Tata Trusts, IIM Bangalore sign MoU to develop undergraduate education

Tata Trusts will fund academic infrastructure, research and faculty development at IIM Bangalore's undergraduate school and support its new residential campus

The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) and Tata Trusts on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) formalising a philanthropic contribution by the Trusts towards the development of IIMB’s School of Undergraduate Studies, which will be named the “Indian Institute of Management Bangalore – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies”.

 

The MoU comes as IIM Bangalore’s inaugural undergraduate programmes attracted 12,000 applications for 80 seats, with the first batch set to commence on August 31.

 

The four-year, full-time residential programmes — BSc (Hons) in Data Sciences with a minor in Economics, and BSc (Hons) in Economics with a minor in Data Sciences — will have 40 students each in the inaugural cohort.

 

 

Under the MoU, Tata Trusts will provide funding for academic infrastructure at the School and support its research and faculty development. The contribution will also go towards the development of its undergraduate campus in the Jigani-Anekal area, around 23 km from IIM Bangalore’s Bannerghatta Road campus.

 

The campus is being developed as a residential facility with classrooms and student accommodation. It will also include accessibility features and facilities for people with disabilities.

 

The funding will support research in areas including artificial intelligence, data science, algorithmic design, Indian Knowledge Systems and applied business learning, as well as the recruitment of multidisciplinary faculty for the School.

 

The MoU was signed by Noel Tata, chairman, Tata Trusts, and Devi Shetty, chairperson of the Board of Governors, IIM Bangalore, in Mumbai on Friday. Siddharth Sharma, chief executive officer, Tata Trusts, and U Dinesh Kumar, director-in-charge, IIM Bangalore, were also present.

 

"Through the IIMB-Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies, we hope to support an institution that can set new benchmarks for undergraduate education and make a lasting contribution to the country," said Noel Tata, chairman, Tata Trusts.

 

The School of Undergraduate Studies is a key part of IIM Bangalore’s expansion into undergraduate education, with the institute seeking to bring the academic rigour and global orientation associated with its postgraduate programmes to full-time undergraduate education.