Nita Ambani to set up varied varsity

Reliance Foundation, the recently set up philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries Limited, plans to set up a multi-disciplinary university in the country.The university, modelled on the lines of US varsities like the University of Pennsylvania, will offer courses in science, technology and liberal arts. The new initiative would be launched under the chairmanship of Nita Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani said in his acceptance speech after being honoured with the Dean’s Medal by the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science on Friday. The medal was given for his leadership in the application of engineering and technology for the betterment of mankind. The Reliance Group is looking at establishing the educational institute outside Mumbai or Delhi. The move comes seven years after it established the Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai. “Just like I woke up one day and decided to set up a school, a couple of months ago, I decided to start a university,’’ Nita Ambani said. At the RIL AGM in November, Mukesh had said the company had endowed Rs 500 crore to the foundation and it would be scaled up to Rs 1,000 crore.