Prof N R Bhanumurthy is the first Vice-Chancellor of Dr B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics University (BASE) Bengaluru. His research areas are macro-monetary economics, fiscal policy, international money & finance, macroeconomic modelling and development economics. In these areas, he has authored over 80 research papers and five books. He has served on over 22 government committees constituted by Finance Ministry, Ministry of Statistics, Ministry of Rural Development, NITI Aayog, RBI, Government of Karnataka, among others. He has received two prestigious awards for his outstanding contributions to the field of quantitative economics in India. These include “Mahalanobis Memorial Medal (National)” Award and the “VKRV Rao Prize in Social Sciences (Economics)”.

Dr B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics University

What is your philosophy of leadership?

“Flexibility in operations and inclusivity in terms of professional individuals”

As this is a start-up university, there is a need for the inclusion of many ideas from various quarters. I strongly believe in inclusiveness and flexibility as the most important factors while leading the university. Being inclusive and flexible can help in a big way in overcoming any organizational challenges. 

What would you like people to know about your university they may not know?

“The university is a tribute to Dr Ambedkar as an Economics education and research institution”

  • This is a unique university (called ‘Unitary University’) that focuses only on Economics teaching and research. 
  • We aim to make this university a centre of learning which strikes a fine balance between education and research. 
  • This is a residential university where all the students need to stay on campus that is spread over 43 acres of land. 
  • Our university is a tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar, who is an economist to begin with and later, became a jurist.

What can an inbound student gain from studying here at your University?

“Ample resources to help students choose their careers after completion of the course”

The New Education Policy is about to bring a revolution to the Indian education system. Several new plans will be implemented soon. We do plan to admit a few international students in the coming years. Apart from quality teaching and campus facilities, we are also in the process of establishing industry-university linkage and also entering MoU with various Indian and foreign institutions of relevance.

Check Dr B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics University Courses & Fees

How do you plan the marketing and administration of your school?

“Use of digital and print media to spread awareness of our courses”

The uniqueness of our program is that it is highly quantitative. The eligibility condition for getting admissions is having studied mathematics at the pre-university level. The programs and curriculum are developed to match market and research needs. We do marketing in various social media as well as in print and visual media. In terms of administration, currently, it is headed by our Registrar, Mr G Prabhu, an IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre. We are in the process of strengthening our administration and infrastructure at all levels. 

How does the curriculum of your University ensure the best practice of industry?

“Inclusion of the latest topics for business analytics and industrial advancements”

The University has a curriculum advisory committee represented by faculty from leading economics institutions in India. Our curriculum includes the most relevant topic of data analytics. This has become very important for businesses and industries to assess and advance their performance. We are also in the process of collaborating with leading IT companies to help strengthen the Analytics department at the university. 

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth?

“The youth must make an effort to take up economically important academic courses”

The youth of today has several options in terms of new courses, institutions and job opportunities. But, I would like to suggest that studying economics with quantitative and analytics orientation would help students choose their future career paths better. Studying in our university will give students options to get into research, public policy, and the development sector depending on their interest. 

What are some valuable insights of the program that you are offering at your institute?

“The curriculum has a mix of theoretical as well as applied economics”

The practical application of economics and its policies are more focused in our university. Apart from core papers, there are various electives that are offered for students' benefit. They can specialize in certain areas of economics and this will be helpful during placements and research. 

Have you introduced any new programs at your college? 

“Approved Ph.D. programs and upcoming courses in Public policy and Economics”

Currently, we have only an M.Sc. in Economics (five years integrated) program. But in the coming years, we plan to expand the number of programs specialised in Financial Economics, Business Analytics, Public Policy and Development Studies. We have already received approval for starting a Ph.D. program, and we intend to admit research scholars in the coming year.

Click Dr B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics University Placement

How do you tend to establish a healthy environment in your university?

“By encouraging ideas for holistic growth of students and faculty members”

Ours is a residential university with a modern and new campus. It gives our students innumerable opportunities to explore their talent in sports and other extracurricular activities. Our students are blessed with wide-ranging skills. We also hope to collaborate with other universities/institutions to nurture their talent. These initiatives have helped us maintain equilibrium at our university.