Assam's first private university to be inaugurated on Thursday

Guwahati, Oct 26 (UNI) Assam's first private university, Don Bosco University, will be formally inaugurated on October 31 by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, with classes in the engineering college of the varsity already commencing from August.

Informing this at a press conference here today, Don Bosco University chief project coordinator Fr Stephen Mavely said, ''Four engineering courses have already started and we plan to start the MBA, MCA and some other courses soon, with plans to include several other and varied courses in the University's curriculum in the years to come.'' Land selection for a permanent site was on, with the University to start from the existing facilities of the Don Bosco Society at various locations in the city, he said.

He added that it was targetted to complete the basic infrastructure in two-four years and urged prospective sponsors to help realise the venture.

Fr Mavely informed that such a university was being planned for over a decade, with work on this specific project starting about three years back.

''The prestigious name of Don Bosco Society in the field of education, along with Assam government's active support ensured this University,'' he added.

The Assam Private Universities Act, 2007, was promptly promulgated by the state government to facilitate this University and encourage more such ventures, with the Ordinance to be passed before the formal inauguration.

Explaining the choice of Guwahati for the first varsity by the Society, Fr VM Thomas, executive director, Don Bosco Institute, said, ''Students of North East have to go outside and spend much money for pursuing higher education. And this new university hopes to change that and cater to the changing trends in education.'' He informed that apart from the traditional courses, thrust would be on cutting-edge technology courses, service sector and social sector professional courses.

''Besides, it will offer socially relevant programmes for farmers, women and industries and also distance learning programmes,'' Fr Thomas said.

Fr Mavely maintained that fees would be kept as per the government specifications to have it accessible to common man, with loans and scholarships to be also provided to underprivileged students.

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