Jamshedpur, September 8, 2026: XLRI – Xavier School of Management and the Academy of Management (AOM) marked a significant milestone in global academic collaboration with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the inauguration of the AOM–XLRI Doctoral Colloquium 2026 on September 1, 2026. The collaboration is the first of its kind between the Academy of Management and an academic institution in India and Asia.

The five-day AOM–XLRI Doctoral Colloquium 2026, which concluded on September 5, 2026, brought together distinguished scholars, editors, academics, practitioners and doctoral researchers from India and across the globe, creating a platform for intellectual exchange, mentorship and scholarly collaboration. The MoU marks an important step towards strengthening global academic engagement while expanding opportunities for doctoral scholars and researchers.

The inauguration was attended by Dr. (Fr.) George Sebastian, S.J., Director, XLRI, Jamshedpur; Dr. (Fr.) Donald D’Silva, S.J., Dean – Administration and Finance; Prof. Sanjay Patro, Dean – Academics; Kate Maloney, Program Director – Community Accelerator Program and Teaching, Academy of Management; Prof. Johann Fortwengel, General Editor, Journal of Management Studies and Professor, King’s Business School, King’s College London; Manudev Jain, Joint Commissioner, Indian Revenue Service; Sachin Phansikar, President, Business Standard; and Prof. Prashant Kumar, Convener of the AOM–XLRI Doctoral Colloquium 2026 and Associate Professor, XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Highlighting the purpose of the partnership, Kate Maloney, Program Director – Community Accelerator Program and Teaching, Academy of Management, stated:

“We created the Community Accelerator Program to support emerging scholars to contribute to and lead the dialogue in management education. Through this event, we are excited to bring leading editors and researchers together to help students grow their networks, develop skills and create the next great theories that shape our field. We encourage scholars to make the most of this opportunity and wish them success in creating an impact not just for India but for the world.” The inaugural ceremony also witnessed the release of the Book of Abstracts and the Research Priority Document. Two books were formally launched: Context-Inspired Entrepreneurship—Cases from India by Prof. Elizabeth Rose, Ashish Galande and Shreevas S., and Critical Thinking and Strategic Communication: Principles & Practice by XLRI professors, Prof. Rahul Kumar Shukla and Prof. Sunil Kumar Sarangi.

A key highlight of the opening day was the Meet the Editors session, which brought doctoral scholars together with leading editors from internationally recognised management journals, offering valuable insights into academic publishing and scholarly research. Over the five days, the Colloquium featured research presentations, editorial interactions, distinguished talks, methodological sessions and mentoring opportunities. Discussions spanned contemporary areas including artificial intelligence, sustainability, digital transformation, organisational behaviour, strategy, entrepreneurship, international business and the future of work, while strengthening participants’ understanding of research methodology, theory building and responsible scholarship.

Another distinctive feature was a series of panel discussions led by XLRI doctoral scholars, creating a peer-learning platform for young researchers to share perspectives and experiences on the doctoral journey, academic challenges and the evolving realities of research and scholarship. The Colloquium provided doctoral scholars with opportunities to present their research, receive feedback from experienced academics and international experts, and build meaningful academic networks. The five-day programme concluded with a valedictory session, where Oana Branzei, Paul MacPherson Chair in Strategic Leadership and Professor of Strategy & Sustainability at Ivey Business School, Western University, Canada, and Prof. Elizabeth L. Rose, Associate Editor, Journal of International Business Studies reflected on the significance of global scholarly communities, mentorship and collaboration in nurturing emerging researchers.

Dr. (Fr.) Donald D’Silva, S.J., appreciated the successful conduct of the Colloquium and acknowledged the collective efforts of the organisers, faculty members, scholars and participants.

The successful conclusion of the AOM–XLRI Doctoral Colloquium 2026 reinforces XLRI’s commitment to nurturing future academic leaders and advancing impactful management research. The landmark collaboration with the Academy of Management lays a strong foundation for deeper global engagement and sustained efforts towards strengthening doctoral education, research excellence and international academic collaboration.