Daybreak IRMA's successful rural MBA is undergoing an uneasy makeover at Delhi’s desk
Sep 21, 2025
IRMA's transformation into Tribhuvan Sahakari University is causing a stir among students and faculty. The original mission to empower rural managers under Verghese Kurien is now overshadowed by concerns of bureaucracy and placement fears. With plans to affiliate around 300 institutions, the shift raises questions on whether IRMA's unique vision will thrive in a larger system. This makeover blends ambition with anxiety, highlighting the challenges of scaling cooperative education in India.
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IRMA's Unique Rural Management Niche
- IRMA was founded to train managers for rural India and carved a distinct niche away from IIMs.
- Its model paired fieldwork with market credibility, producing employable graduates who served cooperatives and NGOs.
Admissions Reflect Institutional Purpose
- IRMA deliberately rejected the IIM model, using rural aptitude tests and interviews to select mission-fit students.
- That selection and curriculum preserved a distinct learning paradigm focused on rural management rather than consulting or banking.
Mission And Marketability Coexist
- IRMA kept high market value despite its mission orientation, with strong placement packages.
- The school proved mission-driven training can still produce competitive salaries and recruit interest from banking and dairy industries.