University of Hyderabads School of Economics does not seem to have a proper plan of action

Updated on: Thursday, October 25, 2012

The much-awaited school of economics of University of Hyderabad (UoH) does not seem to have a proper plan of action laid out for the future. The school, which was inaugurated on October 22, is in a nascent stage with the authorities unsure of the source of funding needed to make the project viable. While the seed money of Rs 30 crore is expected to come from the budget of the XII five-year plan of University Grants Commission (UGC), the officials will now have to go knocking on the doors of ICSSR, National Planning Commission and even public sector banks for funds to set the project sail.

The school of economics, which was first christened Hyderabad School of Economics during the time of former vice-chancellor Seyed E Hasnain, was to be developed on the lines of Harvard School of Economics and Delhi School of Economics. However, currently the school has not even set an academic agenda for itself. While the present vice-chancellor, Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, is targeting setting up of multiple MA programmes, the faculty members have set research as the key area of focus. With the school currently functioning from the infrastructure facilities of the school of social sciences (SSS), setting up of more MA programmes might not be a viable option, a faculty member said.

The initial plan of the faculty members is to set up common research programmes for collaborative research. "However, with conflict of interest reigning high, the school's initial academic blueprint might have to be reset. A vision document has already been prepared. But changes are inevitable," a source said. Talking to TOI, Ramaswamy said that it would be interesting to see multiple MA programmes and diversification. "However, the academic agenda should be set by the faculty members of the school and not by the administration. The VC's proposals are only a reference point, but the faculty members to decide what the actual agenda should be," added Ramaswamy.

The school has come into existence after many hiccups. While the idea of setting up a school was floated by Syed E Hasnain as part of his educational development agenda, the plan was not revisited by the current VC for months after taking charge. It was in November 2010 that the executive council of the university approved the proposal for turning the department of economics, which was till then part of the school of social sciences, into school of economics. While Ramaswamy took charge on June 1, 2011, the meetings which lead to the inauguration of the school started only a couple of months ago. "Few seminars and meetings were held and the decision was taken to start the school. The faculty members took the initiative for the first meetings," said a source. Interestingly, in the early stages in 2010, the faculty members of the school were not even involved in decision making.

Observers said that the current impasse might further weaken with some of the brains behind the project leaving the university. "Y V Reddy, economist and former governor, RBI was a major force behind the inception of a separate school. He has already requested to be relieved of duties as professor par excellence," a source said.

University of Hyderabads School of Economics does not seem to have a proper plan of action

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