Nalanda University

Nalanda University

Nalanda University   is located in Rajgir, near Nalanda, Bihar, India. The University was created as a revival of an ancient center of learn... 7:47 AM

Nalanda University  is located in Rajgir, near Nalanda, Bihar, India. The University was created as a revival of an ancient center of learning at Nalanda. It began its first academic session on September 1, 2014. with 15 students including five women. Initially set up in temporary facilities in Rajgir, a modern campus is expected to be finished by 2020.Nalanda University (also known as Nalanda International University) is located in Rajgir, near Nalanda, Bihar, India. The University was created as a revival of an ancient center of learning at Nalanda. It began its first academic session on September 1, 2014. with 15 students including five women. Initially set up in temporary facilities in Rajgir, a modern campus is expected to be finished by 2020.                                                                                                                                                                               

Nalanda University
On 28 March 2006 the 11th President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam proposed the idea while addressing the Joint Session of the Bihar Vidhan Mandal for revival of Nalanda university. The Nalanda University Bill, 2010 was passed on 21 August 2010 in Rajya Sabha and 26 August 2010 in Lok Sabha. The bill received Presidential assent on 21 September 2011 thereby becoming an Act. The University came into existence on 25 November 2010, when the Act was implemented.

International funding
Japan promised to finance the construction. Singapore may pay for the library, costing US$5m.  Gopa Sabharwal has been appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of this university in February 2011.

It has been estimated that US$500m will be required to build the new facility, with a further US$500m needed to sufficiently improve the surrounding infrastructure. The group is looking for donations from governments, private individuals and religious groups.

The State Government of Bihar handed over 443 acres (179 ha) of land acquired from local people, to the University, where construction work has begun. It is a dream project of the Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar.

Infrastructure and architecture
For best architectural design, a global competition was held for construction of an international state-of-the-art institution. Vastu Shilpa Consultants have been selected as the winner of the design competition with dbHMS providing the triple net-zero energy water and waste strategic plan.

Classes
The academic session of the University started on 1 September 2014 with 15 students in the School of Historical Sciences and the School of Environment and Ecology. A hotel operated by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation in Rajgir would provide initial hostel accommodation.

Organization and administration
Governing Board
In 2007, the Government of India constituted a Nalanda Mentor Group under the Chairmanship of Professor Amartya Sen to examine the framework of international co-operation, and proposed structure of partnership, which would govern the establishment of this University as an international centre of education. The University of Nalanda is proposed to be established under the aegis of the East Asia Summit  as a regional initiative. The NMG also has representatives from Singapore, China, Japan and Thailand.

Later the 'NMG' was renamed the Governing Board of Nalanda University.

As of July 2015, the Governing Board of Nalanda University consists of:

George Yeo – University Chancellor and former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore.
Amartya Sen – Professor at Harvard University.
Sugata Bose – Professor at Harvard University.
Wang Bangwei – Professor at Peking University.
Wang Gungwu – Professor at National University of Singapore.
Susumu Nakanishi – Professor at Kyoto City University of Arts.
Meghnad Desai – Emeritus Professor at London School of Economics.
A. Prapod – Professor at Chulalongkorn University.
Tansen Sen – Associate Professor at Baruch College, CUNY.
Nand Kishore Singh – Member of Parliament – Rajya Sabha, India.
Anil Wadhwa-Secretary (East) Ministry of External Affairs
Gopa Sabharwal – Vice-Chancellor Nalanda University
Schools and departments
Currently two schools has been established

School of Historical Studies
School of Environment and Ecological Studies
The following schools will be started later in a phased manner

School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religion
School of Languages and Literature
School of International Relations and Peace Studies
School of Information Sciences and Technology
School of Business Management