C.M. for greater private sector participation in higher education

Leeds met India opens, six courses offered

Bhopal:Thursday, September 24, 2009:Updated 19:10IST The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has called for greater participation of private sector in higher education to improve its quality and universalization. Government alone cannot conduct all the courses.
Shri Chouhan said that after enactment of the bill for private university now private sector’s participation in this field has become easier. He said that the facility of study of one semester in England for management students in Bhopal is a very significant achievement, he added.
The Chief Minster said that in ancient times India was known the world over for great universities like Nalanda and Taxila. Now in this age of liberalization and globalization, the first campus of the Leeds Met India, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK would play a catalyst for other educational institutions to strive for excellence.
Shri Chouhan inaugurated the center at Chandanpura near Bhopal here today. Former Chief Minister Shri Digvijay Singh presided over the function. With the establishment of Leeds Met India now the students of the state and the country would be able to pursue the management courses at Bhopal instead of England.
Academic Director of the Leeds University Prof. F. Clement and International Dean Prof. A. Johns were special guest on the occasion. Prominent among others those attending the function included the Minister for Urban Administration and Development Shri Babulal Gaur; Minister for Water Resources Shri Jayant Malaiya;
Minister of State for Forests, Shri Rajendra Shukla; MLAs Shri Umashankar Gupta and Shri Rahul Singh, Vice Chairman of M.P. Sports Council Shri Om Yadav; Editor of Dainik Jagran Shri Rajiv Mohan Gupta, Chairman of Jagaran Social Welfare Society Shri Harimohan Gupta, Vice President Shri Rakesh Mehra; Secretary Shri Nasruddin, Shri Sanjeev Mohan Gupta and other officer bearers of Jagaran Social Welfare Society.
The Chief Minister congratulated the Jagaran Social Welfare Society for setting up the center, saying that after signing of an MoU in December 2007 the establishment of the center this year is a great achievement. Shri Chouhan said that MoUs have been signed in many other sectors, but due to delay some have to be cancelled. Shir Chouhan went round the center.
Prof. Clement said that he would make special efforts to maintain the academic standard of the institution. The courses to be offered here are very useful for the students. Prof. Johns said that participation of India in skill based courses in heartening.
It was informed on the occasion that this month six courses would start at this center in Bhopal. These include International Business, Business Studies, Business and management, Business and H.R.M., Retail Marketing Management and International Hospitality Business Management. From September 2010 three under graduate courses and five postgraduate courses would commence.
Former Chief Minister Shri Digvijay Singh said that the degree to be provided by the Leeds Metropolitan University through this center is very important and the employability of students would increase at international level.
Chairman of Jagaran Social Welfare Society Shri Harimohan Gupta said that spread over 36 acre the center would have the facilities of residential premises, a modern library, entertainment and fitness center, hostel and Internet bases resources.
The students completing undergraduate degree from this center would be eligible for admission in the postgraduate courses in the university in U.K. Students of various other countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and UAE have also registered themselves for various courses.
Executive Director of the Society Shri Alok Saxena proposed a vote of thanks.