Amrit Thapa

Amrit Thapa is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE), affiliated with the International Educational Development Program and the Department of Sociology (School of Arts and Sciences). He holds a PhD in Economics and Education from Columbia University and advanced degrees in Economics from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. His research focuses on education economics, program evaluation, climate change impacts on education, and privatization in developing countries. He has led projects such as using online education for marginalized students in Nepal and studies on floods affecting children’s education in rural India, funded by Penn’s India Research Engagement Fund (IREF).

Education:

• Bachelor’s and Master’s in Economics, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, India
• M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Economics and Education, Columbia University

Awards and Grants:

• 2019 Penn GSE Excellence in Teaching Award
• 2018 Best Field Initiative Award (South Asia SIG)
• IREF grants as Principal Investigator (2024) for flood-education impact studies in India

Roles and Collaborations:

• Research Affiliate, Penn’s Population Studies Center
• Fulbright Specialist
• Advisory Board Member, International Journal of Educational Development
• Past roles include Vice President of the UN-affiliated Institute of Global Education (IGE) and Research Director at the National School Climate Center