THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 20 January 2007 — A new technical university, which will function as the umbrella body for all science and technological institutions, is to be set up in the state as part of the government’s attempt to overhaul the educational sector. “Research activities are not taking place in a proper way. We have decided to strengthen it,” Vaikkam Vishwan, the convener of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), said.
“We also want to see that Cochin University of Science and Technology is upgraded as the Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology,” he added. The government also wants to convert 104 government schools as model institutions with the full support of parents, teachers and students.
ISRO to Set Up Training Center
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is planning to set up a space training center in Kerala to meet the shortage of space scientists and engineers. ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair said the organization was experiencing severe shortage of staff as the youngsters prefer more lucrative jobs in the information technology industry. The ISRO is also facing a crisis due to large-scale retirement of staff members.
According to reports, the proposed institute is expected to be set up on the outskirts of the state capital on a 100-acre plot and would be modeled on the lines of the Bhabha Atomic Research Center in Mumbai.