Telangana will have world class private universities and there will be no room for the mediocre institutions or those running engineering colleges and dreaming to convert them into private universities.
The norms for the private universities recommend the government not to incentivise or provide financial relaxations to those interested in setting up the varsities thus closing the space for small players. Senior officials involved in the process said that the bar has been raised to ensure that only quality universities set up shop. A report with such recommendations has been submitted to the State Government, he said.
The recommendations reflect the government’s views that institutions that enhance Hyderabad’s image around the world, like the Indian School of Business (ISB) or the BITS Pilani, should be promoted. Institutions should be such that they should not expect incentives from the government and those with strong financial background will care little about incentives, an official said. If the government’s efforts fructify, Reliance may be the first one to set up a private university in Telangana. The IT Minister, K.T. Rama Rao, who met Mr. Mukesh Ambani recently in Mumbai is said to have extracted a promise from him for establishing a world class university in Dhirubai Ambani’s name.
Sources say Mr. Rao was keen that stringent norms be suggested for the private universities.
