The Manipal Academy of Higher Education has been selected by the Ministry of Overseas Affairs to set up a university for Persons of Indian Origin; 50 per cent of the seats will be reserved for them.
Manipal University plans to set up a Rs 600-crore Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) University in Bangalore by 2011-12. The university will submit a detailed project report to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) by the month-end.
A non-resident Indian (NRI) is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, whereas a PIO is one who is born outside India. Kerala, Punjab, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are among the states with the highest number of NRIs and PIOs.
The ministry selected the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Trust to set up the university. It will primarily cater to the needs of quality education for children of the burgeoning Indian diaspora. The idea of an exclusive university for PIOs/NRIs was first mooted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in 2006.
The rationale is to have a multi-disciplinary university with seats reserved for PIOs. Universities in India face restrictions and regulations in admitting PIO/NRI students, also not all of them provide these students with the courses they opt for. Currently, an Indian university is allowed to reserve 15 per cent seats for PIO/NRI students.
Around 25 million PIOs are scattered in nearly 130 countries. Experts estimate India needs at least 1,133 more universities. The existing 367 Indian universities cater to a meagre 7 per cent of the 18-24 year age group as compared to at least 15 per cent, the average for Asia.
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At any given time, over 40,000 foreign nationals (including PIO/NRI students) from about 100 countries study in India. In addition, nearly 2,000 foreign students study in India under various Government of India scholarship schemes administered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi.
An industry expert said: “Students from these countries, particularly in the developing world, where educational facilities are either not available or are limited, look up to India for their higher educational needs. In developed countries like the US and UK, where higher education is expensive, students explore opportunities to come to India and pursue a degree.”
MAHE will develop the university in two phases on 200 acres of land. The multi-disciplinary university will be self-financed and will reserve around 50 per cent of the seats for PIOs, 15 per cent for NRIs and the rest for Indian students. In the first phase, the PIO/NRI University will offer courses in engineering, information technology, humanities, biotechnology and Masters in Business Administration.
Subsequently, a medical college with 100 seats, attached to a multi-specialty hospital, will be set up. The university will be run by a special trust run that will also have NRIs as trustees. The fee in will be in foreign currency. Even Indian students will have to pay the fee in foreign currency.
Manipal University currently charges Rs 8.6 lakh ($ 20,000) from NRI/PIO students as compared to Rs 4.8 lakh from Indian students.
The Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi had, in May 2008, clarified that the government would not invest any money in setting up of the NRI/PIO University and would only facilitate and ensure that the law of the land is adhered to.
Business Standard, in October 2006, had reported on a proposal being considered by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to establish a PIO/NRI University and the MAHE Trust being one of the bidders.