‘Reimagining Keralam’, a two-day residential strategic leadership retreat for the Keralam Council of Ministers, has commenced at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K), with discussions focusing on the long-term challenges and opportunities likely to shape the State’s development.

The retreat, which began with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan lighting the traditional lamp on Friday, brings together the Council of Ministers, IIM-K faculty members, and experts from international institutions for discussions on issues ranging from artificial intelligence and climate resilience to public health, ageing, employment, higher education, and fiscal sustainability.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan lighting the traditional lamp to mark the opening of the two-day workshop, ‘Reimagining Keralam’, at the Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode (IIM-K) on Friday.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

IIM-K Director Debashis Chatterjee, who conceptualised the programme following his meeting with the Chief Minister, said the retreat was intended to provide the State’s political leadership with a space to reflect on developments beyond the demands of day-to-day administration.

The programme is not structured as a conventional training course, according to Prof. Chatterjee. Instead, it comprises a series of dialogues and reflective conversations among policymakers, practitioners, and scholars, without any examination or evaluation of participants.

The sessions will examine transformational leadership in the age of artificial intelligence, behavioural approaches to translating policy into lasting change on the ground, climate resilience and community-based disaster preparedness, and public health and the challenges associated with an ageing population.

Other discussion areas

Other areas of discussion include the emerging ‘silver economy’, strengthening Kerala’s economic and fiscal foundations, employment, entrepreneurship, and skills amid technological changes, excellence in higher education, and positioning Kerala as a global brand.

Faculty members of IIM-K will conduct the sessions along with experts from Keio University, Japan, and King’s College London. Dr. Aravind Srinivasan, Chief Medical Officer and Director-Projects at Aravind Eye Care System, will lead a session on healthcare and wellness.

Prof. Chatterjee said the retreat sought to build a shared understanding of the long-term forces shaping Kerala and facilitate evidence-based approaches to translating policy intent into sustainable outcomes.

The retreat is the second dedicated leadership programme for the Kerala Cabinet to be hosted by IIM-K. The institute had earlier hosted the Cabinet led by the late Oommen Chandy for a day-long leadership and management programme in 2011.

Prof. Chatterjee, who is serving his third term as IIM-K Director, also headed the institute when the Cabinet participated in the 2011 programme. A communication from the institute on Friday said the latest engagement was part of its continuing efforts to facilitate interaction among government, academia, and society, and to contribute to discussions on building resilient and sustainable societies.

‘Back-to-school’ moment: CM

Mr. Satheesan later shared a glimpse of his “back-to-school” moment as he and his Cabinet colleagues returned to the “classroom”.

Posting a few photographs on X of the Ministers seated in IIM-K classroom, Mr. Satheesan wrote: “I am back to the classroom after years.” The workshop seeks to provide the Ministers an opportunity to step back from the demands of day-to-day administration and deliberate on the long-term challenges and opportunities before the State. Mr. Satheesan had earlier said that the exercise was meant to help the Ministers look beyond routine administration and work towards a roadmap for a future-ready Kerala.