GLS University to invest Rs 30 crore for new campus

The varsity is looking at newer courses and streams like MSc in IT, 5-year integrated BBA/MBA, diploma in fashion design and mobile application development, among others

Having bagged university status under the Gujarat Private Universities Act, 2009, the GLS University is now on an expansion mode. The erstwhile Gujarat Law Society which was so far affiliated to Gujarat University, will henceforth function as an independent university from the academic year of 2015.

According to Hitesh Ruparel, Director General, GLS University, currently the varsity has eight self-financed institutes covering streams like BCom. However, post the newly acquired university status, the varsity is looking at newer courses and streams like MSc in IT, five year integrated BBA/MBA, diploma in fashion design and mobile application development, among others.

"We will also add other faculties in specialized areas of medicine, engineering, technology, arts as well as establish several innovative programs in the areas of robotics, humanities, banking, hospitality management, international business and so on in days to come. Thus with a steadfast resolve, GLS University is poised to benchmark the best global practices in education and contribute to the cause of education," said Ruparel.

What's more, the varsity is also scouting for land of around 30 acres for setting up a new campus even as it looks to launch an engineering college in at least 4-5 disciplines as well as five year integrated law college, said Sudhir Nanavati, President, GLS University. "We will be investing around Rs 30 crore for the new campus. We have already invested around Rs 10 crore for the existing campus post the university status," he added.

However, in a bid to streamline its operations, the varsity will be reducing the number of seats per division from 150 to 120. "With the establishment of GLS University, we would be able to have much sought after autonomy to establish its course structures, curriculum management and student development activities, which will be now undertaken in a standardized manner as per the common directions of the state universities. In addition to that, we also intend to launch several innovative programs, which are non-existent in the conventional university framework. There are several specialized courses which are much in demand in the industry, such as those in the area of information technology, law, communications, management and design," Nanavati added.

Talking further about bagging the status, Ruparel said that being an independent university, GLS now plans to go for major industry partnerships in order to launch courses directly targeted to specific industry segments with major placement assurances. Moreover, it will also establish several centers of excellence focusing on diverse areas of information technology, communications, managerial competence, advances in accounting, government advocacy, industry advice etc. Such centers would work towards furtherance of education and research in these chosen areas.

There would also be several short term programs initiated by these centers, for which appropriate qualifications will be awarded by GLS as an university.

After gaining status of a university, GLS is supposed to focus on research and consulting activities. Globally, all universities with high standard have a major focus on the areas of research. There are several research qualifications available to the students at Masters Level as well as at honors level apart from the doctoral programs. Upon establishment as the university, GLS wishes to initiate these masters by research programs. This is kind of system does not exist in the conventional education model," Ruparel added.

GLS University would also leverage its existing 17 foreign collaborations with leading academic institutions from across the world to benefit its students and add value by imparting international immersion programs.