VAMNICOM unveils Two-Year PGDM aimed at Co-op Leadership

The Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), a premier institution under the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, has launched a new AICTE-approved two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) program specializing in Cooperation.

The inauguration ceremony, held in Pune, was graced by Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary of the Union Ministry of Cooperation, and Additional Secretary Pankaj Kumar Bansal. Dr. Suva Kanta Mohanty, Director of VAMNICOM and CICTAB, welcomed the dignitaries and emphasized the program’s strategic importance in empowering the cooperative sector through specialized managerial education.

This initiative marks a significant milestone in the Ministry’s efforts to build a cadre of professionally trained leaders for the cooperative movement. The PGDM program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding necessary to drive innovation and sustainability in cooperative institutions.

It focuses on areas such as cooperative governance, financial management, rural development, and inclusive growth, aligning with the Ministry’s broader objectives to strengthen the cooperative sector in India.

VAMNICOM has a longstanding commitment to cooperative education and has been instrumental in shaping the cooperative movement in India. The institute offers various programs, including the PGDM in Agri-Business Management (PGDM-ABM), and has been involved in initiatives like the “Bharat-Banker” program, launched in collaboration with the Syngenta Foundation.

This program aims to equip rural youth with essential skills to thrive in the banking, financial services, and insurance sectors, thereby strengthening India’s rural banking ecosystem.

Furthermore, VAMNICOM has been proactive in integrating technology into its curriculum. In collaboration with industry partners like Automaton AI, the institute is introducing systematic learning curricula on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, customized to equip students with knowledge on AI and ML applications in agribusiness.

These initiatives align with the Ministry of Cooperation’s goals, such as the computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and transforming them into Common Service Centers.

The launch of the new PGDM program underscores VAMNICOM’s dedication to advancing cooperative education and fostering a new generation of leaders equipped to address the challenges and opportunities within the cooperative sector.

By providing specialized, future-ready managerial education, the institute aims to drive innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth in cooperative institutions across India.