Centre to rethink world-class university sites

Times of India, April 29, 2010
NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister’s Office is having second thoughts on letting 14 world class innovation universities come up in places selected during Arjun Singh’s tenure.


Sources said the system of first selecting the sites and then building the universities will not work in case of these institutions since the concept is different than a usual university. Besides, there has been a major change in the concept of innovation universities from the time of Singh. The HRD ministry in its latest concept note has suggested that apart from the government even private educational be allowed to set up these universities.

On the places selected during Arjun Singh’s tenure, an official said, “Innovation universities should come up in places that can attract students and world class faculty. Some of the sites selected earlier will not be able to live up to the expectations from a world class university.”

But the twist in the tale is that many of the states have already finalized the sites for these institutions and will definitely protest in case the Centre changes its stand now. In many cases, states have shortlisted sites away from what HRD had finalised. This could become a problem.

In Andhra Pradesh, Vishakhapatanam was selected for setting up an innovation university. The state government has even shortlisted four sites in Vishakhapatnam district. Orissa has also suggested 700 acres of land near Bhubaneswar.

Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have selected sites in Sabarkantha and Sehore, respectively. But since these two places were not shortlisted by the HRD ministry, Gujarat has been asked to finalise a site near Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar and MP in an area near Bhopal.

Punjab has shortlisted four sites in Amritsar while Tamil Nadu has shortlisted three sites in Coimbatore. Both these places were suggested by HRD ministry.