Great things are brought about by putting a series of small things together
China is planning to join hands with India and establish INDIA’S first Railway University hoping for it to be a center for learning of varied aspects of functioning and administration of railways. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi recently promised to set up four such Railway universities in the country, and the government is set to start work on the first one. The said university will come up at Vadodra in Gujarat where it will teach courses on management, finance as well as specialised engineering streams. With the main campus at the National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR) formerly known as Railway Staff College, satellite centres of the proposed university will be set up at Secunderabad (Telangana), Jamalpur (Bihar) and Pune (Maharashtra). The idea behind this initiative is to promote study and research related to railways, for which Indian railways will be collaborating with Indian as well as foreign universities.
Last month, officials from Railway Ministry India, made a formal visit to three Chinese universities –Beijing Jiaotong University, Tongji University and Southwest Jiaotong University and submitted a report, saying that the Chinese government has shown interest in the idea of co-funding the Railway University project along with collaborating for joint development of course curriculum, design of the university campus and facilities, student and teacher exchange programmes and exchange of latest learning technologies. The course designs could also be such that one could pursue a dual academic degree, part of which could be pursued in India and the rest can be completed in one of the Chinese universities.
The report also emphasised reconsidering the project as its expense might put an extra burden on the railway budget. Despite this observation, railway minister Suresh Prabhuisis determined to go ahead with the project on an investment-sharing model. It will be a part of Technology Mission for Railways to take up identified projects for research.
If the Indian Railways manages to conceptualise this proposed project it would prove to be good news for all those aspiring to be a part of this industry, as well as for those who use it only as a medium for commuting.
