The 18th Eduniversal World Convention opened at IIM-Indore, convening over 150 deans and directors from 50 countries for four days of debate on the evolving role of global management education. The event, themed ‘Bridging Purpose and Performance – Business Education as a Force for Good,’ focused on how business schools can integrate academic excellence with social impact.

IIM-Indore director Professor Himanshu Rai emphasised that business education must move beyond traditional success metrics. “Our mission is to shape leaders who act with courage, compassion and clarity of purpose,” he said. The opening day featured two key panels and a keynote, addressing both curriculum innovation and experiential learning models.

The first panel, ‘Crafting Social Impact in Business Education,’ explored embedding sustainability, ethics, and inclusion into curricula and campus culture. Speakers examined methods to translate intent into measurable outcomes, ensuring business schools contribute meaningfully to social progress. The second panel showcased how leading institutions are redesigning classroom experiences to meet the demands of rapid technological shifts and global disruption.

Martial Guiette, Eduniversal founder and CEO, highlighted the rising importance of values-driven leadership. “Today's leaders are not judged only by what they achieve, but by how their achievements serve others. Business education must inspire integrity along with intelligence,” he said.

Indore’s mayor, Pushyamitra Bhargava, noted the city’s transformation into one of India’s cleanest and fastest-growing urban centres, driven by citizen participation and strong governance, making it an ideal venue for a global academic forum.

The convention included workshops, networking sessions, and discussions on global rankings, partnerships, and emerging models in management education, positioning schools to prepare leaders for an era where purpose and performance must go hand in hand.

Follow the full article to explore insights from the convention and the future of purpose-driven business education.