Oxford plans chapter to study Indian economy

Oxford University is breaking new ground with plans to set up a business-research centre in India ? the first one outside the United Kingdom ? to study the country?s rapidly expanding economy.

Oxford University is breaking new ground with plans to set up a business-research centre in India — the first one outside the United Kingdom — to study the country’s rapidly expanding economy.

HT Image

According to Professor Colin Mayer, dean of Oxford University’s Said Business School, the university would invest £10 million (Rs 85 crore) initially to set up the research centre which will study a wide range of issues — from infrastructure and education to social entrepreneurship and business taxation— related to India.

"This is the first centre outside the United Kingdom and will be a huge commitment as far as Oxford university is concerned. There will be a study centre in Oxford to lead the research work in India," said Mayer.

The centre is expected to be operational by next year. "For outsiders, the growth of India is a lesson to learn and for the country, there are a lot of challenges. We are bringing international attention to the success of India and trying to involve policymakers and corporate India to address issues related to infrastructure and education in the country,” said Mayer.

The Oxford’s India centre would have representation from the business world as well as from policymakers, he added. “The policymakers and business heads will guide the centre. We are in the process of designing the nature of the advisory board of the center in India,” he said. Maintaining that the country has got a lot of entrepreneurial excellence, Mayer said Oxford had plans to polish those skills.

“As a next step, we will train the entrepreneurship talent in India. The country has got a huge managerial expertise and entrepreneurship skills,” he said.