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Thursday, January 31, 2008
At IGIDR
IGIDR was a welcome change in my life. Being in a new city and, that too, a vivacious metropolis like Mumbai, and among an interesting batch of classmates gave me a break from the monotonicity back home.
I am often asked what IGIDR stands for. Poeple often confuse it with the Indira Gandhi Open Univ, all thanks to the first names that we share, courtesy the politcal hegemony of Mrs. Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) is actually an autonomous research body founded by the Reserve Bank of India (Pl. note). Its a highly accredited deemed university of India. It offers a Masters in Economics and an integrated M.Phil/Ph.D. program in Development Studies. Aspirants, be rest assured that through its rigorous curriculum of international standards, IGIDR will prepare you for careers par excellence in academia, business and policy.
Something about our History
It was originally conceptualized as a think tank by Dr. Manmohan Singh and came into existence in 1987 (been two decades now!!). Soon the Institute realized that frontier level research required the presence of a dynamic student body and subsequently started its Ph.D. program in 1990, M.Phil in 1996, followed by Masters in Economics in 2003.
Whats our Focus ?
IGIDR is one of the few centers of higher learning in India that focuses on academic training and research from an interdisciplinary perspective. It encourages students from a variety of disciplines like Economics, Mathematics, Science and Engineering - with mathematics at the higher secondary level - to join its programs. IGIDR brings together researchers from diverse specializations to provide holistic analyses of contemporary issues in areas that include climate change, poverty and human development, law and economics, and money and finance among others. The teacher-student ratio of 1:2 ensures that every student gets personalized attention and that everyone is closely watched.
Academic Programs
The unique feature of IGIDR is its emphasis on combining theory with hands-on experience. Students learn not only from the classroom lectures but also from working as research and teaching assistants to faculty. These in turn encourage them to appreciate real world issues and help them analyze application-oriented problems.
The M.Sc. in Economics program requires the completion of coursework over four semesters. Those who complete can choose to write an M.Phil./Ph.D. thesis subject to certain requirements. They can complete M.Phil. in one year and Ph.D. in two years. Isnt one tempted to finish their Ph.D in about four years from their B.Sc degree? My friends in the US have to endure academics for 6 years after their bacculaureate degree for a Ph.D.
Students can also directly enroll for the integrated M.Phil./Ph.D program. They are required to complete ten courses. Those who meet grade requirements can write an M.Phil. thesis or on clearing the qualifier examinations write a Ph.D. thesis. On an average, from the time of joining, acquiring an M.Phil degree takes two years and a Ph.D. degree four years. Research scholars receive a fellowship.
Selection procedure involves a written test which emphasizes general aptitude, analytical ability and mathematical skills. Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. You are reimbursed the return fares, when you come for the interview. For information on admissions, eligibility criteria and financial assistance, please visit the Institute’s website (www.igidr.ac.in).
Academic Environment
The Institute is host to several annual events such as the Annual Conference on Money and Finance, European Union sponsored Law and Economics Training Workshop, and Students’ Colloquium on Development Research. It is also open to students from all around the world through various outreach activities like Visiting Masters Students Program, Visiting Ph.D. Scholars Program, and Post-Doctoral Program. The Institute routinely carries out research funded by various international organizations like United Nations Agencies, World Bank, SIDA, USAID, DFID, and financial institutions such as NSE and various ministries of central and state governments.
IGIDR is well known for its biennial India Development Report. The faculty are members of editorial boards of several reputed academic journals. They have participated in important policy making committees such as Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee several other central and state level bodies. Both, its faculty and students have visited various academic institutions of international repute such as the Duke University, , Yale, Princeton, Hamburg University, IIASA, NUS, Princeton, Haifa, University of Maastricht, University of Southern California, University of Sydney, IIMs, and ISB. Eminent faculty from across the globe regularly visits the campus.
Our Alumni
The Alumni of IGIDR is spread across the globe in various academic and business leadership roles. A large number of the alumni are/were in top graduate programs such as NYU, UBC, University of Minnesota, OSU, University of Virginia, ANU, INSEAD. They also serve/served as faculty members in Monash University, NUS, Purdue University, UC San Francisco, IITs, IIMs, ICRIER, ISEC, JNU, TERI, TISS, and XLRI, to name a few.
In industry, many of IGIDR alumni are in senior managerial positions in organizations like American Express, Bank of America, Boston Analytics, Citigroup, Fair Isaac, HSBC, Household International, ICICI, IFMR, J.P. Morgan Chase, Lehmann Brothers, Morgan Stanley, McKinsey, NISM and RBI. The Institute has a cell that has facilitated cent percent placement of its students. The current average starting salary is in excess of eight lakh rupees per annum.
