This fall, Sanjeev Khagram, Director General and Dean of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, significantly advanced the institution's global impact. He collaborated with the Government of West Bengal to bring the Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative and its courses to the region, expanding educational access. In addition, the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), the acclaimed global hotel management college located in India, signed a letter of agreement with Thunderbird to launch the initiative across all IIHM centers in India. The signing was carried out by Khagram and Suborno Bose, founder and chief mentor of IIHM. "The Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative is an ambitious project, and India, with its supercharged youth population, is a hotbed of industry-relevant education", Bose said.

Khagram also met with Techno India University/Techno India Group and signed an agreement offering the Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative to individuals attending the university, including faculty and staff, students and the greater communities they serve. "I am delighted to witness the powerful alliance forged between Thunderbird School of Global Management, a beacon of excellence at Arizona State University, and the visionary institutions of Techno India Group and Techno India University, in support of the 100 Million Learners Global Initiative. This collaboration exemplifies a commitment to fostering global leadership and knowledge exchange, transcending borders to empower a diverse multitude of learners worldwide", said Professor Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, co-chairperson of Techno India Group and co-chancellor of Techno India University, West Bengal.

To expand the initiative's reach in India, Thunderbird is partnering with governments, corporations, and nonprofits across various regions, such as Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Given his Gujarati heritage and nonresident Indian status, Khagram has spearheaded efforts to enlist these organizations as partners. This collaboration aims to enhance access to the initiative, offering potential learners direct opportunities to engage in leadership, management, and entrepreneurship courses.

Through this collaboration, thousands of additional learners in India will have access to the Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative, ensuring critical education access throughout the region. The enthusiasm from leadership across all involved parties reflects the potential for a significant impact on education in India. Shri Manish Jain IAS, Principal Secretary of the Department of School Education with the Government of West Bengal, emphasized that this important partnership will benefit not only the students of West Bengal but also contribute to global education going forward.

The Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative provides free online education in 40 languages, catering to learners worldwide. Notably, 70% of the program's 100 million learners will be women and young women. The certificates are fully covered by scholarships, making the initiative cost-free for participants, thanks to philanthropic support. The foundational program is accessible to students at any formal educational level and is currently offered in Hindi and other languages. The advanced program offers graduate-level courses, while plans for an intermediate program for high school or
undergraduate-level learners are in the pipeline.