Ranchi, Aug. 24: Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, has decided to spread its wings in a more aggressive way.
It is contemplating an offshore centre in Madagascar, where it proposes to start a course in marine engineering. The same course would also be offered at their existing Ras al Khaimah (UAE) offshore centre.
Besides, another full-fledged extension centre will come up at Greater Noida in the next couple of years.
Construction of the boundary wall around the sprawling 50-acre campus has already begun.
BIT, Mesra, has an extension centre in Noida, but it only offers MBA, MCA, BBA and BCA and BSc (animation) courses. The new centre in Greater Noida will offer courses in all engineering streams.
“We are holding talks with shipping management companies for the marine engineering course at Madagascar and Dubai. Practical classes will be held on ships and theoretical ones at the respective institutes. The course duration will be four-and-a-half years,” said P.K. Barhai, the vice-chancellor of BIT, Mesra.
Establishing the extension centre in Greater Noida is being seen as a strategic decision of the institute authorities due to its proximity to the country’s capital.
“It will take three- four years to complete construction work. The Greater Noida centre would have the second largest campus, next after the one in Mesra village,” a source said.
The deemed university also plans to set up another offshore centre in Mauritius.
“We are expecting a nod from the University Grants Commission. The matter will be finalised shortly and we are expecting that courses will start from this year ,” said Barhai.
As far as the proposed centre in Madagascar and a new course in Dubai are concerned, the authorities said that natives of those countries and Indians based there would be benefited. There are chances that some seats will be reserved for Indian students.
Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the south-eastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth largest island in the world.
