Patna, July 6: The mentor group overseeing the setting up of Nalanda International University today decided that global tenders would be floated for selecting the agency to undertake construction of the university building, which would be modelled on the ancient seat of learning.

“The mentor group discussed the design of the new university building and it was decided that the new one would have the essence of the design of the ancient university,” panel head Amartya Sen said after the group’s meeting here.

This was the third meeting of the mentor group, which would now be known as the Nalanda Governing Board. The board members will visit Nalanda tomorrow.

Apart from Sen, the mentor group has former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo, Harvard University professor Sugata Bose, economist Lord Meghnad Desai, City University of New York professor Tansen Sen, Beijing University’s dean of oriental studies Wang Bangwei, director of the Nara Prefecture Complex of Man’yo Culture, Japan, Susumu Nakanishi, secretary, ministry of external affairs, Sanjay Singh, former bureaucrat N.K. Singh and vice-chancellor-designate Gopa Sabharwal.

The group discussed the various rules and regulations under which the university would be governed, apart from statutory powers bestowed upon the institution. The mentor group also discussed the financial powers and funds which will be required.

The university will offer courses in historical studies and environmental studies to begin with. “We may start these courses from a makeshift building,” Sen said.

He lauded the role of chief minister Nitish Kumar in helping the project with land. “The state government, particularly chief minister Nitish Kumar’s co-operation in giving final shape to the project is commendable. The government has completed the process of land acquisition and nearly 500 acres has been given for the project,” he said.

The next meeting of the governing board would be held in October at Beijing.

Vice-chancellor-designate Sabharwal said the proposed university would have courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with subjects on Buddhist studies, environmental studies, international relations and peace studies, which will be started in phases.

Nalanda’s revival is being carried out under an international initiative spearheaded by the East Asia Summit, a bloc of countries of which India is a member.