplines to delve into the critical aspects of grooming the leaders of tomorrow. The programme saw the participation of 33 senior faculty from around 20 Central/State Universities, IIM, IIT, and NITs, such as IIT Patna, Banaras Hindu University, and the University of Delhi.

The 5-day event encompassed various sessions on management and leadership. Prof. Vinita S. Sahay, Director of IIM Bodh Gaya highlighted the importance of ‘Sakhi-waad’ in higher education. The participants also gained insights on developing leadership and challenges faced by women leaders in academia from Prof Indira Parikh, ex-Director of IIM-Ahmedabad and founding member of Flame University, Prof Sangita Srivastava, Vice-Chancellor, University of Allahabad, and Prof Seema Sharma, IIT-Delhi.

Former cabinet minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, with an experience of over two decades, imparted knowledge on creating an impact through public speaking wherein she stated, ‘You speak as you live, speak as you engage, and speak as you behave.’ In the era of digital transformation, Smt Irani discussed how storytelling across media can be used effectively for developing various skills. The participants got the opportunity to visit Mahabodhi Temple and Nalanda as part of their experiential learning along with institutional members.

The National Economic Policy 2020 has placed a significant emphasis on the importance of capacity building among educators. NFLP aims to equip faculty members, particularly women, with the essential technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills needed for effective leadership in higher education institutions. The program seeks to bridge the gap and create a more balanced and diverse leadership landscape in Indian higher education. Through this initiative, the Ministry of Education and IIM Bodh Gaya inspire a new generation of women leaders, enabling them to drive change and innovation in the academic world.