The Hindu Business Line : Manipal University plans campus in Antigua

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Mangalore Jan. 21 The Chancellor of Manipal University (formerly known as Manipal Academy of Higher Education), Dr Ramdas M. Pai, has said that the branch campus of Manipal University would be set up in Antigua soon. He was speaking at the convocation of Manipal University at Manipal here.

Manipal has already been running a twinning programme with American University of Antigua.

"Apart from the twinning programme, which we have been running in Antigua, we will run a college of nursing and a masters programme in public health for both international and Caribbean students," he said.

Earlier, Mr Winston Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, who was the guest of honour at the convocation, said that his Government would provide necessary help to the University for establishing its branch campus in Antigua. The twinning programme at Antigua had paid desired results, he said.

Mr Spencer said that India was fast emerging as one of the major economic and intellectual centres in the world. With 350 universities and hundreds of national and regional research institutes, higher education and research sector in India is the third largest in the world, in terms of number of students for whom it caters. "Today, India is declared as the `Knowledge Superpower' because of the affordable availability of quality education systems," he said.

Delivering the convocation address, Sir William Castell, Chairman of Wellcome Trust, said that the world's population was growing every year. .

In his address, Dr Pai said that Manipal University was on top with regard to teaching and medical education. The university wants to work closer with Wellcome Trust on research projects, he added. He requested Sir Castell to examine this proposal.