Vedanta Chairman Seeks Support for Billion-Dollar University Project in Odisha

Anil Agarwal, Chairman of the Vedanta Group, is reaching out to garner support for his ambitious dream of establishing a “world-class” university in Odisha, a billion-dollar project that has been entangled in legal proceedings for several years.

In a post on the X platform, the business magnate shared the inspiration behind his vision for the proposed project. Agarwal’s idea to build a university stemmed from his visit to the United States several years ago, where he was impressed by the efficiency, entrepreneurship quality, and grand vision of the education system.

Agarwal emphasized the historical prominence of Indian universities like Nalanda and Takshashila, where students from around the world sought education 1,600 years ago. In contrast, he lamented the current scenario where numerous Indian students go abroad for higher education, estimating that by 2024, around $80 billion of foreign exchange will be spent by Indian students studying overseas.

The Vedanta chairman envisioned a university with a special focus on liberal arts, medicine, and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, he aspired to allocate 30% of student admissions with either subsidized fees or no fees at all. Agarwal committed $1 billion from his own resources for the university and pledged to raise an additional $2 billion from other sources.

To lead ‘Vedanta University’ in Odisha’s Puri, Agarwal appointed renowned academic William Chace, the President of Emory University in the US.

Expressing disappointment about being unable to realize his dream due to legal challenges, Agarwal acknowledged recent education reforms in the country and saw an opportunity to transform the university into a digital institution. He expressed hope to witness the realization of his vision and concluded his post with the question, “Kya aap mere saath hain?” (Are you there with me?).

Agarwal also shared a video illustrating his dream for the university.