IITs are now teaching working professionals, a space long held by IIMs

Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are increasingly offering executive education programs to working professionals, a domain previously dominated by Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). This shift is driven by rising demand for upskilling, growing acceptance of online and hybrid learning post-pandemic, expanding industry partnerships, and the financial viability of these courses.

Almost all IITs now run full-fledged master's programs and postgraduate diplomas online or in hybrid mode, enabling professionals to earn an IIT qualification without leaving their jobs.

IIT Madras, for instance, now offers over 20 executive programs, including a foundational program in electric vehicles that has expanded into courses covering battery technologies, power electronics, software-defined vehicles, and electric vehicle engineering. IIT Bombay, which previously offered 56 executive programs in 2015, has seen participation rise to nearly 20,000 across 133 programs by 2025.

IIT Kanpur, which previously did not offer online executive postgraduate degrees, launched its first four under the eMasters initiative in 2022 and now offers nine, including seven MTechs, one MSc, and one PG Diploma.

Prof Hemant Kaushik of IIT Guwahati, whose institute offers a flagship online MTech in Flood and Water Resource Management, emphasized the future of online learning. He pointed out that every IIT has limited classroom space, and digital education allows them to reach many more learners without compromising quality. Similarly, Prof Vignesh Muthuvijayan of IIT Madras noted that professionals want to upgrade their skills without taking a career break, and institutes like IITs can offer structured, curated, and mentored learning due to close industry engagement.

Industry partnerships also play a significant role in shaping these courses. IIT Madras, for example, has close ties with industry to solve real-world problems, creating highly skilled professionals through executive education. Additionally, demand for these programs extends beyond technical roles, with a growing need for understanding AI, data, and digital transformation among managers, business leaders, government officials, educators, and professionals from diverse functions.