India, Oxford to partner in education venture

The government will help to set up a centre for study of sustainable development, to be named after former prime minister Indira Gandhi, at Oxford University’s Somerville College, Gandhi’s alma mater.

Human Resource Development Minister M M Pallam Raju on Friday gave an in-principal approval to the proposal after holding a meeting here with a delegation from the Somerville College, led by principal Alice Prochaska.

The Somerville College had urged India to contribute around three million pounds for setting up the centre. The University of Oxford and the Somerville College will jointly raise 5.5 million pounds.  

According to the proposal, a building will be constructed for the Indira Gandhi Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Oxford at a cost of about 10 million pounds, to be raised by the Oxford University through donations.

Around 10 acres have already been earmarked for the building on the Somerville College premises, an official said.  “An inter-Ministerial committee (in India) is already in place to discuss the proposal,” he added. The centre will enhance scholarship opportunities at the Oxford University for bright students from India in the field of sustainable development.