The Hindu Business Line : BITS plans management institute

DIVERSIFICATION: Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (right), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, with Mr K.K. Birla, Chancellor, BITS-Pilani, at the foundation laying ceremony for the Hyderabad campus on Saturday. — Satish H

Hyderabad April 28 Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani is planning to diversify and set up an institute of management on the lines of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

BITS would also like to collaborate with a reputed international institute to offer world-class management education, Mr K.K. Birla, Chancellor, BITS, said at the stone-laying ceremony for the BITS Hyderabad campus on Saturday.

Mr Birla later told newspersons that he had accepted the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's request to locate the proposed institution in Andhra Pradesh.

On the probable period of setting up the institution, Mr Birla said: "It will take some time. May be one or two years."

On the quality of education in BITS, he said notwithstanding the increase in number of students, the quality would not be compromised.

Dr Reddy, who laid the foundation stone, described the occasion as "a dream come true'' as Andhra Pradesh is the single largest State to send students to BITS.

Courses offered

BITS is investing over Rs 270 crore for building its Hyderabad campus in 200 acres of land at Jawahar Nagar, Shameerpet.

It will initially offer first degree programmes in engineering and science leading to B.E. (Hons) in chemical, civil, computer science, electrical and electronics, electronics and instrumentation, mechanical engineering and B.Pharm and M.Sc (Hons) in scienceand M.Sc (Tech) in information systems.

In future, the Hyderabad campus would introduce higher degree programmes such as M.E., M.Pharm, M.Phil., and Ph.D.

The initial intake for these courses would be 600, according to Prof V.S. Rao, Director, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad campus.