US-based Harvard University has, in principle, agreed to partner with the Maharashtra government to provide training for its elected representatives, bureaucrats, executives and academicians on issues relating to governance and development. This will be the first time Harvard University has agreed to be part of such a venture in Maharashtra.
The university expressed its desire in this regard during its recent interaction with a high-level delegation led by Maharashtra's minister for higher and technical education Rajesh Tope.
Sanjay Kumar, higher and technical education secretary, who was part of the delegation, told Business Standard: “We kept all four proposals for consideration of Harvard University which include training for elected representatives, propelling of a quality research programme in Mumbai University and other universities in Maharashtra, and the university's engagement in the development of a world class traning institute and using its expertise in the resource mobilisation for the education sector.”
With Harvard University giving an “in principle approval” to take part in the project, the government will submit a detailed proposal which will be cleared by the university's board of directors. He said the state government would provide the necessary funds for the same.
Harvard University has also agreed to be associated in a capacity-building exercise for Mumbai University and other institutions in the state. “The objective is to build capacity of the stakeholders in higher education, including vice chancellors and academician administrators,” said Kumar.
According to Kumar, Harvard University also responded positively to help the state government in setting up a worldclass training centre. “Harvard University's in-principle approval is the result of the government's regular interaction with its officials.”
The move comes ata time when the Centre is yet to pass the Foreign Education Bill which would allow foreign universities to have campuses in India. Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal had tabled the much-awaited Foreign Education Institutions (Regulation of Entry And Operations) Bill, 2010 in the Lok Sabha on May 3, 2010.
The Bill is aimed at regulating the entry and operation of foreign educational institutions which are imparting, or intend to impart, higher education in India. It will also permits foreign education providers to set up campuses in he country and offer degree courses. The Bill will not only bring in the much needed investment in the education sector, but will also draw foreign students and help India arrest brain drain.
Harvard has had a long association with India. Harvard Business School, for instance, has been conducting executive education or management development programmes in India since 2008, but out of five-star hotels. It has also been planning to have a classroom of its own for its executive education programmes. Indian corporate honchos, including Ratan Tata and Anand Mahindra, were reported to be helping the top institute find one.
HBS, which is ranked higher than all Indian B-schools, is looking for a permanent classroom is and that is likely to put more pressure on executive education programmes offered by Indian B-schools. On an average, such programmes comprise around 35 per cent of the revenue stream for most leading B-schools in he country.
