U.S. universities eye pacts with IIMs, IITs

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Bangalore: American Universities have evinced great interest in entering into pacts with the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) and IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) to set up their campuses. The Indian students, then, need not leave the country to pursue their niche studies in the U.S. About 31 American Universities such as the University of Massachusetts, Duke University, University of Rochester and others are visiting India next month to attend the Indo-American Education summit to offer their courses to Indians. These courses are based on the American system, which will include student exchange programmes and will be taught by the Indian as well as the American faculty. "The aim is to bring American and Indian institutions together, so that American programmes can be offered in India. This will help students save 50 percent of the costs," said Indus Foundation President SB Anumolu, whose organization is promoting these collaborations. Also, Anumolu said that IIMs and IITs are showing interest as they are looking to move up the value chain and offer newer programmes such as technology management, engineering management, gerontology, pharmacy management and life sciences. After Europe, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal is also reaching out to the U.S. to develop partnership with education institutions of global repute. Talks are on with universities like Harvard, Boston, Yale, Duke and the University of Georgetown. Sibal, who is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Wednesday will also meet members of the Obama administration, university officials, and industry representatives. Universities like Southern Illinois-Carbondale, South Dakota Tech, Case Western Reserve and others are also scouting for research collaborations in India in areas such as nano-technology, aerospace, genetic engineering, terrorism, psychology and Information technology. "After IIMs and IITs, there are also 250 engineering colleges and 200 business schools in India which are capable enough to form such partnerships, but we will first check how committed they are and whether they have enough resources to provide the infrastructure required for American courses," Anumolu added.