The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kumaraguru College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (KCLAS), reinforcing efforts to strengthen collaboration between India’s retail industry and higher education institutions.
The MoU was formalised in the presence of Shankar Vanavarayar, President, Kumaraguru Institutions, and Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India, during a structured programme centred on the future of retail, innovation, and talent development.
This partnership is designed to foster sustained engagement between industry and academia through structured knowledge exchange, student exposure, faculty interaction, collaborative research, and co-created initiatives aligned with the evolving needs of India’s retail ecosystem. A collaboration roadmap for 2026–2027, unveiled at the event, outlines a series of planned engagements including industry-led sessions, student-driven initiatives, experiential learning modules, and thought-leadership forums.
Speaking on the occasion, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, Retailers Association of India, said, “Through this MoU, RAI is deepening its engagement with academic institutions to better prepare students for a rapidly evolving retail landscape. At the same time, it allows the industry to tap into new thinking and emerging perspectives that students bring. Retail must not only train future professionals, but also remain open to learning from the next generation shaping its future.”
The agreement supports RAI’s broader mission of strengthening the retail sector’s long-term growth and professionalism by investing in future-ready talent and promoting industry-relevant education frameworks.
Addressing the gathering, Shankar Vanavarayar, President, Kumaraguru Institutions, said, “At Kumaraguru, we believe education must remain deeply connected to the world it seeks to serve. Our partnership with the Retailers Association of India is a step towards creating meaningful learning ecosystems where industry insight, academic rigour, and entrepreneurial thinking come together. This MoU will enable our students and faculty to engage directly with the retail sector, encouraging innovation, applied research, and future-ready skills that are essential for India’s economic and social progress.”
The collaboration reflects a shared vision between RAI and Kumaraguru Institutions to nurture talent, drive innovation, and contribute meaningfully to India’s retail growth story through structured, long-term industry–academia engagement.