Core Education in management tie-up with UAE institute

Teaching services provider Core Education and Technologies has entered into a management partnership contract with the government at Ras al Khaimah (RAK) in the UAE to run an existing higher education institute.

The institute, Ras al Khaimah Institute of Engineering, with a student strength of 350, offers courses in architecture and engineering.

“This is about moving beyond providing services and solutions to higher education institutions. Running of an institution will be a new business for us,”the company's Chairman and Global Chief Executive Sanjeev Mansotra said over phone from Ras al Khaimah.

Core Education had set up its Dubai office last year.  “The institute was looking for a strategic partner who can manage the institution and take it to the next level. We gave them this comfort  level,” added Mansotra.

The company will start education delivery by taking over the operations of the institute in the province starting April 2012. Along with Core Education, Birla Institute of Technology Ranchi (BIT Ranchi) will be an academic partner in this venture.
 
The run the institute, Core has invested around Rs 10 crore for this arrangemnet .
 
The lease rental will directly go the RAK government from Core Education and from the fee it will collect, 15 per cent of the same will go as academic license fee to BIT Ranchi.  The company expects a cash flow of up to Rs 11.9 crore (9 million Dirham) per year.
 
The students at the institute are largely local and Indian with small mix of international students. “To change this mix we are planning to launch a management programme and bachelor of business administration programme. We are also in talks with some Canadian Institutes to bring in some international programmes,” added Mansotra.
 
Considering RAK is in an isolated location as compared to Dubai, students do face a challenge in terms of commuting to RAK.
 
“We are aware of this situation and thus we would be investing in not only upgrading the campus but also provide good transport facility and provide good hostel facility. We are taking this very seriously and will be providing them a good quality of education,” added Mansotra.  
 
UAE is said to be the largest importer of International Branch Campuses in the world. Over half-a-dozen Indian education institutions have set up branch campuses in Dubai. These include: Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Birla Institute of Technology and Science , Pilani, Manipal University, Vellore Institute of Technology University, National Law School of India and Mahatma Gandhi University.
 
Core said it will use its Dubai-office to expand in the Middle Eastern region.  The company said for further expansion in higher education, it is bullish on the African Nation.
 
Elsewhere, the company has already entered into an agreement with the Government of Ghana to provide content for the K-12 (up to class 12) segment worth $13.5 million.