Sibal lays foundation stone of Central University of Rajasthan

Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal lays foundation stone of Central University of Rajasthan(CUR) at Bander Sindri Village near Kishangharh in Ajmer district of Rajasthan with MoS and Ajmer MP Sachin Pilot, Kishangarh MLA Nathuram Sinodia and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. Addressing a function after laying the foundation stone for the Central University of Rajasthan, Mr. Sibal said public-private partnership would be put into action in a big way for establishing 1,000 new universities and 45,000 colleges across the country in the years to come. As part of an ambitious plan for improvement in educational standards, the Union Government would frame new rules and launch a national vocational education framework next month, said Mr. Sibal.
The Central University of Rajasthan, functioning from a temporary campus in Kishangarh since 2009 when it was established, would shift to the new campus in a phased manner and start functioning regularly from August this year. The university has been conducting eight courses in the past two academic sessions. Union Minister of State for IT and Communication Sachin Pilot, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Rajya Sabha MP Prabha Thakur, Vice-Chancellor M. M. Salunkhe, Kishangarh MLA Nathuram Sinodia and State Higher Education Minister Jitendra Singh were among those present at the function. Mr. Sibal said while 31,000 colleges and 600 universities would be linked with the National Knowledge Centre during the next two years, the Central Board of Secondary Education would separately provide a vocational degree to the students of 9th and 12th standards. The Union Minister praised Mr. Gehlot for promptly allotting land near the Jaipur-Ajmer highway and providing infrastructure facilities for the sprawling campus of the first Central varsity in the State. Mr. Gehlot said works for construction of roads, installation of power supply lines and arrangements for water supply on the campus would be completed shortly at a cost of Rs.30 to 40 crore. He said an atmosphere facilitating higher education was gradually evolving in the State and requested Mr. Sibal to announce establishment of a world-class university in Jaipur. Mr. Pilot said the Central University would be a lively symbol for the 21st century in Rajasthan and prepare a new generation of well-informed and erudite youngsters. The varsity, he added, should develop itself in an eco-friendly manner and introduce new courses to serve the specific needs of the desert State.