KOZHIKODE: Among the biggest co-operative societies in Asia, the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS) is poised to stir up the education sector a bit. In a first of its kind effort by a cooperative society in the state, ULCCS will pump in `1,000 crore into education.
The move is part of their expansion plans after having successfully ventured into the IT sector with UL Cyber park and UL Technology Solutions. The assistance of the Union and state governments, as well as help from the UK and Netherlands, will be sought to implement various aspects of the project.
“While the core work of ULCSS is in construction, we started the IT ventures as part of diversification. Now, we are moving on to education,” ULCCS managing director S Shaju told Express.The project under UL Education will be implemented in a phased manner.“It will be completed in three years,” said T P Sethumadhavan, the education director. UL Education is planned as an umbrella institution with international schools, skill development centres, entrepreneurship training, virtual university, DTH channel and community radio to cover the whole gamut of the education sector.
“ULCCS is changing with society and the times,” said ULCCS Ltd chairman Rameshan Paleri.
The UL Global School will be set up at Perumanna; construction work is set to start soon. The other four arms of UL Education are UL Smart, UL Scholar, UL Environment and UL Media. UL Smart will help other schools upgrade to smart schools by developing and providing smart content to schools. UL Scholar will nurture meritorious students for higher education. UL Environment will promote eco-friendly agriculture and vocational training. UL Media will help UL Education provide knowledge to appropriate stakeholders.
Schools, colleges, career counselling, a soft-skill development institute, medical and engineering entrance coaching, civil service coaching, IELTS training, finishing schools and online courses will be started under the banner of UL Education. A centre for excellence in infrastructure and construction, and a training centre for the cooperative sector are also in the pipeline. “ULCCS was started in 1925 in Uralungal in Kozhikode district by the disciples of social reformer Vagbhatananda who advised people to attain economic empowerment and get an education. His disciples started the Uralungal IKEA Nanaya Sangam, a cooperative bank and school. Later, the school was handed over to the private sector. The new initiative in the education sector is a return to the roots of ULCSS and the teachings of Vagbhatananda,” said Rameshan.