Can Multilingual MBA Programmes Shape India’s Next Generation of Managers?

For decades, management education in India has largely followed a single linguistic path: English. While this approach helped align Indian MBA graduates with global corporate standards, it also created invisible barriers for a vast pool of capable students from small towns, regional-language schools and first-generation learner backgrounds.

Today, that long-standing model is being questioned. With the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 encouraging education in mother tongues and institutions such as IGNOU introducing MBA programmes in Hindi and Odia, India is exploring whether bilingual or multilingual management education can deliver deeper learning without compromising global employability.

Why Language Matters in MBA Classrooms

Management education is not just about terminology; it is about analysis, decision-making and strategic thinking. Studies consistently show that students understand complex ideas better when instruction includes a familiar language.

A UNESCO report (2016) highlighted that learners grasp concepts faster and retain them longer when taught in their mother tongue. Similarly, a World Bank study (2020) found that first-generation students show stronger comprehension and critical thinking when education integrates familiar languages.

For MBA students, this is significant. Subjects like finance, operations and strategy demand conceptual clarity. When students struggle with language first, learning outcomes often suffer.

According to experts, management frameworks do not change with language, but understanding does. Teaching concepts in a language students think in allows them to engage actively rather than memorise jargon.

What a Multilingual MBA Model Could Look Like

Most education leaders agree that replacing English entirely is neither practical nor desirable. Instead, a hybrid or bilingual MBA model is emerging as the most viable solution.

In such a structure:

• Core textbooks, global case studies and final assessments remain in English

• Classroom discussions, tutorials and applied projects may use regional languages

• Faculty switch between languages to ensure comprehension

• English communication skills are strengthened alongside conceptual learning

Research in higher education suggests that translanguaging, or switching between languages for learning, improves participation and critical thinking without weakening English proficiency.

Employability and the English Question

One major concern is whether multilingual MBAs will affect job prospects. English remains essential in corporate and global workplaces, and experts emphasise it cannot be optional.

However, multilingual education does not reduce English exposure—it can enhance it. When students understand concepts clearly, they articulate ideas more confidently in professional English.

Structured communication training, internships and presentations conducted in English can ensure graduates remain industry-ready.

How Employers May Respond

Employers increasingly value problem-solving ability, adaptability and communication clarity over the language of instruction. In fact, managers who can analyse strategy in English while engaging customers or teams in regional languages bring a clear advantage, particularly as businesses expand into tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Early initiatives like IGNOU’s multilingual MBA programmes will serve as test cases. Their success will depend on clear assessment standards, strong English benchmarks and industry alignment.

Multilingual MBAs are not about lowering academic standards. They are about widening access, improving comprehension and building confident leaders. In a linguistically diverse country like India, this shift could redefine who becomes a manager—and how effectively they lead.