As part of the Student Exchange Programme (SEP), 53 students of the premier Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L) will head to partner universities in foreign countries.

IIM-L runs one of the biggest student exchange programme (SEP) in the country and has alliances with prestigious institutions spread across 4 continents and 22 universities. This year, IIM-L will also play host to 30 foreign students. While, the IIM-L students would be leaving for their respected universities this month, the foreign students have already begun arriving on campus.

Some partner institutes include ESCP-EAP, France; McMaster University, Canada; ESSEC, France; EBS, Germany; HHL, Germany; REIMS, France; CBS, Denmark; UCL, Belgium; Bocconi, Italy; and ESADE, Spain. IIM-L Student Exchange Cell president Shailendra Singh said the international student exchange was at the forefront of the efforts towards international exposure and recognition.

With a modest beginning in 2001, the Student Exchange Programme at IIM-L has grown over the years. Its SEP has been ranked amongst the best in India according to the latest B-school surveys. “Our students will act as brand ambassadors of IIM and India abroad. The international exposure will broaden their understanding of various issues related to management and help them handle ambiguity better in future,” he noted.

The previous batches of outgoing students had won accolades like ‘Best International Student Award’ in HHL Germany. While these associations bring about exposure to different teaching methodologies for the students, they entail a cross-cultural exchange in an increasingly globalised world.

Nikhil Grover, a Marketing & Systems student, heading to EM Strasbourg, France, said the SEP offered tremendous exposure to students, who wanted maximum from their degree, and gave a feel of what the education system offer at a global stage.