Duke University mulling India entry

The Duke University is looking to enter the Indian education sector for which it is currently holding negotiations with some domestic institutions to offer courses here, according to the consultancy adviser to the US-based varsity.

Albright Stonebridge, which provides consultancy services to the Duke University, said the institution is keen to tap the higher education sector in India.

"Many of our clients are looking at India. One of the interesting area is higher education where our client Duke University is interested," Albright Stonebridge Senior Director Raymond E Vickery told PTI here.

As currently, no foreign universities are allowed to set up campus here, Duke is looking at tying up with some domestic institutions and start some courses, he added.

Vickery said the Bill to permit foreign universities to set up campuses in India is very crucial and uncertainties over its passage Parliament is delaying the process.

"In China the government is setting up a $650 million campus and Duke is providing curriculum and other things. In India also Duke would like to do similar campus," Vickery said.

Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, US. It has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It was ranked 14th in the 2010 QS World University Rankings.