The Bharathidasan Institute of Management (BIM) in Tiruchirappalli has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) to launch a joint Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence for Business (MSAIB). According to The Hindu BusinessLine, the agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony attended by senior leadership from both institutions, including BIM Chairman Ravi Appasamy and UTA Associate Dean Fernando Jaramillo. The new programme will be hosted at the IIT Madras Research Park and is specifically designed for working professionals seeking to integrate artificial intelligence into business strategy.
The curriculum integrates machine learning, data engineering, and generative AI with core business principles. The Hindu BusinessLine reported that the initial trial cohort will consist of 25 students, with instruction facilitated by faculty from UTA. The programme employs a hybrid delivery model comprising eight-week terms, featuring seven weeks of online instruction followed by one week of in-person learning. This structure includes a one-week immersion period in the United States, which involves company visits and interactions with business executives to provide exposure to industry applications of AI.
Financially, the programme carries an indicative tuition fee of US$27,000. The Hindu BusinessLine notes that this pricing is intended to offer a viable alternative to the substantially higher costs associated with two years of full-time residential study in the United States. Admission for the programme will be conducted through a specialized framework managed by UTA. Radha K. Mahapatra, Chair and Professor of Information Systems and Operations Management at UTA, stated that while the programme targets working professionals, the university remains open to selecting capable students who have completed their undergraduate studies.
Ravi Appasamy described the partnership as a deliberate step toward positioning BIM as a globally connected and industry-relevant institution. He emphasized that the board is committed to laying the foundations for the next generation of management education. This collaboration emerges against a backdrop of shifting international student mobility trends. The Hindu BusinessLine cited the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2025 report, which indicates a 7 per cent decline in new international student enrolments in the US and a 16 per cent drop in sponsored study visa grants to Indian nationals in the UK. Other global universities, including the University of Liverpool and the University of Bristol, have also established campuses in India to adapt to these changing dynamics.