Narayana Educational Institutions successfully organized a major national conference focused on transforming MBA education through artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The NC-RIME 2026 (National Conference on Re-imagining MBA Education in the Era of AI, Analytics and FinTech) brought together academic leaders, industry experts, and researchers from across India at Narayana Engineering College. The event featured presentations of over 125 research papers covering contemporary themes including AI in management education, FinTech, digital banking, HR analytics, entrepreneurship, and business innovation.
Prof. B. Rajasekhar Bellamkonda, Vice Chancellor of Yogi Vemana University, delivered the keynote address emphasizing the urgent need for management education to evolve alongside AI-driven industries. He highlighted the growing importance of technology, innovation, and research in preparing students for data-centric business environments. The conference proceedings, containing all research papers with ISBN certification, were jointly released by three Vice Chancellors during the event.
Prof. N.V.R. Jyoti Kumar, Vice Chancellor of Sri Krishnadevaraya University, stated that artificial intelligence is revolutionizing management education. He urged students to combine technology with leadership, ethics, innovation, and problem-solving skills. Prof. Kumar emphasized the importance of AI-enabled classrooms, personalized learning approaches, and stronger industry-academia collaboration, encouraging students to become solution-oriented leaders in the modern business landscape.
Prof. Allam Srinivasa Rao, Vice Chancellor of Vikrama Simhapuri University, highlighted the critical need for digital transformation and research orientation in MBA programs. He stressed that industry-relevant skill development is essential to prepare MBA graduates for global competition. The conference addressed these concerns through focused sessions on technological integration and practical business applications.
Dr. Ponguru Narayana, Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh, sent a message appreciating the conference for promoting research culture and industry-academia collaboration. He noted that AI, analytics, and FinTech-based education would shape future leadership in business and administration. Mrs. Indira Ponguru, Director of Narayana Group of Institutions, emphasized that management education must integrate emerging technologies beyond conventional business studies.
Dr. Gangineni Dhananjay, Conference Director and Dean-MBA, stated that NC-RIME 2026 served as a vital platform for discussing emerging trends in artificial intelligence, business analytics, digital finance, and entrepreneurship. He emphasized the need for students to develop industry-oriented skills and technological expertise alongside academic excellence. A special session titled “Coffee with VCs” facilitated direct interaction between Vice Chancellors, Deans, Principals, and faculty members to discuss the future of higher education and innovation.
During the valedictory session, the Department of MBA organized the Best Biz Guru Awards 2025 to honor distinguished educators from the Rayalaseema region. Dr. P. Subramanya Chary received the award in Finance, Prof. V. Barla in Marketing, Dr. M.R.S. Surya Narayana Reddy in General Management, and Dr. M. Neeraja in Human Resource Management. A special Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Prof. K. Venu Gopala Rao for his outstanding contributions to management education and academic leadership.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from Deans, Principals, Heads of Departments, faculty members, research scholars, and students from various institutions across the country. The conference proceedings book containing all 125 research papers on AI, analytics, and FinTech in management education was released during the inaugural session, providing a valuable resource for future academic research and curriculum development.
