Several universities in Kerala have decided to open more centres in the Middle East, Education Minister E.T. Mohammed Basheer said here Tuesday.
Responding to questions raised in the assembly, Basheer said: "Kerala University in their syndicate meeting on July 15 decided in principle to open department centres outside the country and is taking the necessary steps in this regard. Likewise, the Kannur University has also decided to open new centres this academic year in the Middle-East."
The Kottayam-based Mahatma Gandhi University already has off campus centres in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. It will open two more in the region.
The Calicut University has also initiated steps to change their rules to enable them to open similar centres in the Middle East.
All the centres would be under the control of the Indian embassies and would follow guidelines of the respective universities, Basheer said.
There are an estimated 1.8 million Keralites in the Middle East.