China seeks to fund India’s first rail university, wants say in curriculum

China’s National Railway Administration told the Indian delegation that apart from co-funding between Chinese Railway universities and the Indian Railways, they are interested in joint development of curriculum, design of the university campus and facilities, student and teacher exchange programmes, and offering latest learning technologies to India. The course design could also be such that one could pursue a dual academic degree, of which one part could be completed in India and the other part in one of the Chinese universities. “These programmes are to be collaborated at the graduate level, Masters level as well as the doctorate level,” said a senior government official.

As of now, the Railways is struggling with some teething trouble in its quest to set up the first university. EdCIL India, a PSU under the HRD Ministry, has asked for around Rs 60 lakh from the Railways to make a detailed project report, including drafting a bill required for the creation of the university. Taken aback by the steep quote to make just a report, the Railways has put it up for discussion before an internal high-level committee. An inter-ministerial dialogue is also expected on this.

The choice of location for the university, sources said, has been left with Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who will take the decision with the help of the Railway Board. The only preference is the presence of an airport nearby so that movement of visiting faculty and others associated with the university does not become a problem.

The Railway university will teach courses on management, finance as well as specialised engineering courses. Although it will be run by the Indian Railways, there will be no job guarantee for graduates, who will have to go through the established competitive processes — a subject that has been discussed internally, sources said.

As of now, IIT Kharagpur has been roped in to start a railway engineering course in collaboration with the Railways. Chinese universities have also evinced interest to participate by way of visiting faculty and other forms of collaboration.

Seeking China’s help on this was a conscious decision because China started specialised railway-related institutes way back in the late 19th Century. Ever since then, big universities in China have rolled out railway-specific technical as well as non-technical courses.