THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Al-Abeer, the Saudi-based health care services group which has branched out into other countries in the region recently, is planning to set up a Rs5.65 billion education hub in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

The EduCity will house schools offering courses in medicine, engineering, business administration, commerce and humanities with 65 percent seats reserved for children of nonresident Indians. It aims at teaching, training and research in all fields in collaboration with leading Indian and foreign universities.

"This project will largely focus on the needs of Kerala expatriate community in the Gulf whose major concern is education of their children back home and a bright career for them," said Alungal Mohammed, chairman of the group, who has spent 32 years as an expatriate.

Started in 1999, Al Abeer now has 13 branches across the kingdom, in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Dammam, and is rapidly expanding into Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. It also runs a 100-bed hospital in Malappuram where the new project is also coming up.

The group has also expanded into other areas like information technology and has a set up a software development and training facility at Technopark here. Other firms that he runs include Core International LLC, Jeddah, and Consource Solutions Pvt Ltd and Al Abeer Medical Tourism in Kozhikode.

"At EduCity, we will provide subsidized education to the children of NRIs whereas other institutions are taxing them indiscriminately. There'll be quota for NRIs and the returnees," said Mohammed. "It's time for me to do something for the community who made my business in the Gulf a success".

He wants to introduce a new pattern of quality education right from the kindergarten level to the professional courses under one umbrella at an affordable fee structure. A world class multi-specialty hospital will also be part of this project.

The EduCity will offer new generation courses designed by Harvard School of Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Medical Science and Melbourne University in medical engineering and medicinal sciences and make available online library systems of international universities to enhance competence The campus, set in the midst of a lush green environment, will have residential facility with amenities like hypermarket, playgrounds, meditation area, departmental store and wi-fi facility. The campus also contains 50 villas for parents who desire to stay with their children.

The EduCity is designed to be built up in an area of 1.346 million square feet in 68 acres of land. The project is planned to gear up in a phased manner and expected to achieve breakeven with full operation in the fifth year.