Ind-Swift to set up deemed university in Punjab

Having forayed into the education sector and undertaken joint collaborative academic ventures with various foreign universities, Chandigarh-based pharmaceutical group Ind-Swift has plans to set up a deemed university in Punjab in three years. It will offer courses in humanities, law, aviation, research & development in automotive and aeronautics, environmental engineering, print technology, etc at its existing campus in Rajpura (Punjab). Besides, it is also planning to launch a finishing school concept in India with tie-ups in different industries.

The group has floated a society called Swift Fundamental Research and Education Society (SFRES) to foray into education and is presently running courses with a bachelor’s degree in nursing, architecture, management, among others.

SFRES President and Ind Swift Managing Director G Munjal told Business Standard, “To meet the growing need for quality professionals in the country, we have forayed into the education sector through SFRES. We are very keen to set up a deemed university in Punjab within three years”.

About other courses the society is planning to offer, he said, “We are planning to offer a post graduate programme in aviation management and airport management which may be started either in the current session or next year. There are 95 airports which would be ready in the next five years, so there is ample opportunity in this field”.

The group has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Canada-based Royal Roads University to offer a bachelor’s in business administration course in hospitality and tourism management. It has also signed an MoU with UK-based Bedfordshire University to offer a bachelor’s of science (honours) programme in nursing, and Coventary University to offer courses in automotive research and development.

Having invested over Rs 60 crore in its education arm, it has plans to further pump in Rs 15-20 crore in the current financial year in its existing campus at Rajpura to set up infrastructure and to introduce new courses.

Ind-Swift Group has presence in 45 countries with two listed entities: Ind-Swift Ltd and Ind-Swift Laboratories Ltd, and a wholly-owned subsidiary in the US.