Gujarat University to offer aviation course

Gujarat University (GU) plans to collaborate with an aviation university to allow interested students - irrespective of the streams, to pursue their dream career.

GU is all set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Electrotherm's Indus University - so far the only university in the state offering courses in commercial pilot license and aviation maintenance. The MoU will be signed during Vibrant Gujarat 2013.

The MoU will also mark GU's launch of the 'multivarsity' concept, where students will be able to pursue multidisciplinary courses from various colleges at the same time. The concept is based on the virtual university model, which will make higher education accessible in remote villages.

Arvind Bhandari, registrar, Gujarat University, said, "We are considering the proposal of students being offered aviation as a part of their curriculum. It will be a multidisciplinary course on the choice-based credit system. The MoU will be signed during Vibrant Gujarat.

" As part of the MoU, students from non-science streams will be offered a bridge course before pursuing the aviation program.

D P Giridhar, vice-chancellor, Indus University, said, "Students of Gujarat University will get a chance to expand their opportunities through our course. We have submitted an expression of interest and are in the initial stages of discussions." The universities are likely to issue joint degrees for the course.

Jagat Shah, advisor to Udisha project of commissioner of higher education, department of education, Government of Gujarat, is coordinating the MoU. "The MoU will be signed in front of an actual aircraft out on display at the education hall during Vibrant Gujarat," he said. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Government of India's requirement is a science background in order to pursue a career in aviation but with this course, students from other streams can pursue a career in flying. The initiative of launching the multiversity is expected to boost employment and focus on skill-based courses from the next academic year. The multiversity model will be an open higher education model that will have a virtual entity with a complete back office. It will be linked to the National Knowledge Network associated with seven national programmes of education. Halls of Culture and Training (HCT) will also be set up across the state.