The Human Resource Development Ministry has responded positively to a proposal from the Singapore government regarding the setting up of an institution of technology there.
To be named the ‘International Institute of Technology (IIT) Singapore' if approved, the Ministry has said the government should consider the proposal in cooperation with the Indian Institute of Technology Council and other Centrally funded technical institutes.
The Ministry has also suggested the setting up of a society by the two governments which would then start an academic institution.
The proposal was discussed at a meeting between HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and the visiting Education Minister of Singapore, Ng Eng Hen, here on Thursday.
Dubbed as a unique model of academics, IIT Singapore will provide B.Tech. degree programmes in fields such as energy, environment, communication and computing, design and manufacturing, international diplomacy and management, health science and technology, water resources and education.
The curriculum will not only focus on education but also promote the culture of research and innovation. By attracting students from all over Asia, it will provide a unique set of post-graduate programmes.
To be promoted as a strong public-private partnership model, the institution will keep the academic fees within a comparable but competitive frame at the international level. It is hoped that different Asian governments would provide financial support to students from their countries for IIT Singapore to compete for research funding at the international level.
The government proposes to establish an Indo-Singapore Project Agency for the initiative, which will be headed by an academician and funded by the Singapore government. It will have an advisory board to provide the broad guidelines of collaboration.
A core team of academicians and officers is proposed to be formed with some Indian Institute of Technology faculty as well as members of the international academic community, including Singapore, to prepare a detailed project report. If accepted by both countries, the implementation of the report will then start.
The academic model will retain the strength of the academic models of Indian Institutes of Technology and will extend into some new areas of relevance to local issues.
Aimed at harnessing the opportunity of leadership in higher education at the international level, the Ministry feels it was necessary to have a strategic vision aimed at establishing high quality academic institutions in different regions, including Africa, Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
