Bengaluru: Students touch BASE with applied economics

Bengaluru: Classes at Bengaluru Dr B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics began at Jnanabharathi Campus on Monday with 46 students admitted for the flagship BSc (Hons.) course in Economics. The institute offers world-class education with nationally and internationally acclaimed economists expected to give guest lectures and insights into various topics to the students.

BASE Director Prof. R.S. Deshpande said, “The course will focus on training students to handle the subjects at an application level rather than the traditional textbook method of learning. The practical exercises and guest lectures planned as part of the curriculum will ensure this.”

To start with, renowned economist and professor at Centre for Economic Studies Prof Anjan Mukherji will address the students on how to study and grasp concepts in macroeconomics next week. Experts from national and international level, including former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, will meet the students on a frequent basis throughout the year.

“Prof M.S. Suryanarayana from the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research has agreed to be in our campus for an entire week next month giving six different lectures on various topics,” he said.

The dedicated faculty constituted for the institute includes Prof C.T. Kurien, renowned economist and author, Dr Sheetal from the University of California, and Dr Akshay Dhume. Specialised faculty members for mathematics and communicative English will also be onboard.

The programme will run across six semesters in three years. “The students will be introduced to research in the final two semesters as the current focus is to get them familiar with new ideas and concepts,” said Dr Deshpande, who is also the former Director of Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC).

BASE currently functions from an entire floor provided at the Department of Visual Arts building at Jnanabharathi campus of BU until the independent campus, for which Rs 150 crore was allocated by the state budget, gets ready. “A library, computer labs and other essential facilities are arranged for the students at the current location,” added the Director.

Top of the table

• 46 BASE students selected after CET held by KEA
•  Economists of national and international acclaim to give guest lectures
•  4-week mandatory internship for B.Sc (Hons) Economics
•  Applied Economics given focus