NICMAR Launches New PGD Programmes For CRIP Sector

As India continues to invest in infrastructure and urban development, the need for specialised talent to support execution, quality and operational efficiency is increasingly becoming urgent for the CRIP sector. Responding to this emerging skills gap, NICMAR University, Pune campus has announced the launch of two new one-year postgraduate diploma programmes: Asset and Facilities Management (PGD AFM) and Ready-Mix Concrete Management (PGD RMCM), in the upcoming academic year.

According to various reports, there is an estimated 15-20% increase demand in asset and facility management industry by 2030. Similarly, India’s RMC market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% from 2023 to 2027. Both are being driven by the government’s increased focus on infrastructure projects, including smart cities, highways, and affordable housing schemes.

With the country’s continued drive to add and improve large-scale physical assets such as airports, metros, commercial complexes and industrial parks, sector experts have repeatedly flagged the lack of trained asset and facilities managers capable of ensuring long-term performance, safety and sustainability of these investments. The PGD in Asset and Facilities Management seeks to address this gap by preparing professionals to manage the post-construction lifecycle of built assets, covering areas such as operations planning, maintenance systems, compliance, energy efficiency and user-centric facility performance.

At the same time, infrastructure expansion has brought renewed focus on construction quality and durability, particularly in high-volume projects such as highways, metro corridors and urban housing. Industry assessments point to a shortage of professionals with specialised expertise in ready mix concrete production, quality assurance and supply-chain coordination. The PGD in Ready Mix Concrete Management has been structured to build capability in concrete technology, plant operations, quality control and logistics management, with the aim of strengthening consistency and performance across construction projects.

Speaking about the launch of these two new courses, Dr Tapash Kumar Ganguli, Director-General (Interim), NICMAR said, “By consulting with industry partners and practitioners, these two new programmes at NICMAR University, Pune Campus – Asset and Facilities Management and Ready-Mix Concrete Management – have been developed to align training with on-ground requirements. The curriculum emphasises applied learning, case-based instruction and exposure to real-world project environments, reflecting the increasing demand for technically grounded managers rather than purely theoretical qualifications.”

Education and infrastructure experts note that as India’s infrastructure ambitions scale up, the success of projects will depend not only on capital expenditure and engineering design, but also on the availability of specialised managerial talent across the value chain. Programmes such as asset management and ready-mix concrete management are expected to play a critical role in improving execution outcomes, reducing lifecycle costs and enhancing the resilience of built infrastructure. 

With the introduction of these two new programmes, NICMAR aims to strengthen its focus on niche, industry-aligned education that supports India’s long-term infrastructure development goals.