Mangaluru : Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof K Byrappa has said the university will accommodate at least 100 foreign students during the coming academic year.

The university has received applications from students of 32 countries to pursue their PG and PhD programmes.

Speaking at the get together programme organised at Mangalore University as the academic year 2014-15 is coming to an end, here on Wednesday, he said the authorities have received 530 applications from overseas to pursue their PhD and PG courses.

At present, 17 foreign students have enrolled for PhD and two for post graduation courses. The international hostel to cater to the needs of the international students will be ready within a year.

“The applications have been received not only from African and neighbouring countries but also from Poland, Portugal, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries.

The students have shown interest in pursuing their studies in Computer science, economics, management, statistics and English,” said Dr Ravishankar Rao, Director International Students’ Centre.

Stating that Mangalore University has been selected under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the Vice Chancellor said that a total of 17 universities from the state had submitted their proposal to the MHRD under RUSA, of which, four universities have been selected. The MHRD has sanctioned Rs 20 crore.

The first installment of the fund will be released shortly and will be utilised for the purchase of equipment at the laboratories. The second installment of the fund will be utilised for furnishing and developing infrastructure and third installment will be used for building hostels.

The VC said steps will be made to make examination process more automated and online. “We will have end to end solution and automated process. In fact, the university is mulling over introduction of online valuation to help the external examiners to valuate the answer scripts. The PG admission at the Mangalore University campus will be made online through web portal soon,” the VC said.

Prof Byrappa said “Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence” (PURSE)lab will be opened for te public to take benefit of the lab. Technical staff will be recruited for making best use of the lab.

The VC said the State government has sanctioned Rs 1 crore each for the setting up of Rani Abbakka Study Centre and for the Narayana Guru Study Centre. A proposal for Deen Dayal Kaushal Kendra (skill development centre) has been submitted to the government, at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore. North Eastern states language chair will also be planned at the university.

Addressing the faculty members of the university while thanking the support in carrying out the academic programmes, the VC said that departments should give thrust on short term visits and international collaborations. Relationship with the colleges should be strengthened to have more interactive sharing of resources and knowledge.