The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) announced on Tuesday that it has received charitable support from Tata Trusts for its ‘School of Undergraduate Studies’ (SoUS). This initiative will strengthen the institute’s bachelor’s degree programs in Bengaluru.
According to IIM Bangalore, the grant will support the school’s academic vision, campus development, and long-term institutional roadmap. This announcement comes nearly a year after the institute opened admissions for its first full-time residential undergraduate degree programs, with classes for the inaugural batch set to begin in August.
Located approximately 27 kilometres from IIM-Bangalore’s main campus, the ‘School of Undergraduate Studies’ was launched as part of the institute’s broader efforts to contribute to undergraduate education. At the start, the school will offer two four-year residential programs: a B.Sc (Honours) in Economics with a minor in Data Science, and a B.Sc (Honours) in Data Science with a minor in Economics.
The first batch will comprise 80 students, with 40 students enrolled in each program. IIM Bangalore stated that the curriculum integrates Economics, Data Science, and Business Studies in an interdisciplinary format. Over time, the ‘School of Undergraduate Studies’ is expected to expand into areas such as Economics, Mathematics and Data Science, Psychology and Behavioural Science, and Sustainability.
Once fully operational, the school is projected to accommodate approximately 2,400 students and 100 full-time faculty members. Welcoming this contribution, Dr Devi Shetty, Chairperson of the Board of Governors at IIM Bangalore, said, “Substantial support, such as that from Tata Trusts, is essential to propel institutions of national importance like IIM Bangalore firmly onto the path of global leadership.”
Tata Trusts Would Facilitate the Development of Academic and Residential Infrastructure and Support the Establishment of Research Clusters in Areas
The institute also stated that the funds from Tata Trusts would facilitate the development of academic and residential infrastructure and support the establishment of research clusters in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Algorithm Design, Indian Knowledge Systems, and Applied Business Learning. It will also aid in faculty recruitment across various disciplines.
Noel Tata, Chairman of Tata Trusts, remarked that the organisation’s support reflects its long-standing focus on building institutions during their formative stages. He said, “For over a century, Tata Trusts has supported some of India’s most significant institutions, such as the Tata Memorial Hospital and the Indian Institute of Science.
This collaboration embodies the same vision of creating institutions of enduring significance by providing support during their early and formative years.” The institute noted that the undergraduate school is part of its long-term academic expansion plans, and the first batch of students will commence their program this August.
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