Jamshedpur, 31st May 2025: XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, and the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance quality management education, research and industry-academia collaboration across India.
This strategic partnership is poised to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry practices in the domain of quality and excellence. Through the integration of cutting-edge methodologies, case-based pedagogy, and practitioner insights, the collaboration aims to produce future-ready professionals who are equipped to drive sustainable quality transformation in Indian enterprises, including MSMEs.
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A Strategic Step Towards Curriculum Enrichment
The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework to co-create and deliver electives in quality management tailored for postgraduate management students at XLRI. These offerings will include live projects, industrial visits, case studies based on real business scenarios, and expert-led classroom sessions. Faculty from XLRI and experts from IFQM and its member organizations will jointly contribute to course development and delivery.
The initiative will commence from the upcoming academic session beginning June 2025, with the goal of equipping students with practical skills and a nuanced understanding of quality systems and performance excellence.
Director’s Vision: Action Beyond Agreement
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. (Fr.) Sebastian George, S.J., Director, XLRI Jamshedpur, underscored the critical importance of implementation and outcomes in such partnerships. In his candid address, he noted:
“It’s a pleasure being with you all for this important collaboration with IFQM. As already pointed out, students today must stay updated on emerging technologies and quality-driven approaches to management. I’m confident this collaboration will be a fruitful and dynamic one.
However, let us remember: signing a MoU is not even the first step—it’s the zero step. Our focus must be on measurable, actionable, and verifiable outcomes. Only then will this partnership be truly meaningful and beneficial for all stakeholders.”
Event Highlights and Participation
The event was hosted at XLRI’s Jamshedpur campus and began with a welcome note and introduction by Dr. Dipankar Bose, Associate Professor, Production, Operations and Decision Sciences, XLRI.
Notable dignitaries from IFQM in attendance included:
Mr. Soumitra Bhattacharya, CEO and Director, IFQM, Mr. R. K. Shenoy, Mr. Jayakumar M, Mr. Nagabhushan M, Mr. Samir Banerjee, Mr. Sampath Krishnabhat, and Mr. Ankur Gandotra – Senior Executives, IFQM, Dr. Pankaj Kumar, Counsellor, IFQM
Representing Tata Steel were:
- Mr. Peeyush Gupta, Vice President, TQM, GSP & Supply Chain
- Ms. Tripti Srivastava, Chief, TQM and CQA
From XLRI:
- Dr. Sanjay Patro, Dean (Academics)
- Dr. J. Ajith Kumar, Associate Dean (Fellow Programmes)
- Dr. Abhishek Chakraborty, Chairperson, PODS
The event concluded with a tour of XLRI’s academic and research infrastructure, signaling the beginning of a deeper, purpose-driven engagement between the two institutions centered around quality, innovation, and academic excellence.
About XLRI:
Founded in 1949, XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, is India’s first management institute and continues to set benchmarks in values-driven leadership, innovation, and academic rigour. In its 76th year, XLRI remains committed to its mission of developing responsible leaders for the greater common good.
About IFQM:
The Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) is a not-for-profit organization supported by leading industrial organizations including Tata Steel. It is dedicated to promoting quality consciousness and building institutional capabilities in performance excellence across sectors.
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