THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a report by a three-member panel on setting up an Academic City in Kerala. The report was submitted by the committee consisting of Additional Chief Secretary, Education, Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University and Planning Board Member G Vijayaraghavan. “The committee has recommended different locations for establishing the Academic City. A suitable location will be identified and necessary follow-up action will be taken,” Chief Minister said.
CIAL Model Company
The State Government will soon launch a public limited company - International City of Kerala Limited - on the CIAL model for setting up an Academic City of international standards in the state.
The Cabinet on Wednesday gave the nod for the proposal to set up the Academic City, which was submitted by a three-member committee. As per the proposal, the City will be built on the lines of the Academic City in Dubai. The government will have 26 per cent share in the company on the lines of the CIAL. Apart from this, an Academic City Regulatory Authority under the Higher Education Department will also be formed. The Regulatory Authority will have seven members with an educationist as the chairman. It will also include teachers and scientists from international institutions. The government has identified three locations - Karyavattom Campus of Kerala University, land of Calicut University and the region near the Thiruvananthapuram Knowledge City for setting up the City. The three-member committee comprising Additional Chief Secretary K M Abraham, Calicut University Vice-Chancellor Abdul Salam and Planning Board member G Vijayaraghavan had given the proposal after visiting Dubai Academic City in December 2012.
The committee also proposed global educational meet every year. It was also proposed to organise road shows and fairs for the promotion of the Academic City as is done for tourism and industrial promotions.