The Varkey Group is planning to establish an Indian University in the UAE and is looking at associations which can offer the best quality of education, John Mason, head of the Group's Asian Schools here told Gulf News.
He said the Group's chairman strongly wishes to set up the higher education institution and is also looking at the possibility of setting up an American college here. "He is looking into the "best possible opportunity" to do so, Mason said.
Col. M.L. Augustine, head-education secretariat of the Group, said about 400 Indian students go abroad every year for higher education. "A university here will cut down costs for many students," he said.
Indian schools in the UAE cater to a range of Indian syllabi including Kerala Board and CBSE. Many higher education institutions in the UAE have recently come under scrutiny of the local authorities as they do not have proper accreditations.
Mason said the Group, through its affiliate GEMS, Global Educational Management Systems, is moving into India. "Discussions are ongoing with a number of institutions who require our services," he said.
The Group is expected to begin managing a couple of schools in India within a year. Mason said it was an "ultimate compliment" that " we who came here 30 years ago to set up schools for the Indian community are being asked to help set up similar standards back in India as we have here."
Mason is in India auditing two schools in Kolkata. Augustine said a GEMS office has been set up in Pune with Uma Ganesh as its Area Director.
There are also opportunities opening up in Britian for GEMS to manage schools there too, Mason had said before leaving.
Augustine said two British schools will be managed by the Group very soon. GEMS provides management systems and advisory services to the education sector.
Gulf News
