There is good news for the aspiring engineers of Bihar. The University of Edinburgh has offered to tie-up with engineering and technical institutes of the state with the aim of raising educational standards.

A letter from the international university’s School of Engineering and Electronics and Institute for Infrastructure and Environment has reached Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with the offer. Bihari by birth and a graduate from the Bihar College of Engineering, B Sinha, who is an Emeritus Professor at the university, has written the letter.

“I would like to bring a delegation from the university. We hope to discuss the possibility of helping the state raise educational standards in the field of engineering, IT, management and public health. We hope it will be possible to reach a bilateral agreement for mutual co-operation,” Sinha has written. The offer letter has offered hope to engineering and technical institutes of the state. “Apart from extending credibility to degrees offered by the state institutes, the tie-up will open up global markets for Bihari students”, said Science and Technology Secretary Ajay Thakur. He said though the details of the proposal remain to be worked out, it is a good beginning. The university delegation has sought time from the Chief Minister for discussions.

Meanwhile, the state Government has recently prepared a draft policy to revive the technical institutes of the state. It has declared its intention to reopen three state engineering colleges which have been lying closed for many years and has also decided to open two more technical colleges. For the draft policy to be implemented, the state needs to spend Rs 7,000 crore. Tie-ups with reputed international universities will help secure funds.

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