Singapore will design, build and donate a state-of-the-art library, estimated to cost US$5-7 million (S$6.2-8.7 million), to the upcoming Nalanda International University in Bihar.
This was revealed by Singapore's former foreign minister George Yeo.
Mr Yeo leads the international advisory panel for raising funds for the university. He said the board, led by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen, had approved Singapore's proposal. "People of Singapore are upbeat and keen on making their contribution to the university project," added Mr Yeo.
India's external affairs minister Salman Khurshid has also offered funds. He said a special provision of funds will be made in India's upcoming budget for the university.
Many countries, including Singapore, China, Thailand and Japan, have showed keen interest in helping the university that had existed till 1197 and at its heyday was once home to over 10,000 international students and scholars from Korea, China, Japan, Persia and Turkey. It was the centre of higher learning in Bihar then and had been supported by patronage from the Hindu Gupta rulers as well as Buddhist emperors. The ruins of the university still remain on site and Professor Sen has urged for the site to be included in the UNESCO heritage list.
The project to rebuild this ancient university was an initiative of India's former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2006. According to the board's plans, the university will be built on a vast area of 446 acres in Rajgir, 10km from the site of the ancient Nalanda University located in south-east Patna.
Eight architectural companies, six from abroad and two Indian companies, have shown interest in designing the university and have already submitted their proposals to the board. The vice-chancellor of Nalanda University Dr Gopa Sabharwal said the short-listed firms would be called to make their presentation by April.
The new Nalanda International University will offer residency facilities to students and teachers, much like its predecessor, and offer courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with social sciences.
The university is set to begin academic activities from the 2013-14 session from rented premises with two subjects - historical studies and environment and ecological studies.
Prof Sen who is also the university's chancellor said: "There has been some delay but things will be back on schedule. The two faculties with which we will start the academic session are the School of Historical Studies and Archaeology and Environmental Studies and Ecology."
This was revealed by Singapore's former foreign minister George Yeo.
Mr Yeo leads the international advisory panel for raising funds for the university. He said the board, led by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen, had approved Singapore's proposal. "People of Singapore are upbeat and keen on making their contribution to the university project," added Mr Yeo.
India's external affairs minister Salman Khurshid has also offered funds. He said a special provision of funds will be made in India's upcoming budget for the university.
Many countries, including Singapore, China, Thailand and Japan, have showed keen interest in helping the university that had existed till 1197 and at its heyday was once home to over 10,000 international students and scholars from Korea, China, Japan, Persia and Turkey. It was the centre of higher learning in Bihar then and had been supported by patronage from the Hindu Gupta rulers as well as Buddhist emperors. The ruins of the university still remain on site and Professor Sen has urged for the site to be included in the UNESCO heritage list.
The project to rebuild this ancient university was an initiative of India's former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2006. According to the board's plans, the university will be built on a vast area of 446 acres in Rajgir, 10km from the site of the ancient Nalanda University located in south-east Patna.
Eight architectural companies, six from abroad and two Indian companies, have shown interest in designing the university and have already submitted their proposals to the board. The vice-chancellor of Nalanda University Dr Gopa Sabharwal said the short-listed firms would be called to make their presentation by April.
The new Nalanda International University will offer residency facilities to students and teachers, much like its predecessor, and offer courses in science, philosophy and spiritualism along with social sciences.
The university is set to begin academic activities from the 2013-14 session from rented premises with two subjects - historical studies and environment and ecological studies.
Prof Sen who is also the university's chancellor said: "There has been some delay but things will be back on schedule. The two faculties with which we will start the academic session are the School of Historical Studies and Archaeology and Environmental Studies and Ecology."
