‘Kerala to be an educational destination’

Mr. Chandy said that the proposal to convert Cusat in to IIEST was awaiting the report from the Central Expenditure Commission for its take off.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurates Cusat’s seminar complex in Kochi on Tuesday. Photo: Special Arrangement

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Tuesday that the process of elevating Cochin University of Science and Technology into an Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) is in its final stage.

In his address after inaugurating the seminar complex and the golden jubilee celebrations of School of Management Studies (SMS) at Cusat, Mr. Chandy said that the proposal to convert Cusat in to IIEST was awaiting the report from the Central Expenditure Commission for its take off.

The Chief Minister’s announcement comes months after the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development made it clear that it has put the plan to set up more IIESTs across the country on hold.

The idea was to improve the quality of the existing national institutes than increase the number of institutions for higher education.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the government wanted to turn the State into a global education destination.

The aim is not only to attract students from outside but also to check the outflow of students from Kerala to other States and abroad, he said. V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, Minister for Public Works, presided.