Maharashtra to allow foreign, private university campuses

New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) The Maharashtra Government proposes to bring out a bill in the Assembly for allowing private universities, including those from abroad to establish their campuses in the State, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said.

The private universities to be allowed in the state would be high technology oriented as the state is embarking on making efficient and skilled workforce as the key differentiator.

''This (proposed legislation) will provide new horizons to aspiring members of the younger generation in Maharashtra and even in India. Investors stand to gain, as they will have a globally-oriented workforce available locally,'' Mr Deshmukh said in an interview published in India Now, an Indian Brand Equity Foundation journal.

The state government has identified information technology, bio-technology, agri bio-technology, horticulture and floriculture, agro processing and textiles as the areas having tremendous potential for growth.

''Infrastructure facilities including roads, air connectivity, development of seaports and electricity generation are being targeted for achieving the growth in these areas,'' the Chief Minister said.

Mahrashtra has already established a good network of educational institutions. The state accounts for 12 per cent of the country's universities, 13 per cent of engineering colleges and 19 per cet of management institutions. Over 344 engineering colleges and 616 Industrial Training Institutes churn out 169,000 technical personnel every year.

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