Prof Arun A Elias has taken charge as Director of the Goa Institute of Management (GIM), succeeding Prof Ajit Parulekar, who had served as director since 2017.
Elias brings more than three decades of academic experience and around 15 years of senior leadership experience across India, New Zealand and Fiji. He has been associated with the School of Management at Victoria University of Wellington for the past 27 years and has held several academic and institutional leadership positions.
His previous roles include Dean of the College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies at Fiji National University, Associate Dean (International and Accreditation) at Victoria University of Wellington, and director-level positions at Victoria Business School.
Elias holds an M.Tech in Industrial Engineering and Management from IIT Kharagpur and a PhD in Management from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
On taking charge, Elias said GIM would focus on research with real-world impact, innovation in learning and teaching, and socially responsible engagement with stakeholders. He also outlined the institute’s ambition of becoming an internationally recognised business school with triple-crown accreditation.
“GIM has built a strong academic foundation over the years, with a clear commitment to excellence in management education, research, and international engagement. As we look ahead, our focus will be on research with real-world impact, continuous innovation in learning and teaching, and socially responsible engagement with all our stakeholders,” Elias said.
He added that GIM would work towards becoming an internationally renowned B-school with triple-crown accreditation.
Elias is also involved in the international accreditation ecosystem as a mentor and peer review panellist for AACSB, EFMD/EQUIS and AMBA/BGA. He has more than 100 publications, including books, peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and international conference papers.
Commenting on the appointment, GIM Chairman Ashank Desai said Elias brings academic leadership experience, international exposure, research expertise and experience with global accreditation.
“His experience and international networks will add significant value as GIM strengthens its academic and international foundations,” Desai said.
Desai also acknowledged the contribution of Parulekar, who has been associated with GIM for 26 years. During his tenure as director, Parulekar oversaw a period of institutional transformation, including efforts to strengthen GIM’s academic and international standing and its transition towards becoming a university.
Elias’s appointment comes as GIM moves into its next phase, with the institute seeking to build on its academic base and expand its international profile.
