Economics

The Department of Economics started its journey right from the beginning of St. Aloysius College, Elthuruth, Thrissur in 1968 with the commencement of first Pre-Degree Third Group Programme with Economics. The committed educator Prof. Jose Pappu was the first Head of the Department, who later became the Principal of the College. Prof. C.V. Joseph, Dr. M.N. Sudhakaran and Dr. M.P. Antony were the eminent and scholarly faculty who joined when the Department was upgraded with B.A. Economics in July 1978 (with Indian History and Political Science as Complementary Courses) as the first UG Programme in the College. The commendable achievements and academic excellence maintained by the department during this early phase did subsequently persuade the University of Calicut to elevate it to the status of a Postgraduate Department with the starting of the M.A. Economics Programme in December 1984 as the first PG programme of the College.  Dr. C.T George, Dr. Johnson Thomas, Prof. P.M. Manuel, Dr. C.P. James and Dr. Leema T.G were the next wave of vibrant, diverse and creative faculty. At present the Department has five permanent members including the Principal Dr. Chacko Jose P., Dr. Jessy John K, Ms. Fiji Raphael, Dr. Cyril George, Dr. Jins Varkey and Dr. Umaiban M.M. as government guest on the teaching staff.  

This department is one of the first departments in the University of Calicut to have introduced dissertation work as part of PG course as an optional paper, when the university granted permission for the same. Decennial celebrations of the Postgraduate Department in 1995-96 was marked by National and State level seminars with eminent personalities participating as resource persons. They appreciated the efforts of the Department that was rare in the mid-nineties among Aided Colleges in the state. National Seminars on Globalisation, Growth and Social Justice in India with the financial assistance of the MHRD and on Intellectual property Rights in India: Problems and Prospects, Informal Economy and its Impact on India, Economic Liberalization and Inclusive Growth in India, Informal Sector and Conditions of Employment in Kerala with the aid of UGC also received wide acclaim. Many other seminars and workshops on National Workshop on Econometric Methods, Economic Journalism, Financial Markets, Tax Reforms, Decentralised planning in Kerala, Development Paradoxes in India, Demonetization, Research Methodology, discussion on National and state Budgets were conducted.  

There are about 215 students at PG and UG levels. The department has an excellent track record of curricular and co-curricular activities. To name a few with highest achievements and positions include Manoj George (Violinist & Music Composer, Producer, Grammy Award, 2015), Dr. Poornima Varma (Professor, IIM Ahmedabad), Susmitha Elizabeth John (Idea D4 Dance Season 1 Finalist on Mazhavil Manorama, 2014), Nithin Wilson (Silver Medal in Shooting, All India Tal Sainik Camp, New Delhi, 2017), Jaiseena Joy (All India Tal Sainik Camp, New Delhi, 2019), Santhosh Kumar K (President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, 2020), Priya C (1st Rank, M.A. Economics 2002) Krishnapriya M.P (9th Rank, B.A. Economics 2020) in the University of Calicut Examinations.