Computing Facilities
IGIDR’s campus is fully connected with wireless(!!) as well as wired networks. Its aesthetically pleasing computer centers provide students with a perfect work environment and state of the art computing facilities that include Sun servers. The center provides all standard Econometric and Statistical packages such as EViews, GAMS, GAUSS, Limdep, Matlab, Microfit, RATS, SAS and STATA, besides databases such as Capital Line, India Trade, Indiastat and Prowess.
Library
The brain center of IGIDR is its library. Spread over 30,000 square feet, it just about has all the journals in Economics and Finance, and other allied fields. It is acclaimed by all as one of the best specialized libraries in the world. The Open Index Initiative (analogous to the Opencourseware of MIT) of the IGIDR Library is an attempt to develop an online and easily accessible bibliographic database for most of the Indian Social Science literature and resources available in Indian libraries.
Campus
The IGIDR campus is as good as one can get in a sprawling metropolis such as Mumbai. It is surrounded by verdant green all around and birds chirping and is yet proximate to the financial center of India. Located on a 14-acre hillock in Goregaon (East) and adjacent to the serene Borivli National Park, it is a 20 minutes drive from the airport. The residential campus, whose architecture is inspired by the historical Elephanta and Jogeshwari caves, includes academic blocks with faculty and student offices, seminar rooms equipped with the state-of-the-art interactive presentation technology, a 500 seat auditorium, a cafeteria and residential blocks. The recreational facilities include a tennis court, jogger’s path, swimming pool, table tennis, badminton court and a gymnasium.
Student Life
I can sum up my two years at IGIDR with one phrase-”spoilt by choice”. There are so many things one can do while on campus. I have read tons of books that i never thought I would find. I have learnt swimming. As an introvert, I always wondered how I would go up and talk to professors and scholars I was in awe of. But, I have interacted with so many people here that now I no longer have to wonder for minutes before talking to anyone. The campus is small, measured by the number of students. I guess that might be a disadvantage compared to a college of 200 students. But, well, for me, this place has proved “small is beautiful”. The place is so full of niche-someone just has to come here!!!
I am often asked what IGIDR stands for. Poeple often confuse it with the Indira Gandhi Open Univ, all thanks to the first names that we share, courtesy the politcal hegemony of Mrs. Gandhi.
Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) is actually an autonomous research body founded by the Reserve Bank of India (Pl. note). Its a highly accredited deemed university of India. It offers a Masters in Economics and an integrated M.Phil/Ph.D. program in Development Studies. Aspirants, be rest assured that through its rigorous curriculum of international standards, IGIDR will prepare you for careers par excellence in academia, business and policy.
Something about our History
It was originally conceptualized as a think tank by Dr. Manmohan Singh and came into existence in 1987 (been two decades now!!). Soon the Institute realized that frontier level research required the presence of a dynamic student body and subsequently started its Ph.D. program in 1990, M.Phil in 1996, followed by Masters in Economics in 2003.
Whats our Focus ?
IGIDR is one of the few centers of higher learning in India that focuses on academic training and research from an interdisciplinary perspective. It encourages students from a variety of disciplines like Economics, Mathematics, Science and Engineering - with mathematics at the higher secondary level - to join its programs. IGIDR brings together researchers from diverse specializations to provide holistic analyses of contemporary issues in areas that include climate change, poverty and human development, law and economics, and money and finance among others. The teacher-student ratio of 1:2 ensures that every student gets personalized attention and that everyone is closely watched.
Academic Programs
The unique feature of IGIDR is its emphasis on combining theory with hands-on experience. Students learn not only from the classroom lectures but also from working as research and teaching assistants to faculty. These in turn encourage them to appreciate real world issues and help them analyze application-oriented problems.
The M.Sc. in Economics program requires the completion of coursework over four semesters. Those who complete can choose to write an M.Phil./Ph.D. thesis subject to certain requirements. They can complete M.Phil. in one year and Ph.D. in two years. Isnt one tempted to finish their Ph.D in about four years from their B.Sc degree? My friends in the US have to endure academics for 6 years after their bacculaureate degree for a Ph.D.
Students can also directly enroll for the integrated M.Phil./Ph.D program. They are required to complete ten courses. Those who meet grade requirements can write an M.Phil. thesis or on clearing the qualifier examinations write a Ph.D. thesis. On an average, from the time of joining, acquiring an M.Phil degree takes two years and a Ph.D. degree four years. Research scholars receive a fellowship.
