Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics Hosts 13th Edition of Ka-Ching x EJCon 2023

Date: April 17, 2023

Mumbai, 11th February 2023: The 13th edition of Ka-Ching x EJCon, an economics and management festival, was successfully conducted by NMIMS Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics, on January 23rd and 24th, 2023. The festival attracted over 200 participants from Indian and international universities after nearly 2 years of conducting it online.

Prof. Amita Vaidya, Director, Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics, NMIMS rightly articulates, “From its humble beginnings with 35 students in the inaugural B. Sc Economics cohort, Ka-Ching has evolved into a highly esteemed and well-attended economic festival that embodies the essence of innovation, enthusiasm, and purpose. This year's theme, "Urban Era Equity Re-allocation and Accessibility," is a testament to Ka-Ching's dedication to finding novel solutions to the challenges of rapid urbanisation and building a brighter future for everyone.”

The classic flagship ‘Bull Run’ (the mock stock event), ‘War of Westeros’ (the strategy board game), finance-based ‘Pennywise’, ‘Emissions Impossible’ (carbon credit trading), ‘Whizdom’ (Quiz), ‘Jumanji’ (crisis), ‘Siyasat’ (politics), ‘Zero to One’ (entrepreneurship) and ‘Go MAd!’ (Advertising) events were designed to cover a range of domains in economics, from finance to entrepreneurship, and were centered around the theme of ‘The Urban E.R.A. - Equity, Reallocation, and Accessibility’. 

The Economic Justice Conclave (EJCon) aimed to deliberate and discuss various urban challenges, with guest speakers including public policy consultant Pankhuri Dutt and Director and Distinguished University Professor at Urban Studies Institute, Dr. Jan Nijman.

Apart from the festival events, the Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics organized various social outreach activities. These included a Walkathon fundraiser called 'Miles to go' in collaboration with GiveIndia, a street play called 'Nukkad Natak' that was held at 'Sunday Street' in Marine Lines. The play aimed to raise awareness about health inequality, gender disparity, sustainability, as well as urbanization issues like congestion and pollution. Another initiative, called 'Project Kintsugi,' focused on upcycling old clothes donated by students of the School to manufacture tote bags. Along with these activities, the festival featured concurrent policy events like the National Policy Challenge and the Youth Conference, which included a panel discussion on the economic, social, environmental, and institutional resilience of cities.

A panel discussion was organized on January 23, 2023, to explore the resilience of cities in terms of economic, social, environmental, and institutional aspects. The panel comprised of Dr. Anusha Gavankar, who holds a senior position at ORF’s Center for Economy and Growth, Dr. Debasis Barik from the National Council of Applied Economic Research, Mr. Pavan Srinath, a public policy researcher, educator, and communicator, Dr. Sreeja Nair, a senior consultant at the International Framework at National Disaster Management Authority, and Ms. Ankita Kapoor, an Assistant Program Manager at Safetipin. The discussion was moderated by Mr. Swapnil Karkare, a post-graduate in Economics, public policy, and data analysis from Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics.

The fest ended with a closing ceremony held in the Mukesh Patel auditorium on the 24th of January 2023. Mr. Dharmakirti Joshi, Chief Economist at CRISIL, graced the event as the Chief guest and shared his insights on the Macroeconomic outlook for the Indian economy, “In uncertain times like the current global crisis, policymakers must use the opportunity to implement necessary reforms, much like in 1991 and 2008. As Churchill stated, we must not let a good crisis go to waste. India has the opportunity to take advantage of the current economic and political turmoil by creating new supply chains and building new cities to address urban and climate-related issues, such as mobility, transport, and drinking water.”

The first prize at Ka-Ching x EJCon 2023 was won by H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai whereas Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics won the second prize, which was then rolled over to Christ College, Bengaluru.

Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics is proud to have hosted a successful edition of Ka-Ching x EJCon, bringing together young minds from around the world to explore and discuss economic issues and challenges. The school remains dedicated to providing quality education and fostering a community of critical thinkers and problem solvers.

NMIMS announces a new Dual- Degree program in collaboration with Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Date: April 12, 2023

Mumbai, 10th February 2023: SVKM's NMIMS, Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics, has announced a new collaboration with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) to offer a dual degree program. The program, which was agreed upon on December 10, 2022, allows students to obtain a Master of Science (Economics) over a period of two years. The first year is spent at NMIMS, while the second year is completed at Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, VA, USA.The objective of this program is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of various fields of economics and the ability to build and test economic models using sophisticated tools and advanced data techniques. The curriculum focus is on experiential and skill-based learning that is designed to meet the demands of the modern corporation, the government, and academia. It will prepare students for the world of finance, consulting, and the gig economy as well as more research-focused jobs involving strong analytical and quantitative skills. Students will also have the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. at Virginia Tech or other institutions in the US and elsewhere.

The dual degree program between NMIMS, Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) aims to capitalize on the strengths of both institutions and prepare students for the global workforce. The program provides a cost-effective education across two locations. At NMIMS, students will complete foundational courses in Economics, while at Virginia Tech, they will have the opportunity to take advanced courses such as Big Data Economics, Financial Institutions, Behavioural Economics, and Managerial Economics. Moreover, eligible students will have access to the full range of Ph.D. courses in Economics offered at Virginia Tech. Upon finishing the program, graduates will earn an M.Sc. Economics degree from NMIMS and an MA in Economics degree from Virginia Tech. Furthermore, Virginia Tech is working to secure a STEM certificate for its Master's in Economics program, which will allow international students to obtain Optional Practical Training for up to three years after completing their degree.This exciting new program provides students with a unique opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of economics and to develop their analytical and communication skills. It is a great chance for students to immerse themselves in another culture and gain valuable international experience that will prepare them for the international job market and help them succeed in their careers.

Prof. Amita Vaidya, Director of Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics said, “This partnership between NMIMS and Virginia Tech represents a collaboration between two leaders in the field of economics and opens up new possibilities for students to develop a global perspective and cutting-edge skills. The combination of NMIMS's expertise in the field, and Virginia Tech's reputation for innovative research will provide students with a truly unparalleled learning experience. We are glad to join forces with Virginia Tech to offer this great opportunity to our students.”

Prof. Sudipta Sarangi. Head of the Department of Economics at Virginia Tech added, “The recently launched NEP will benefit Indian students immensely by opening the door for such cost-effective co-branded degrees. Not only is the partnership between Virginia Tech and NMIMS unique and one of the very first programs to take advantage of these policies, but it is also a natural one. This dual degree program will provide a handful of carefully chosen students from the rigorous MSc. Program in Economics offered by NMIMS with skills in the sought-after areas of economics. The curriculum will not only train students in fields like big data economics, causal inference, and behavioural but will also ensure that the students are equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in the global marketplace.”

Selection process:

  • The students would be selected on the basis of an admission test and personal interview jointly conducted by NMIMS & VT.
  • The students at NMIMS, have to successfully complete all the first-year courses of both Semesters, with a minimum CGPA of 3 on a scale of 4.
  • The students who do not get the minimum CGPA, will not qualify for the dual degree program.
  • These students will have the option of continuing in the second year at NMIMS and getting the M.Sc. Economics degree from NMIMS.
  • Those students who qualify to go to VT, will have to ensure that they do the necessary paperwork and procure the student VISA. The student will be wholly responsible for the procurement of the VISA.