Ashoka University sets up Isaac Centre for Public Policy, to offer BA Economics, Public Policy

NEW DELHI: Ashoka University has announced the creation of the Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP). The Centre will offer public policy programmes and commission advanced interdisciplinary research, aiming to accelerate inclusive and sustainable growth, with a vision to help India become a $10 trillion economy by 2035.

The Centre is funded by a grant from the Ajit Isaac Foundation (AIF), a philanthropic organization established by Ajit Isaac, founder and chairman of Quess Corp Ltd, and his wife, Sarah Isaac. Both serve as distinguished founders and trustees of Ashoka University. With this endowment, Ajit Isaac joins the list of top donors at Ashoka University, contributing over Rs 100 crores.

“Ashoka University’s founding vision has leveraged philanthropic capital to build an academic institution that can help create social impact at scale and contribute to nation building. This Centre’s establishment is in furtherance of this vision and we are delighted to partner them to generate ideas and research on public policy to enable inclusive and sustainable growth,” said Sarah Isaac.

Offer BA in Economics

The Centre will offer undergraduate programmess in Economics and Public Policy, along with graduate and executive-level courses. The executive programs will target professionals from both the public and private sectors. Initially, ICPP’s research will concentrate on priority areas including agriculture and the rural economy, employment and labour, indian regulators, and public finance.

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Collaboration with stakeholders to address policy gaps

The Centre will collaborate with key stakeholders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to identify research gaps related to policy-making and implementation. According to Ashoka University, by drawing on the expertise of leading professionals both within and outside the university, it will maintain continuous engagement with policy issues.

ICPP’s advisory committee members

The advisory committee for the Centre includes Ashoka University founders Ajit Isaac and Ashish Dhawan, along with veteran bureaucrats such as Sushama Nath, former finance secretary; Tarun Bajaj, former secretary of revenue and economic affairs; KP Krishnan, former secretary of the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship; Sekhar Bonu, senior fellow at NITI Aayog; and Anup Wadhawan, former secretary of the ministry of commerce.