BASE to begin its maiden academic session from Aug 28

Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE), which was proposed on the lines of the London School of Economics, will begin its maiden academic session on August 28 with its first batch of students in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Economics.

The institute is still in the making but the course structure and syllabus is almost ready and admission of students has been completed. The first batch will have 31 girls and 19 boys, who were selected after holding a Common Entrance Test (CET).

Dr R S Deshpande, former director of Institute for Social and Economic Change(ISEC) is the in-charge director of BASE.

He said that the syllabus was framed keeping in mind that the course should produce the best economists. “We will be having visiting faculty from Bengaluru and other cities. They will be seasoned, senior-most professors, both retired and working elsewhere,”  he said.

For example, he said, on August 31, distinguished economist Prof Anjan Mukherji will be taking a session for students on microeconomics.
The government is also inviting former prime minister and economist Dr Manmohan Singh to deliver a lecture to the students, most likely on September 5, which is celebrated as Teachers’ Day.

Students will be taught by professors from the alma mater of Dr B R Ambedkar, London School of Economics (LSE). Chief Executive Officer of BASE, M B Dyaberi said, “We have an understanding with LSE for professors from there to come here as visiting faculty. We will be writing to them soon to ask when they can come and for what duration.” The institute has also hired some postgraduate and PhD scholars to be tutors to guide students, conduct group discussions and other activities. 

Until the new campus is ready, BASE will function out of the building of the Department of Visual Arts on the Jnanabharathi campus. Paying guest accommodation has been arranged for students about 2 kilometres from the campus and transport facilities will be provided.

“It is an intensive course. Classes will be held from 9 am to 5.30 pm. Activities will be conducted even after college hours that is why we have made it a residential programme,” Dyaberi said. 
  Hopes and apprehensions

The first batch of students and their parents have high hopes from the course and have taken admissions despite apprehensions about the fledgling institute.

One student had already taken admission in a private college in the city for a BA but she has given up that seat in favour of BASE. Her parents even consulted economists on whether BASE would be a good bet. 

“There is a risk involved but every institute has an incubation period. Even National Law School of India University (NLSIU) started in a small building and now it is a premier institution for law. This course could either be ordinary or excellent and we thought it was a risk worth taking,” her father said.

They liked the syllabus presented to them as it has subjects from other disciplines, internships and projects. After comparison with other Economics courses, they concluded that this was the best option.

Dyaberi said that students were keen on BASE as there are few colleges in the country which offer such a course. “This is only the second institution in south India which offers a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Economics. Other institutes offer a Bachelor of Arts. This course focuses more on Mathematics and Statistics,” he said.

Highlights of the B Sc Honours in Economics

3 years, 6 semesters

Residential Programme

Four-week internship

Total Credits 156

Subjects like:

Macroeconomics

Microeconomics

Econometrics

Mathematics for Economics

Philosophy and Ethics

Indian Constitution