Sat, November 07, 2009
NEW DELHI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of the introduction of a bill allowing entry of foreign institutions in the education sector, the Indian government has made significant progress in persuading American universities to partner with Indian institutes or set up campuses here, said a senior official Saturday.
Human Resources and Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal said he led a delegation to the United States this week and met the functionaries of leading universities which have "expressed keenness to come to India".
"It was a successful trip to the United States. The American institutions have shown great interest in opening of the education sector in India," Sibal told reporters.
He said the government is keen to introduce "as soon as possible" the Foreign Education Providers Bill in Parliament.
Once the bill is passed, foreign institutions will be able to come here and set up campuses or offer courses in partnership with Indian institutes.
Sibal held meetings with presidents and other functionaries of Harvard, Yale and Boston University among others.
He told them that while opening campuses, the foreign universities should not aim at making profit from the tuition and other fees related to imparting of the courses.
"They have accepted our views that they would not make profit from the tuition fee," he said.
But such institutions can take up other projects through which they may make profit, he said.
Sibal said a three-member task force has been set up to look at possible collaborations with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
