Studies on Digital vs Traditional Learning, Digital Platforms Win IMC-IRC Best Paper Awards 2025

The 15th Indian Management Conclave (IMC) 2025, organized by MBAUniverse.com and hosted by IIFT Delhi on September 25–26, convened the Higher Education Secretary, AICTE Chairman, CXOs, and leading academic leaders to deliberate on the future of management education in the Age of AI. A major highlight was the IMC International Research Conference (IMC-IRC) 2025, which featured over 150 researchers presenting papers on emerging themes in business and management education.

The IMC-IRC Best Research Paper Awards 2025 were determined through a rigorous three-stage evaluation process: shortlisting by the reviewer, scores by Track Chairs during paper presentation, and final selection by Jury during the open presentation. The two winning papers explored the ‘Impact of Digital vs. Traditional Learning’ and the ‘Role of Digital Platforms in Internationalization of Management Education’.

The Awards were presented by Shri Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education; Mr. Amit Agnihotri, Founder, Indian Management Conclave; along with other dignitaries during the Valedictory Session of IMC 2025.

IMC IRC Best Paper Award 2025 Winners & Finalists
The eminent Jury announced the paper by Neethu Ismail & Lishin M Joshy titled ‘When Autonomy Hurts and Relatedness Heals: Understanding the Dual Impact of Digital vs. Traditional Learning on Postgraduate Outcomes’ as the winner of the First Prize of IMC-IRC Best Research Paper Award 2025.

This study compares the effectiveness of AI-driven personalized learning systems with traditional instructor-led methods in enhancing student comprehension, retention, and engagement. Conducted with 120 postgraduate students divided into AI-based and traditional learning groups, the research used pre- and post-assessments, retention tests, and engagement metrics to measure outcomes. Findings revealed that traditional learning outperformed AI-based systems in comprehension and long-term retention, while higher baseline knowledge strongly predicted better results in both models. Despite initial interest, engagement in AI-based learning declined due to adaptability challenges, and students expressed a stronger preference for human-led instruction. The study underscores the continued relevance of traditional methods and recommends a balanced, evidence-based integration of AI tools.
IMC IRC Winner

The paper by Radha Raghuramapatruni titled ‘An Analysis on role of Digital platforms in Internationalization of Management Education’ was selected as the winner of the Second Prize of IMC-IRC Best Research Paper Award 2025.
This study examines how digital platforms are reshaping the internationalization of management education by surpassing traditional geographic and institutional boundaries. Earlier models relied on physical exchanges, joint programs, and offshore campuses; however, the rise of virtual learning environments has introduced “borderless” academic collaboration. The paper explores the transformative role of these platforms in nurturing global engagement through new tools, strategies, and pedagogical innovations. It further assesses the benefits, challenges, and emerging directions of digitally enabled internationalization.

IMC IRC Winner

Other finalists for the IMC-IRC Best Research Paper Award 2025 were:
Title: Flexible Learning Coherence for Education 5.0: Fostering Digital Technologies Pathways in Management Education
Authors: Deepa Pillai & Shirly Abraham
Title: Voices Within Teams: Exploring Psychological Safety in B-School Group-Based Learning
Authors: Sunil, M.V
Title: Exploring the role of classroom interpersonal relationships in fostering academic resilience in higher education
Authors: Bhuwandeep & Mitra Amini
Title: Rethinking Employability through the Lens of Cultural Intelligence: Insights from Indian Management Graduates
Authors: Abhinanda Bhattacharya & Ginni Chawla
Title: Harnessing AI in Education: The Influence of the TPACK Framework on Teaching and Learning
Authors: Emily Maria K Jose & Pooja Venkatesh

IMC IRC Best Paper Award 2025 Jury Members
The Jury comprised distinguished researchers and editors, including:

Dr. Sanjay Patro, Dean (Academics), XLRI Jamshedpur
Dr. Ajay Manrai, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Global Marketing
Dr. Arpan Kar, Chair Professor, Department of Management Studies & School of Artificial Intelligence, IIT Delhi; Recognized in Stanford’s World’s Top 2% Scientists List.

IMC IRC Best Paper Award 2025 -- Track Chairs
The Track Chairs comprised distinguished researchers and editors, including:

Dr Neena Sondhi, Dean-Research & Accreditations, IMI Delhi
Dr. Praveen Ranjan Srivastava, Dean Research, IIM Rohtak
Dr. OP Wali, Professor, Head (IT & KM Discipline), IIFT New Delhi
Dr. Munish Kumar Thakur, Dean (Academics), XLRI Delhi NCR
Dr. Ranajoy Bhattacharyya, Professor, IIFT, Kolkata
Dr Rakesh K Singh, Dean, Research and Fellow Program, IMT Ghaziabad
Dr. Jacqueline Symss, Associate Professor, IIFT New Delhi
Dr Preeti S Rawat, Editor-in-Chief, Business Perspectives and Research Journal
Dr Sachin Mangla, Vice-Dean, O. P. Jindal Global University
Dr. Rajnish Kumar Misra, Dean, JBS, JIIT; For. Faculty, IIM Indore and IIM Kozhikode

To ensure high-quality research presentations, the following measures were implemented:

Fewer than 50 papers were selected for presentation from 150 submissions, reflecting a 67% rejection rate
Submission of full manuscripts was made mandatory prior to the conference
Virtual paper presentations were not permitted
A Best Research Paper Award competition was introduced to recognize outstanding work
Publication opportunities were facilitated in reputed journals and edited volumes

Thanking the Jury Members, Track Chairs, Editors associated with IMC-IRC 2025, Mr Agnihotri, said: “We are indeed very thankful to jury members, and track chairs for their invaluable contributions. We are also thankful to Journal Editors for their support.”

IMC IRC 2025 Theme and Tracks
After a careful analysis of recent developments, the following tracks were curated.
Track 1: AI-Enhanced Pedagogy, Learning, and Student Engagement
Track 2: AI Applications, Analytics, Ethics, and Organizational Impact in Management Education
Track 3: Teaching Methodologies & Pedagogical Innovation in Management Education
Track 4: Academic Processes, Quality & Internationalization of Management Education
Track 5: Competencies, Employability, Career Advancement & Entrepreneurship

IMC Research Conference 2025: Selected Papers & Authors
Shortlisted from more than 150 submissions, selected research papers will be presented by authors from leading Indian institutions. The paper presentations are organized into five tracks that reflect the core priorities of management education in India today. Read selected papers and their authors by tracks.

Track 1: AI-Enhanced Pedagogy, Learning, and Student Engagement
This track focuses on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are transforming teaching methods, learning experiences, curriculum design, and student engagement in management education.