Aakash Institute to foray in Gujarat

Buoyed by the launch of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Delhi-based higher education player Aakash Institute is set to foray in Gujarat as part of its expansion plans. The institute, known for its higher education training for tests like NEET, PMT and IIT-JEE, is looking to set up centres in major cities like Ahmedabad and Vadodara in Gujarat.

"We had been restraining ourselves to Delhi and North India due to state level entrance exams for higher education courses. However, now with the national level test NEET, we are also expanding ourselves to become a national player. As part of it, we are foraying in Gujarat with two study centres to begin with," said Aakash Chaudhary, director, Aakash Educational Services Ltd. (Aakash Institute).

To be functional from the upcoming academic year in June, the two centres in Ahmedabad and Vadodara will look to cater around 60 students each initially.  Moreover, as part of its expansion plans, Aakash Institute is also opening up centres in Bangalore, Trivandrum, Kochi and Hyderabad among others. "By April 2013, we aim to expand from 62 centres to 75 centres," Chaudhary added.

The expansion will result in Aakash Institute reaching out to 60,000 classroom students as well as 15,000 distant learning students who are preparing for national level entrance tests in higher education.

Moreover, the institute is bullish about its online offerings as well. "From 200 students last year, we have grown to 2,000 students taking up our online training facilities. While the online training industry is still at a nascent stage, the same is growing rapidly across the country," Chaudhary added.