The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode) has inducted its new cohort for the 2026-28 academic session, with women accounting for 66% of students admitted to its Post Graduate Programme (PGP). The institute said this is the highest proportion of women recorded in the PGP among the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). A total of 599 students joined its three full-time MBA programmes, while 99 scholars enrolled in its doctoral programmes.The PGP admitted 499 students, including 329 women. Alongside gender diversity, the institute reported that 57% of students in the programme come from non-engineering backgrounds. Across all three MBA programmes, women account for nearly 63% of the intake, while 59% of students are from non-engineering disciplines.Key admission figures for 2026-28
Diversity benchmarks continue to riseThe institute has increased the share of women in the PGP over the past decade. It crossed the 50% mark in 2013, exceeded that level again in 2021, reached 59% in 2024 and has now reported 66% women in the 2026 batch.Academic diversity has also widened. Non-engineering graduates constitute 57% of the PGP intake, 96% of the Post Graduate Programme in Liberal Studies and Management (PGP-LSM), and 45% of the Post Graduate Programme in Finance (PGP-Fin).The institute also inducted 99 doctoral scholars, including 27 students in the regular Doctoral Programme in Management and 72 in the Executive Doctoral Programme. This year’s intake also includes the first batch of the Doctoral Programme in Management (Teaching Track).Institute highlights inclusive learning environmentAddressing the inaugural ceremony, Raghu Polisetty, Senior Managing Director, Accenture, said, “AI can enhance intelligence, but it cannot replace human judgement, ethics or purpose. The leaders who will thrive are those who remain lifelong learners, adapt continuously, build meaningful human connections and focus on creating collective success rather than individual achievement.”IIM Kozhikode Director Prof. Debashis Chatterjee said, “The Class of 2028 marks a significant milestone for IIM Kozhikode and for management education in India. The highest-ever representation of women in the history of the IIM system reflects our long-standing belief that diversity and excellence go hand in hand.”He added that the institute would continue building classrooms with students from varied academic backgrounds and experiences while encouraging collaboration and multidisciplinary learning.
