Azim Premji Foundation, the social arm of the IT major Wipro, has expressed interest in setting up a private university in Karnataka, barely a month after the BJP government announced in its budget that it would encourage such establishments in the state.
The Foundation, which has been working with the Education Department in the state assisting the government in providing computer literacy among school children, was now eyeing on setting up a university to train teachers, lecturers and other officials involved in the education sector.
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, who called on Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Higher Education Minister Aravind Limbavali, sought the government nod for the university.
'It is all in the preliminary stages. We are yet to get a proposal. Premji has expressed keeness to open the private university', Limbavali told the press after a 30-minute meeting with the IT behemoth head.
He said meanwhile the government requested Azim Premji Foundation to consider imparting computer training to students persuing arts and science courses in the wake of dwindling interest among students to join these courses as they feel job opportunities are less for graduates of these disciplines.
The government is also seeking the Foundation's assistance in running mobile coaching classes for students in remote areas taking up CET (Common Entrance Test) to gain admission to professional courses, Limbavali said.
