And now, Sibal proposes PPP model `innovation universities'

The government is looking at the public-private partnership (PPP) model for the 14 `innovation universities' that are planned to be set up during the 11th Plan period.

The government is already in the process of involving a PPP model in school education, union minister for human resource development Kapil Sibal said, adding the proposed universities would be world class.

The minister was speaking at a meeting with the UK minister for trade, investment and business Lord Mervyn Davies.

The UK minister said his government was keen for collaboration and cooperation with India in the education sector. He said the UK could offer expertise in teacher training and certification through collaboration.

He emphasised that the mood for India in the UK is very positive and he expressed the hope that India would open up its university sector for British universities soon.

Sibal said the country's education sector could see massive growth in the coming years to cater to the rising demand both in India and abroad. He, however, underlined the need for framing regulations with particular focus on weeding out fly-by-night operators from the education sector.