IIM Ranchi has announced the complete replacement of traditional hall-based mid-term exams with AI-integrated business problem-solving projects across all courses. This initiative, termed “WAI” (Working
with AI), aims to address a critical gap in traditional management education, where students often graduate with theoretical knowledge but lack practical experience in human-AI collaboration – a skill increasingly essential in today’s workplace.
“We recognised that the traditional model of isolated theoretical learning was increasingly disconnected from the dynamic needs of modern business,” explains Dr. Deepak Srivastava, Director, IIM Ranchi. “Our students needed to develop competencies that transcend textbook knowledge – they need to work collaboratively with emerging technologies to solve complex business challenges,” he added.
The WAI model aims to ensure graduates are truly industry-ready. Traditional assessment methods, while valuable for testing theoretical understanding, often fail to evaluate students’ ability to navigate complex, technology-enhanced business environments, the institute stated in an official press release.
Furthermore, IIM Ranchi has restructured its attendance policy, moving away from compulsory attendance to a flexible model based on positive reinforcement. Students will receive incentives for participation while maintaining the freedom to pursue additional skill development opportunities.
“We’re creating an environment where students take ownership of their learning journey,” notes Dean, Academics Prof. Tanusree Dutta. “This requires balancing freedom with responsibility – students have more autonomy in how they engage with content, but they’re also held to higher standards in demonstrating practical competencies,” Dutta added.
By engaging students in working with AI systems to address real business challenges, the assessment process aims to transforms into a hands-on training platform for practical skills. Students will acquire the ability to select suitable AI tools, recognise their limitations, communicate effectively with AI systems, and integrate AI-generated insights with human judgment, the IIM added.
Despite these innovative changes to mid-term assessments, IIM Ranchi continues to use traditional hall-based examinations for end-term evaluations. This hybrid approach allows students to develop fundamental analytical and reasoning skills while also gaining practical technological competencies.
Prof. Gaurav Manohar Marathe, Chairperson, Student Engagement and Development Committee (SEDC), stated: “We are not discarding the strengths of traditional evaluation methods. Rather, we are building a well-rounded assessment ecosystem that equally values foundational academic knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios.”
