NMIMS, Virginia Tech in US to offer India's first dual-degree master's programme in Economics

NEW DELHI: SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) announced a new dual-degree programme in collaboration with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). The dual-degree programme offers a Master of Science (Economics) for a duration of two years, with one year at NMIMS and the next year at Virginia Tech, USA.

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.

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Students will be selected for the programme on the basis of an admission test and personal interview jointly conducted by NMIMS and Virginia Tech. 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.

Those who do not get the minimum CGPA, will not qualify for the dual degree programme but will have an option of continuing in the second year at NMIMS and getting the MSc Economics degree from NMIMS.

Students who qualify to go to Virginia Tech 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.

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The programme 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 PhD at Virginia Tech or other institutions in the US and elsewhere.

The official press release reads: "During their time at NMIMS, students will cover foundational courses in Economics, and at Virginia Tech they will be exposed to courses like Big Data Economics, Financial Institutions, Behavioural Economics, and Managerial Economics. Additionally, qualified students will have access to the full slew of PhD courses in Economics being offered at Virginia Tech. Upon completion of the dual-degree programme, students will receive an MSc Economics degree from NMIMS, and an MA in Economics degree, from Virginia Tech. Additionally, Virginia Tech is in the process of obtaining a STEM certificate for its Master's in Economics, which will allow international students to receive Optional Practical Training for three years after the completion of their degree".

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Professor Amita Vaidya, Director of Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics, NMIMS 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.”

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Professor 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 programmes to take advantage of these policies, but it is also a natural one. This dual degree programme will provide a handful of carefully chosen students from the rigorous MSc programme 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.”