Five higher education institutions in Rajasthan have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) to strengthen career readiness and professional skills for students pursuing accounting and finance.

The agreements have been signed with Banasthali Vidyapith, Manipal University Jaipur, Pacific Academy of Higher Education and Research University, St Xavier’s College Jaipur and JECRC University. The partnerships aim to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements by increasing awareness of globally recognised accounting and finance qualifications and providing students with industry-relevant skills.

The partnerships coincide with the launch of the IMA Jaipur Chapter, the organisation’s 11th professional chapter in India. The chapter will serve as a platform for finance and accounting professionals, students, educators and industry stakeholders to participate in professional development programmes, networking events, knowledge-sharing initiatives and industry discussions.

Under the MoUs, the partner institutions will work with IMA India to complement their academic programmes with professional education pathways. Students will gain access to learning opportunities and information on IMA certifications, including the CMA (Certified Management Accountant), CSCA (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis) and FMAA (Financial and Managerial Accounting Associate). IMA will also offer micro-credentials covering areas such as artificial intelligence readiness, data fluency, forecasting, analytics and financial decision-making.

Sunil Deshmukh, IMA Global Board Chair Emeritus, said the Jaipur Chapter would strengthen engagement with finance and accounting professionals across Rajasthan by providing access to IMA’s global resources and professional network.

Arindam Ghosh, Country Head, IMA India, said the partnerships reflected the organisation’s focus on strengthening collaboration between academia and industry while helping students develop skills for careers in the global business environment.

The partnerships will also include seminars, workshops, conferences, guest lectures and research collaborations. In addition, the institutions will receive support to participate in IMA’s Higher Education Endorsement Programme, which recognises academic programmes that prepare students for professional careers.

IMA India will also provide up to five student scholarships each year to eligible students from the partner institutions, subject to its guidelines, to support those pursuing its professional certifications.

Also Read: Imarticus Learning launches AI-first FinTech programme with business analytics focus