New Delhi: Shifting from its earlier stand, the government on Tuesday indicated that it may allow the IITs and IIMs to open campuses in foreign countries.
Minister of State for Human Resource Development D
Purandeswari told the Rajya Sabha that government would be
open to idea of allowing the IITs and IIMs to set up campuses
in foreign countries once they improve their faculty
positions.
The government had earlier turned down a proposal of
IIM Bangalore to open a campus in Singapore. The HRD Ministry
did not agree to the proposal saying that the Memorandum of
Association of IIM, Bangalore, does not empower the institute
to open campuses abroad.
The minister today said it may not be immediately
feasible for the IITs and IIMs to open campuses abroad as they
are facing faculty shortages and have to undertake 54 per cent
expansion in their intake to implement OBC quota.
Setting of campuses abroad may further strain the
IITs' limited manpower and other resources, Purandeswari said
in a written reply.
She said various MOAs of the IIMs will need to be
amended because these MOAs do not empower them to open
campuses abroad.
Replying to a separate question, the minister said the
government has received suggestions that while increasing the
overall number of seats by 54 per cent in IITs, increase in
number of seats in individual disciplines may not be insisted
upon.
It may be decided by taking into account the
popularity, demand and importance of the disciplines.
The suggestions are under consideration of Ministry of
Law and Justice, Purandeswari said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 15:27