Research Ecosystem

In order to align with IIMU’s Vision 2030 goals of producing high quality research, a comprehensive research strategy has been put in place relating to:

• Attracting and hiring full-time faculty with the potential to do meaningful research that will be recognized by their peers.
• Providing faculty with a working environment, funding, mentorship, and other support so they can realize their full potential as researchers in their respective fields.
• Ensuring that the research supported by IIMU is effectively and widely disseminated.
• Establishing institutional collaborations and joint programs inside and outside India.

Support for Research

IIMU's research strategy comprises a range of policies, incentives and funding including:

• The standard teaching hours are 90. The rest of the time is allocated for research. Upon request, faculty members also have the possibility of receiving reduced teaching assignments to accommodate their research projects.
• Seed Grants: Seed grant up to INR 5,00,000/- per project is available to the faculty.
• Faculty Development Fund: an annual development fund of INR 3,50,000/- is provided to each faculty member for attendance at national and international conferences and other research-related travel. The institute encourages faculty members to attend two international conferences per year, and additional support is available wherever necessary. For travel in such cases, the institute supports 75% of the cost of presenting at a second international conference.
• Semester/Term Abroad: The Institute encourages faculty members to spend a semester at a reputed research-focused international university. This practice would help them in improving their research capabilities, in building their research networks and in some cases in pursuing ongoing research projects. In such cases, the Institute would pay 70% of the cost and the faculty member would have the option of using his or her annual Faculty Development Fund for the balance.
• Research Incentive Plan: Publications in journals are incentivized monetarily with up to INR 18 Lakhs for articles in IIMU’s A* category journals (see the list of A* category journals below). and up to INR 9 Lakhs for articles in IIMU’s A category journals (see the list of A category journals below).
• Research Grant Based Incentive: This is provided in case faculty brings in external funding for research as per the institute’s policy. This incentive is credited to faculty's FDF 2 account and faculty can use this at par with regular FDF.
• Research Assistants: The institute is facilitating Research Assistant Support to IIMU faculty members to help their research-related activities and productivity.
• Area Advisors: IIMU has benefited from the expertise of the members on its Academic Advisory Board, other global faculty colleagues and adjunct faculty with acknowledged research expertise who act as mentors to our full-time faculty. In addition, during the Vision 2030 process, IIMU introduced Area Advisors who are well established researchers at schools around the world.
• Research Chairs: The institute also appoints Young Faculty Research Chair among faculty members to recognize and reward outstanding young faculty who have potential of becoming scholar of eminence in their respective fields. In addition to this, the institute has also engaged full time Research Chair Professors to boost the research ecosystem within the institute.
• IIMU invited Research Seminar Series: The institute invites scholars regularly from prominent business schools for giving a talk or research seminar. It gives the opportunity to IIMU faculty members, Ph.D students and Research Assistants to interact with visiting scholars of prominent business schools around the world.
• Brown Bag Seminar Series: Each area organizes brown bag research seminar series at least once in a month in which area faculty and Ph.D students participate and research ideas are discussed.
• Paper Development Workshops: At Least two paper development workshops are organized annually by institute’s Research Chair Professors or Senior Vising Academicians to help position the research ideas in a better way.
• Research Days: Two half day workshops are organized annually where two-three areas present their work and have cross feedback. Each workshop has at least five presentations.
• Annual Research Seminar: One full day workshop is planned in a year having 4-5 presentations across the areas to improve the paper quality through feedback by colleagues.
• Research & Grants Office: Research & Grants Office provides support and assistance to faculty on any administrative issues relating to research and grants.
• Research Centres The institute has established the following research centres to develop the research ecosystem:
  • Centre for Healthcare
  • Centre for Development Policy and Management
  • Centre for Digital Enterprise
  • Centre for Supply Chain Management
  • JM Financial Centre for Financial Research
  • Consumer Culture Lab
  • Centre for Teaching and Learning
  • IIMU Incubation Centre

Research Collaborations

Some of the institutional and corporate collaborations for research and consulting have included:

• A joint research program with Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. Four projects have been undertaken to date. Discussions are underway to establish a similar program with Purdue University.
• HPCL – IIMU has signed an MOU to provide expertise in the area of HR analytics.
• Genpact – IIMU has signed an MOU to provide knowledge creation in the area of banking.
• Hindustan Zinc – IIMU is in advanced stages of negotiating an MOU for knowledge creation in the area of mining and minerals management.
• Seva Mandir (leading regional NGO) – IIMU is providing advice and assistance on their livelihood initiative.
• At the request of the State Government of Rajasthan, IIMU has prepared and submitted a proposed strategy to improve the quality of higher education in the state.
• Sahariya Project – the Rajasthan government has commissioned IIMU to evaluate this program which provides various types of assistance to a regional tribe.
• SPARC Projects – The Apex Committee of SPARC, MoE, Govt. of India has sanctioned the following projects for which proposals are submitted from IIMU.
  • Two Sides of a coin: Empowering Rural People and Women as Consumers and Entrepreneurs through Use of Technology.
  • Who Bridges Across Social Divides?
  • Agricultural Knowledge Transfer at the Base of the Pyramid: A Sociological Perspective.
  • Building sustainable supply chains: a study of the Indian agri-fresh produce sector.
  • MSMEs and Delivery of Services in the Bottom-of-the-Pyramid (BoP) Context.
  • Technology-Based Low-Cost Solutions in Rural Healthcare: Impact on Patients and Service Providers.

Research Committees

Two committees have been established to promote the research priority of the Institute. The R&D Committee has primary responsibility for implementing the R&D strategy and monitoring it on an ongoing basis. It identifies any academic areas where there are research gaps and creates the enabling environment so research can flourish. The Knowledge Infrastructure Committee ensures that the infrastructure needed to support the research activities of the Faculty is in place, including books, journals, online databases and other IT support. These committees work under the guidance of the Dean, Faculty and Research.

"A*" and "A" Category Journals

IIMU's goal is not just to increase the quantity of research but to ensure its impact. Research quality must be recognized by peers in each field and research must appear in peer-reviewed journals with an emphasis on top journals having both a theoretical and a practitioner orientation. There are a small number of journals that are recognized worldwide as exemplars of excellence within the business and management field (broadly defined) and including economics and other allied fields. Their high status is acknowledged by their inclusion as world-leading journals in a number of well-regarded international journal quality lists.

With this in mind, IIMU has developed a list of journals categorized as "A*" and "A" based on rankings used by well-respected B-schools such as UT Dallas and IIM Bangalore as well as the FT 50 list and the Businessweek Top 20 list.

All journals in the "A*" category publishes the most original and best-executed research. These journals typically have high submission and low acceptance rates and papers are heavily refereed. Journals in the "A*" category generally has the highest citation impact rates within their field. There are currently 37 journals on IIMU's list of "A*" Category journals.

"A" category journals publish original and well-executed research papers and are highly regarded. These journals typically have good submission rates, are very selective in what they publish, and papers are heavily refereed. Their citation impact rates are relatively higher than others in their field. The Institute currently has 64 journals on the list of "A" Category journals.