New Delhi

Oxford University to set up India business centre

NEW DELHI: The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, John Hood, announced establishment of the Oxford University India Business Centre (OUIBC) here on Monday. The centre will be located at Saïd Business School in Oxford and will address major business issues through collaborative research between academics in Oxford, India and elsewhere.

Along with research and teaching at Oxford, the centre will develop a range of custom and open executive education programmes that will be delivered in India through a new facility at Lavasa near Pune.

The facility is part of a new hill station being developed by the Lavasa Corporation Ltd., part of the Hindustan Construction Company. The centre has been supported by Lavasa Corporation chairman Ajit Gulabchand.

Mr. Gulabchand will endow a new chair -- the Ajit Gulabchand Professor of Indian Business Studies -- at the University. “The primary objective of this research centre is to learn from India’s business success. A clear understanding of the issues faced by India and their innovative solutions as India transitions from poverty to prosperity will form a guide to future generations of countries attempting similar transitions,” said Dr. Hood at a press meet. “Our University has had a long and rich relationship with India. The first Indian students came to Oxford in 1871. Just 12 years later, the University founded the Indian Institute at Oxford with the support of the Indian Government and business leaders. In more recent times, the University has made strengthening its relationship with India one of its key priorities,” he added. Mr. Gulabchand and Dr. Hood will sign the official memorandum of agreement at the World Economic Forum in Davos this coming Friday.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu