Ahmedabad University to go ahead with ‘concrete jungle’ plans

Venture Studio - Ahmedabad University's (AU) new educational centre - is set to commence courses from October 1. This new educational endeavour is being touted as a centre for innovative business design. However, the flipside is that this and many such proposed buildings would be constructed on the current cricket ground of LD Arts College and MG Science College on the KL campus.

Earlier in July, AU's board of management chairman, Prafull Anubhai had announced the university's expansion plans. "AU plans to set up 12 schools (institutes) providing education to 22,000 students. Of these, 15,890 will be students of diploma and undergraduate programmes while 5,500 will be students of courses leading to a masters' degree. Around 350 students will be registered for the doctoral programmes," he had said then. AU has a large land bank of around 250 acres. In the first phase of expansion, the university plans to construct buildings over 70 acres.

The aforementioned grounds and lush green surroundings of Navrangpura will soon the setting for a 'concrete jungle' housing AU's proposed expansions including a school of humanities and liberal arts; a school of science and technology with four sub-schools, namely, life sciences, physical sciences, ICT and engineering technology; a centre for heritage and management; and Venture Studio. The grounds will also house a canteen, a library and other facilities for students.

Venture Studio is all set to offer a product and business creation opportunity through a full-time six-month fellowship programme for entrepreneurs, engineers, innovators and designers to learn and practice designing in their own companies.