Ashoka University Establishes Isaac Centre For Public Policy

Ashoka University announced the establishment of the Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP). The Centre will introduce public policy programmes and commission advanced interdisciplinary research, contributing towards accelerated, inclusive and sustainable growth that will enable India to become a USD 10 trillion economy by 2035. 

It has been established through a grant from the Ajit Isaac Foundation (AIF), a philanthropic organisation created by the Founder & Chairman of Quess Corp Ajit Isaac and his wife, Sarah Isaac, who also serve as Distinguished Founders and Trustees of Ashoka University. Following this endowment, Ajit Isaac joins the ranks of Ashoka University’s top-tier donors who have made significant contributions of 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 with them to generate ideas and research on public policy to enable inclusive and sustainable growth,” said Sarah Isaac. 

The Centre will work and collaborate with leading public, private and non-profit sector stakeholders to identify research gaps linked with policy-making and implementation. Leveraging the experience of leading experts from within and beyond the university, it will engage with policy on an ongoing basis. 

“Ashoka University has the distinct advantage of being home to leading faculty in the country, experts in fields such as economics, social development, behavioural science, biosciences, artificial intelligence and data science. The Centre will utilise this strength, engage with public policy experts, to become a hub for research-based interventions that contribute towards socio-economic development,” said Prachi Mishra, Director and Head of Isaac Centre for Public Policy. She also serves as a  Professor of Economics at the University. 

A former Advisor and division chief at IMF, Prachi has held leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, the Reserve Bank of India, and was also the Senior Economist in the Office of Chief Economic Advisor in India’s Ministry of Finance, and at the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council. 

The Centre will offer major undergraduate-level programmes in Economics and Public Policy. It will also introduce graduate and executive-level programmes, where the latter will include professionals from both the public and private sectors.