Assam Govt Grants ‘Letter Of Intent’ To Salesians To Launch Don Bosco University

NEW DELHI, APR. 01, 2008, 09.30 Hrs (CBCI News):

The Govt of Assam has issued the Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Don Bosco Educational Society of India to launch the Don Bosco University in Guwahati, capital of Assam.

The vision of Don Bosco University is to mould young persons into intellectually competent, morally upright, socially committed and spiritually inspired citizens at the service of India and the world of today and tomorrow, by imparting holistic and personalised education.

Guided by this vision and leveraging its century-old expertise in education in India and abroad, Don Bosco University is envisaged to be a centre of excellence in study and research focussing on: providing easier access to higher education for the under-privileged, harmonizing technical excellence with human and religious values and employment-oriented courses in emerging areas of contemporary technology and service.

After over a century of quality service at the college and school levels, the Don Bosco Educational Society of India has announced plans to enter the field of higher education, particularly in the University system.

The Assam Private Universities Act, 2007, passed by the Assam government in May 2007 offered an opportunity for such a venture: the setting up of Don Bosco University at Guwahati.

The proposal of the Salesians of Don Bosco to set up a private University was examined by the Expert Committee which was constituted by the Government of Assam for the purpose; and, as recommended by the Committee, the government has issued the LOI to establish the University.

The final step would be the passing of the Don Bosco University Act by the Legislative Assembly of Assam which is also expected to be completed in the current session.

Don Bosco Society, known as ‘The Salesians of Don Bosco’, was founded by St. John Bosco (1815 – 1888), an eminent educationist in Italy. A Religious Order of the Catholic Church, the society has over 32,000 members working in 132 countries.

Through a global network of educational and social service organizations which include 14 universities, 58 institutions of higher education and thousands of schools and social development centres it caters to the less privileged and marginalised sections of society.

In view of its reach and expertise in the field of education, catering to over nine million young people currently the world over, the Society enjoys consultancy status at the United Nations.

In India, the Salesians of Don Bosco began their operations way back in 1906.

From a small beginning with a trade school and a hostel for poor children at Thanjavoor, Tamil Nadu, the Society today has over 5000 members (Fathers, Sisters and Brothers). Its services are offered through 25 colleges, over 100 technical schools, and a large network of high schools and scores of non-formal technical and agricultural training centres, spread across the country, covering the entire spectrum of social development.

The society is also involved in literacy centres, shelters for street children and rehabilitation and relief operations. The government of India has recognised the Salesians of Don Bosco as the largest non-governmental provider of technical education in the country. disadvantaged, to bring about their positive transformation.