Rai University (RU) is a private university[2] located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The university was established in 2012 by the Rai Foundation through the Gujarat Private Universities Act (Amendment), 2012, the same act which established Indus University.

Rai University
MottoEvolving Thinking Minds
TypePrivate
Established2012
ProvostAnil Tomar [1]
Location, ,
22°49′01″N 72°28′24″E / 22.816989°N 72.473361°E / 22.816989; 72.473361
AffiliationsUGC, AIU
Websitewww.raiuniversity.edu

History edit

Rai University was originally established by the Rai Foundation in 2002 in Chhattisgarh, one of 46 universities which were established through The Chhattisgarh Niji Kshetra Vishwavidyalaya (Sthapana aur Viniyaman) Adhiniyam, 2001[3] within a year.[4] The act empowered the state to establish a university through a gazette notification and further allowed such universities to affiliate colleges and set up campuses.[5] At its peak, the university had eleven campuses around Chhattisgarh[6] and a total of 29 colleges across 25 campuses in India and abroad. It offered more than 300 courses.[7] In 2005 the Supreme Court of India passed a decision which cancelled the relevant sections in the above-mentioned act, thus closing 117 universities, Rai University among them.[8] The various campuses under Rai Foundation sought affiliation with other university such as Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University for the Raipur campus[9] the Delhi University for the New Delhi campus and the Maharishi Dayanand University for the Gurgaon campus.[10]

One of the campuses was the Belapur campus at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which was established in 2004.[11] In 2012 the Government of Gujarat invited the Rai Foundation to establish a private university in the Belapur campus.[12] The university was established in 2012 through the Gujarat Private Universities Act (Amendment), 2012,[13] the same act which established Indus University.

Academics edit

The university offers both undergraduate (B.Sc., B.A., BBA and LLB) courses and postgraduate (M.Sc., M.Tech., MBA) ones, as well as engineering diploma courses.[14] Admission is based on national and state entrance exams and a personal interview.[15] Ph.D. positions are also available.[12] The university is approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC)[2] which has also published an inspection report in 2015,[16] and a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).[17]

Schools edit

The institute runs nine schools:[18]

  • School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)
  • Rai Business School (RBS)
  • College of Media & Communication (CMAC)
  • Institute of Design Engineering and Architecture (IDEA)
  • College of Hospitality and Tourism (CHAT)
  • School of Fashion Technology & Performing Arts (SOFT)
  • School of Arts, Science & Commerce (SASC)
  • School of Law (SOL)
  • School of Agriculture (SOA)
  • School of Life Sciences (SOLS)
  • Center for Research & Development (CRD)

Controversy edit

In 2016 the Government of Gujarat directed Rai University (along with Parul University) to stop admission to its agriculture courses which were unrecognized by the government.[19] This has led to student protests.[20] The university has issued a public notice clarifying that as a university approved by state Act, the above-mentioned recognition is not required.[21]

References edit

  1. ^ "Editorial Board - Rai University". Rai University. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b "State -wise List of Private Universities as on 19.09.2017" (PDF). www.ugc.ac.in. University Grants Commission. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  3. ^ "The Chhattisgarh Niji Kshetra Vishwavidyalaya (Sthapana aur Viniyaman) Adhiniyam, 2001" (PDF). Chhattisgarh Gazette. Government of Chhattisgarh. 2002. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  4. ^ Mishra, Neeraj (29 September 2003). "Act enables 46 varisities to come up in Chhattisgarh in a year, worry educationists". India Today. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Private University Act of Chhattisgarh: Supreme Court Judgment". Contemporary Education Dialogue. 2 (2): 261–264. 1 January 2005. doi:10.1177/097318490500200210. ISSN 0973-1849. S2CID 220419653.
  6. ^ "Know us Better". Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Rai University". Archived from the original on 6 February 2006. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  8. ^ Negi, S.S. (11 February 2005). "SC orders closure of 117 varsities in Chhattisgarh". The Tribune. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Rai University gets affiliation". The Hindu. 26 March 2005. Retrieved 8 October 2017.[dead link]
  10. ^ "Rai University Gets the Supreme Nod". Businessworld. 5 November 2005. Archived from the original on 25 April 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  11. ^ Unnithan, Chitra (8 May 2005). "Will a Rai university row kick up in A'bad too? - Times of India". The Times of India. Times News Network. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  12. ^ a b "PhD". Rai University. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  13. ^ "Gujarat Private Universities Act (Amendment), 2012" (PDF). Gujarat Gazette. Government of Gujarat. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Courses". Rai University. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Admission Procedure". Rai University. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Report of the UGC Expert Committee for Rai University" (PDF). University Grants Commission. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  17. ^ "AIU Membership" (PDF). Association of Indian Universities. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Schools". Rai University. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Parul, Rai varsities told to stop agriculture intake - Times of India". The Times of India. Times News Network. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  20. ^ "Ambiguity over BSc agriculture course: Private university students protest - Ahmedabad Mirror". Ahmedabad Mirror. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  21. ^ "Public Notice Regarding Agriculture Course-2016" (PDF) (Press release). Rai University. Retrieved 8 October 2017.

External links edit