Reliance Foundation is planning to set up a world-class university in the country and it may be headed by Nita Ambani
Refinery-to-retail giant Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is planning to set up a world-class university in the country, marking its foray into the education sector. The university may be headed by Nita Ambani, wife of RIL chief Mukesh Ambani. Ms Ambani is president of Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation and also heads the Dhirubhai Ambani International School.
"Reliance Foundation, the new philanthropic initiative of the Reliance Group, has decided to set up a new age world-class university in India and it will promote education and research in all disciplines of knowledge," RIL chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani said.
He was speaking after receiving the first Dean's Medal by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.
The proposed university would be set up on the lines of great American universities like UPenn, Mr Ambani said, adding that it will also forge partnerships with reputed educational institutions around the world. "It will be international in scale and in best practises, but with an Indian soul," he said.
Noting that there was a need to bring about changes in the methodology of education, Mr Ambani said that education in India is also at the doorsteps of transformation.
"Access to world-class education is not only a necessity but a strong prerequisite to building a strong India. It is by far the strongest aspiration of young Indians," he said.
The RIL chairman said that in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, a new world is emerging, which is fundamentally different from the old.
Noting that Asia is witnessing unprecedented prosperity, Mr Ambani said that the centre of economic activity was shifting from the West to the East.
However, many parts of Asia also present a picture of deprivation and under-development and employment creation remains a challenge for all countries.
"Countries left behind in the race for development are fast catching up. Asia is witnessing unprecedented prosperity. Yet, many parts of Asia also present a picture of deprivation and under-development," he said.
Calling for equitable development, he said that the deprived are demanding their due share.
"The poor are still denied access to food, water, housing, electricity and transport... the basic necessities of life. Therefore, the challenge of equitable development has become most urgent. So has the imperative of sustainable development," Mr Ambani said.
Urging to devise new developmental models that provide growth with sustainability, and development with equity, he said that sustainable development demands more out of less from finite resources.
The new developmental models will require partnerships and newer ways of solving problems and problems cannot be segregated into separate silos, Mr Ambani said.
"In this new and interdependent world, we have to become silo-breakers in our thinking, policies and strategies of development. Every single challenge that the world is facing demands a creative response from scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and policy-makers," he said.
Science, technology and engineering have an epoch-making opportunity to evolve to the next level, by making common cause with social sciences, responsible entrepreneurship and good governance, he said.
"I believe that technology, wedded to the Gandhian vision, can create a better future for our children in all parts of the world," the RIL chief said.
He observed that the world was facing crises on several fronts including financial, energy, food, water, environmental and international terrorism. "The decade gone by taught many important lessons to the world. 9/11 at the beginning of the last decade reminded the world about the barbarity of terrorism. 26/11 towards the end of the last decade was yet another reminder," Mr Ambani said.
The financial crisis highlighted the inter-connectedness of the world, he said, adding that the crisis taught the world that money cannot produce money.
Mr Ambani expressed his deep appreciation for all staff of the Oberoi, hit by the deadly terrorist strike in November 2008, for facing and overcoming terror with courage, reports PTI.
Earlier in November, Mr Ambani had said that RIL was planning to invest Rs500 crore to set up a philanthropic entity called Reliance Foundation with plans to scale up its contribution to Rs1,000 crore.
Uday Vedant
1 decade agoHi,
Dhirubhai Ambani always benefited the common man. So hope there generation always benefit the common man. This is a good thought for education. The poor, needy and the education system everything should be helped.
Hon.Col. (NCC) Prof.Dr. R.B.Misra, Ex VC, Avadh Univ., Faizabad/Ayodhya, U.P. (India)
1 decade ago1. Seeking email ID of Mrs. Neeta
Ambani, President, Dhirubhai
Ambani Foundation.
2. Desirous of establishing an
educational institution (Hardwari
Inst. of Sci. & Technology), at
Hardwari Nagar (Near Gola
Gokarannath, Dist. Lakhimpur-
Kheri, U.P.) in a rural area.
3. Having long expertise of 47 yrs. of
teaching Mathematics at various
Universities in India and abroad.
4. Ex Vice-Chancellor, Avadh univ.,
Faizabad/Ayodhya, U.P.
5. Having international contacts with
the academic community.
6. Seeking any substantial financial
assistanceto accomplish above
project and establisha charitable
hospital at Gola Gokarannath.
7. Have land for both HIST (6 acres)
and Sarojani Hospital (80 ft.x 80 ft.)
plot.
8. Gola Gokarannath houses Bajaj
Sugar factory estblished by Seth
Jamna Lal Bajaj and it is around 60
kms. north of Rosa Rly. Jn. where
Reliance established theier poser
generation plant.
9. An early response shall be
welcomed.
rahul jain ranchi
1 decade agoactually we need this kind of commitment from all big honcos for industry. they can better provide most needed financial resource and also a better idea to overcome these problems.
mr ambani is hopeful regarding the effort and he will definetely help a lot many to have better education in our country in particular.
this kind of effort is also needed from other big names of industry to eradicate many basic problems of humanity.
Adil Abdul Ghani
1 decade agoI would love to express this Loud & clear. We Indians are very Lucky to have Nita Bhabi. who is a REAL BHABI BY by all means to Indians. She is doing amazingly well for the poor and needy of India and the development of the Indian community at large.
udai pandey
1 decade agoI congratulate Mr mukesh Ambani for the idea of world class university in India. If the country has to progress faster then higher education has to accorded highest priority which is lacking at moment.
Dr.Rahul Choudaha
1 decade agoThis is a very positive development. However, challenges and context of building world-class universities is very different from corporate projects of even much higher scale and scope. Ingredients of a world-class universities are way beyond financials and requires time and understanding of academic practices world over. Consider the case of Vedanta University, which is nearly two years behind the schedule, despite having all the financial and project management expertise of Vedanta Group. Interesting article available on (http://bit.ly/6Uw8bp).
Rahul Choudaha (PhD, MBA, BE)
http://www.DrEducation.com
New York