IIT Delhi Introduces 7-Month Online Programme for Working Executives

IIT Delhi executive programme Chief of Staff: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has launched a seven-month online Executive Programme for Chief of Staff through its Continuing Education Programme (CEP). The course is designed for working professionals looking to build strategic leadership and business execution skills without stepping away from their careers.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to graduates across disciplines, making it accessible to professionals from varied academic and career backgrounds rather than restricting eligibility to a specific field. It focuses specifically on the evolving role of a Chief of Staff and the competencies needed to support senior leadership while driving key organisational priorities.

What the Programme Covers

Participants will be trained across several core areas, including:

• Strategic thinking
• Executive leadership support
• Stakeholder management
• Decision-making
• Business transformation
• Project execution

The course will also introduce technology-driven approaches to help professionals navigate complex business situations and manage both strategic and operational responsibilities more effectively — reflecting how the Chief of Staff role has evolved alongside changing organisational structures and demands.

How the Programme Will Be Delivered

The entire programme will be conducted through live online classes, combining:

• Expert-led sessions
• Case studies
• Practical frameworks
• Assignments and applied learning activities

According to the institute, this format is designed to help participants better understand real workplace challenges and apply the theoretical concepts they learn directly to actual business situations, rather than relying purely on classroom-style theory.

Capstone Project and Practical Assignments

As part of the programme, participants will be required to complete practical assignments and a capstone project, applying the concepts and frameworks taught during the course to real-world business scenarios. This hands-on component is intended to ensure that the learning translates into applicable, job-relevant skills rather than remaining purely conceptual.

Optional Campus Immersion

Candidates enrolled in the programme will also have the opportunity for an optional campus immersion at IIT Delhi, giving them a chance to interact directly with faculty and peers and experience the institute’s academic environment in person — a feature that adds an in-person dimension to an otherwise fully online course.

Programme Coordinators

The programme is coordinated by two members of IIT Delhi’s teaching faculty:

• Sanjay Dhir, Professor of Strategic Management, Department of Management Studies
• Sonali Jain, Associate Professor of Finance, Department of Management Studies

According to the programme coordinators, the course is designed to provide professionals with practical knowledge and structured frameworks to develop the specific skill sets required for Chief of Staff and similar strategic leadership roles.

Why This Matters

The launch reflects a broader trend among premier institutes like IIT Delhi expanding their executive education offerings to cater to working professionals seeking career advancement without pausing their jobs. The Chief of Staff role, in particular, has gained prominence across corporate and startup environments in recent years, as organisations increasingly rely on this position to bridge strategic vision with day-to-day execution.

This launch also comes shortly after IIT Delhi’s other recent expansion — the institute had earlier introduced its first academic programme at its Sonipat campus, in partnership with an International Solar Fellowship, indicating a broader push by the institute to diversify its academic and executive offerings.

Key Highlights

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