Management Education in the Era of Digital Pedagogy: Bridging Industry Expectations and Academic Curriculum

Abstract: The rapid digital transformation of business environments has fundamentally altered industry expectations from management graduates. Organizations today demand professionals who are digitally literate, analytically skilled, adaptable, and capable of integrating technology with managerial decision-making. However, a persistent gap exists between industry expectations and the academic curriculum of management education in India. This study aims to examine how digital pedagogy can act as a bridging mechanism between academic management curricula and industry requirements. Using primary data collected from a survey of 235 management students in Rajasthan and early-career professionals, the study investigates perceptions of digital teaching tools, curriculum relevance, skill preparedness, and employability outcomes. A structured questionnaire was employed, and statistical tools such as descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation, and hypothesis testing were applied. The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between digital pedagogy adoption and perceived industry readiness. The paper concludes with industry-oriented suggestions for curriculum redesign, faculty development, and academia-industry collaboration.

Keywords: Digital Pedagogy, Management Education, Industry Expectations, Curriculum Alignment, Employability