Hyderabad, June 30, 2005
IANS
The Osmania University here will set up its
extension centres and mini campuses in the Gulf
and Middle East to enable the children of non-resident
Indians (NRIs) to pursue higher education.
The Andhra Pradesh government has approved
the university's proposal to open extension
centres and mini campuses in the Middle East
to enable children of NRIs pursue undergraduate
and postgraduate courses in engineering, management,
science and technology.
The Osmania University would offer courses
in the distance education mode. The university's
executive council will make suitable amendments
to existing rules in this regard.
Information and Public Relations Minister Mohammed
Ali Shabbir said the government took the decision
following representations made by NRI bodies
demanding better educational facilities for
their wards. Various educational institutions
in the Gulf had also made requests in this regard.
"The schools there offer CBSE (Central
Board of Secondary Education) syllabus till
Class 12, but there are no adequate opportunities
for higher education thereon," he said
and hoped that many students would be benefited
by the Osmania University's move.
There are 600 foreign students from 42 countries
pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses
at Osmania University in Hyderabad itself, indicating
the popularity of the courses, and the number
is increasing every year.
Shabbir said details like the number of extension
centres and mini campuses to be opened were
being worked out.
Osmania University was set up here in 1918
by the erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad with Urdu
as the medium of instruction. In 1948, when
Hyderabad state acceded to the Indian union,
the university became an independent varsity
and the medium of instruction was changed to
English.
Currently more than 135,000 students are studying
in various undergraduate and postgraduate courses
at 21 university colleges and 500 affiliated
colleges in the state
