International Sports University in Pune To Produce Experts In The Field of Sports – Sports Minister
Pune, December 25: Following international standards in any field is the new basic and it won’t be any different for the International Sports University, Maharashtra, to be set up at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex at Mhalunge – Balewadi, said state Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sunil Kedar while addressing the media in Pune today. He was in Pune to interact with the sports fraternity with an intention to take their suggestions for this first of its kind International Sports University. He said ISU will aim to prepare talented young force, which will help the state and the country become a superpower in the field of sports.
“Today, competition at the world level is the new basic. It is the prime aim of any sportsperson to compete at the international level. We have similar expectations from the International Sports University. We are aiming to create a place with facilities of international standards, where students will get expertise in the field of sports and then help our state and country become a force to reckon with in the future,” he added.
The minister said that the idea of forming an International Sports University was unanimously passed by the lawmakers in the state. “There is no political hindrance in this project. The idea was approved, appreciated and passed by all the members of the house unanimously.”
When asked why the government preferred to set up the university in Pune and not in any other part of the state, the honorable minister said Balewadi’s ready infrastructure and sports culture in the city was the biggest reason to pick Pune as the preferred centre. “To establish a university, you need to create infrastructure. If we set it up in some other city, we will have to spend a huge amount only on creating the infrastructure. It will not only require more money, but also require more time and approvals. We have a very good infrastructure ready here, all we have to do is to plan and start the academics here. Moreover, Pune has a rich sports culture and we hope the International Sports University will benefit the city and vice versa.”
The International Sports University will also offer its students an opportunity to learn from international experts in the field. “We have given a provision of students exchange program along with a special permission of inviting international experts to educate the students at the university. This will give our students a broader perspective in the field of sports,” the minister said.
Sports Commissioner Omprakash Bakoria said the sports department is in talks with prestigious institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Management for possible tie-ups. “We have written to IIT, Mumbai, and IIM, Ahmedabad, for a possibility of tie-ups with them. We are looking to get expertise from these prime institutes for our courses like Sports Technology, Sports Governance and Sports Management,” Bakoria said.
The university will also help the students for placements. “We will be meeting corporates associated with the field of sports. We will meet companies like Nike, Reebok and other sports manufacturers so that our students get jobs in these companies when they complete the course,” the sports commissioner added.
The honorable minister said the university will start operations from the 2021-2022 academic year. The University will offer various courses including Physical & Sports Education, Sports Sciences & Sports Medicine, Sports Technology, Sports Governance, Sports Management, Sports Media and Communication, Sports Coaching and Training. In the first phase, 3 years program in sports science and sports technology shall be started along with a 3 months program in sports coaching and training. The intake capacity for each course would be 50 students.