Selection procedure involves a written test which emphasizes general aptitude, analytical ability and mathematical skills. Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. You are reimbursed the return fares, when you come for the interview. For information on admissions, eligibility criteria and financial assistance, please visit the Institute’s website (www.igidr.ac.in).
Academic Environment
The Institute is host to several annual events such as the Annual Conference on Money and Finance, European Union sponsored Law and Economics Training Workshop, and Students’ Colloquium on Development Research. It is also open to students from all around the world through various outreach activities like Visiting Masters Students Program, Visiting Ph.D. Scholars Program, and Post-Doctoral Program. The Institute routinely carries out research funded by various international organizations like United Nations Agencies, World Bank, SIDA, USAID, DFID, and financial institutions such as NSE and various ministries of central and state governments.
IGIDR is well known for its biennial India Development Report. The faculty are members of editorial boards of several reputed academic journals. They have participated in important policy making committees such as Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee several other central and state level bodies. Both, its faculty and students have visited various academic institutions of international repute such as the Duke University, , Yale, Princeton, Hamburg University, IIASA, NUS, Princeton, Haifa, University of Maastricht, University of Southern California, University of Sydney, IIMs, and ISB. Eminent faculty from across the globe regularly visits the campus.
Our Alumni
The Alumni of IGIDR is spread across the globe in various academic and business leadership roles. A large number of the alumni are/were in top graduate programs such as NYU, UBC, University of Minnesota, OSU, University of Virginia, ANU, INSEAD. They also serve/served as faculty members in Monash University, NUS, Purdue University, UC San Francisco, IITs, IIMs, ICRIER, ISEC, JNU, TERI, TISS, and XLRI, to name a few.
In industry, many of IGIDR alumni are in senior managerial positions in organizations like American Express, Bank of America, Boston Analytics, Citigroup, Fair Isaac, HSBC, Household International, ICICI, IFMR, J.P. Morgan Chase, Lehmann Brothers, Morgan Stanley, McKinsey, NISM and RBI. The Institute has a cell that has facilitated cent percent placement of its students. The current average starting salary is in excess of eight lakh rupees per annum.
Computing Facilities
IGIDR’s campus is fully connected with wireless(!!) as well as wired networks. Its aesthetically pleasing computer centers provide students with a perfect work environment and state of the art computing facilities that include Sun servers. The center provides all standard Econometric and Statistical packages such as EViews, GAMS, GAUSS, Limdep, Matlab, Microfit, RATS, SAS and STATA, besides databases such as Capital Line, India Trade, Indiastat and Prowess.
Library
The brain center of IGIDR is its library. Spread over 30,000 square feet, it just about has all the journals in Economics and Finance, and other allied fields. It is acclaimed by all as one of the best specialized libraries in the world. The Open Index Initiative (analogous to the Opencourseware of MIT) of the IGIDR Library is an attempt to develop an online and easily accessible bibliographic database for most of the Indian Social Science literature and resources available in Indian libraries.
Campus
The IGIDR campus is as good as one can get in a sprawling metropolis such as Mumbai. It is surrounded by verdant green all around and birds chirping and is yet proximate to the financial center of India. Located on a 14-acre hillock in Goregaon (East) and adjacent to the serene Borivli National Park, it is a 20 minutes drive from the airport. The residential campus, whose architecture is inspired by the historical Elephanta and Jogeshwari caves, includes academic blocks with faculty and student offices, seminar rooms equipped with the state-of-the-art interactive presentation technology, a 500 seat auditorium, a cafeteria and residential blocks. The recreational facilities include a tennis court, jogger’s path, swimming pool, table tennis, badminton court and a gymnasium.
Student Life
I can sum up my two years at IGIDR with one phrase-”spoilt by choice”. There are so many things one can do while on campus. I have read tons of books that i never thought I would find. I have learnt swimming. As an introvert, I always wondered how I would go up and talk to professors and scholars I was in awe of. But, I have interacted with so many people here that now I no longer have to wonder for minutes before talking to anyone. The campus is small, measured by the number of students. I guess that might be a disadvantage compared to a college of 200 students. But, well, for me, this place has proved “small is beautiful”. The place is so full of niche-someone just has to come here!!!
What is chance?
Life is full of surprises!! I believe “chance” is one of the most powerful driving forces in our lives. Reflect on this for a moment. There are bound to be schisms on this view. For the scientist, Clement Timiryazev, Chance is nothing but an empty word that conceals the ignorance of a lazy mind. What do you think??
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