From rxpgnews.com
India to set up space science institute
By IANS,
Apr 26, 2007 - 10:32:42 PM
New Delhi, April 26 - India, an acknowledged power in space science, will launch from the next academic year an Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology - with an initial investment of Rs.2.70 billion - to address the manpower shortage faced by the national space agency.
The union cabinet Thursday gave its approval for the setting up of IIST that will have an annual recurring cost of Rs.400 million, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.
The Indian Space Research Organization - has been experiencing severe shortage of highly talented graduate and postgraduate scientists and engineers during the last few years to take up the challenges of research and development in the areas of space science and technology, an official note said.
The setting up of the IIST, on the lines of the Indian Institutes of Technology -, will provide high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate education in space technology and science and postgraduate and research programmes and integrated Masters in Space Science degree with customised curriculum meeting the high technology requirements of ISRO mitigating the problem of acute shortage of quality human resources the agency faces, it said.
Pending development of the regular campus of the institute, the courses will commence from the academic year 2007-08 itself on an alternate campus in the premises of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
The institute, to come up within 24 months, will be located close to the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Thiruvananthapuram to enable close interaction with ISRO, the minister said.
It will have an intake of 150-200 students a year. The entire expenses of the course will be supported by ISRO in the form of scholarships and assistantships and all its high-performing students would be absorbed into ISRO.
All rights reserved by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited ( www.rxpgnews.com )