IIM Sambalpur & RAI Join Hands to Advance Retail Education

A strategic partnership to enhance retail learning, research, and industry engagement.

The Retailers Association of India and IIM Sambalpur have entered into a strategic MoU to boost retail education and strengthen industry-academia collaboration through training, research, and leadership development.

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) and the Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur (IIM Sambalpur) have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening collaboration between the retail industry and academic institutions to advance learning, research, and skill development in the sector.

This partnership is designed to create hands-on learning experiences for students, develop specialized executive education programs, and strengthen faculty-industry interactions. Through this alliance, IIM Sambalpur will gain seamless access to RAI’s extensive retail network, enabling students to directly engage with innovative retail models, emerging technological trends, and policy discussions shaping India’s rapidly expanding $1-trillion retail market.

As part of the MoU, RAI will offer academic membership to IIM Sambalpur, provide participation opportunities at major industry forums such as the Retail Leadership Summit, ReTechCon, and the Retail HR Tech Summit, and jointly develop short-term certification and leadership development programs. In return, IIM Sambalpur will contribute its academic strengths, research capabilities, and expert insights to support these joint initiatives.

Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director of IIM Sambalpur, stated:
“At IIM Sambalpur, we believe management education must stay closely connected to industry realities. Our collaboration with the Retailers Association of India truly reflects this, merging academic depth with practical relevance. Together, we aim to groom a new generation of retail leaders who are innovative, ethical, and equipped to navigate a fast-changing consumer environment. This partnership strongly aligns with our vision of nurturing responsible, entrepreneurial leaders guided by innovation and integrity.”

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of RAI, added:
“India’s retail industry is undergoing a transformative phase—growing fast, adopting new technologies, and redefining formats. Through this collaboration with IIM Sambalpur, RAI continues to bridge industry and academia, ensuring future talent is well-prepared with the right skills, exposure, and perspective to lead modern retail. This partnership goes beyond education; it is about creating pathways that strengthen India’s retail sector and prepare it for the future.”