From the Desk of the Head
Post Graduate Department of Economics, Sardar Patel University was established in 1958. The Department is the first & the only Department of Economics in the state of Gujarat to have been awarded the status of Centre of Advanced Studies in Economics (CAS – Phase two) in January 2018 by the UGC. Prior to that the Department has been a recipient of SAP (Special Assistance Program) Phase 1, 2, & 3; a generous ASIHSS grant, & CAS (Centre of Advanced Studies) Phase 1. The Department undertakes multidimensional teaching, research & extension activities, with one benefitting the other.
In context of teaching, Department offers MA, & PhD programs (regular & part-time). Course content & curriculum up-gradation is its regular feature that strikes an appropriate balance between seeking solutions conducive for local economic problems & aspire to be at par with opportunities evolving at national & international level. A strong team of eight faculties include six faculties with a PhD, four being registered PhD guides, four faculties being gold medalists & all faculties have qualified for NET/SLET/JRF. Eminent faculties of the Department have served in various capacities in advisory bodies in State & Central Government, thereby enabling enriched classroom discussions with shared experiences. Department facilitates a learning ecology through hands-on-learning with well-equipped computer lab, electronic peripherals, & enriched library of the Department, AERC, & Bhaikaka library of the University. Learning is enabled through, lectures by eminent guest faculties/practitioners, seminars, assignments, short-documentaries, access to online resources, online blended resources sharing, mock budgets, viva-voce, etc. Besides major economic courses, elective subjects offered include courses sensitive to environment, gender, ethics, & of national & international economic relevance. Department facilitates awards/fellowships to students to motivate their achievements. Students are provided free classes for National & State level competitive exams & are also encouraged for start-ups.
As for the research, the department building houses the only Agro-Economic Research Centre, & Cost of Cultivation Scheme in the state of Gujarat, research wings of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, New Delhi, & the Department has collaborated for more than 140 research projects. Projects have been undertaken for Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fishing, Ministry of Rural Development, National Dairy Development Board, other department of the university, among others to undertake multidisciplinary research. The inception of Artha-Vikas, a national research journal by the Department dates back to 1965 & has published more than 55 volumes including the golden jubilee issue. It is a bi-annual refereed journal with ISSN number 0004-3567 & is also listed in the ABDC list of journals. Since 1958 till date the Department has awarded more than 50 Ph.D. degrees & 50 M.Phil. degrees. Department has published more than 20 working papers, two District Human Development Reports, & more than 100 research projects & village surveys. Department has been continuously involved in organizing seminars, conferences, refresher courses, students’ competitions, & memorial lecture series of great economic relevance. Faculties present research papers in national & international seminars & conferences & publish research papers in national & international journals & books.
The Department has been involved in undertaking various extension activities related to creating positive impact on raising the productivity of livestock farming, eco-friendly disposal of unused & expired medicines, preparing a statistical outline of the data of Sardar Patel University for two decades, preparing a standard tabulation format for data collection for various universities, charity for old age homes & orphanages, & tree plantation, among others.
However, the Department aspires to ascend knowledge, wisdom, & fulfilment of shared responsibilities by & for the various stakeholders associated with the Department & the larger sections of the society. As we endeavor on this journey, we seek to join hands & collaborate with like-minded & similarly inspired individuals & organizations.
Dr. Kinjal Ahir
Head, P.G. Department of Economics