US varsities are likely to partner with some of the innovation universities that the UPA government has proposed to establish in India. The decision on the collaboration is likely to be announced during the visit of US President Barak Obama to the country later this year.
An official statement said that the issue was discussed at a meeting between Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in Washington.
Sources in the HRD ministry stated that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology could partner with the government for setting up an innovation university in energy sector. The statement said that Mr Sibal informed Ms Clinton that India will set up 14 such innovation universities with a mandate to concentrate on education in specific areas. Mr Sibal said the two sides could partner in setting some of these Universities, one of which could be announced during Obama’s India visit. During the discussions, Mr Sibal also recalled how India and the US had come together to establish world class institutions like IIT-Kanpur 50 years ago.
The HRD minister also took up with Ms Clinton the matter of setting up an India-US Education Council.