Cambridge Uty rules out opening campus in India
 
Chandigarh, Sep 7, 2012 : Cambridge University today said it was strengthening partnerships with Indian institutions, but was not looking to establish a campus in the country. "The University is not considering opening up a campus in India," Vice-Chancellor, Sir Leszek Borysiewiczh, told reporters here.
 
Ruling out a compromise on students intake from India, he said there was no possibility of inking tie-ups with undergraduate institutions in the country. However, projects have been taken up to build partnerships with Indian institutions, he said. Cambridge University, which has tie-ups with five institutes here for Post Graduate programmes, was "getting rich talent from India."
 
At present, the University had 270 active projects with Indian institutions and the focus was on areas of excellence. 244 students of Indian origin were pursuing higher education at Cambridge University, he said.
 
Earlier, Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) president, Avtar Singh Makkar, said as part of an agreement between SGPC and the University in 2009, five Sikh scholars will pursue M Phil/Phd at Cambridge each year. The total expenses, including fee and boarding amounting to Rs 18 lakh per student per year approximately, will be shared equally by the SGPC and Cambridge University.
 
Two Sikh scholars, Ravpartap Singh from Chandigarh (Legal Studies) and Shinjni Singh from Lucknow (Asian Development Studies), have been selected for the Phd programme this year. As other such scholars, they will have to teach in an SGPC-run institution for three years after completing the higher degree, Makkar said.
 
While awarding degrees to 443 scholars at the first convocation ceremony of Mata Gujri College in Fatehgarh Sahib, the Vice-Chancellor encouraged them to serve the society so that a positive change can be ushered in. He exhorted the students to take pride in their alma mater and called upon them to serve as role models.
 
Before visiting the Golden temple at Amritsar, Borysiewiczh also took a tour of Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University. He asked the faculty and students to strive hard in maintaining the standard of learning and said the rank of an institution was determined by the quality of education imparted.
 
"Political investment lasts only for four or five years, but the reputation earned in the form of successful students floats throughout the ages," he said. Accompanied by Dr Indi Seerha, Director HR of Cambridge University, he also commended the SGPC-run university.