Gujrat chief minister Mr. Narendra Modi today said that Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) would emerge as one of the top ten universities in the world in the shortest possible time. He was speaking at the inaugural function of the University at Raisan village near Gandhinagar.

The Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University has been promoted by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation’s Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute. The University is expected to set benchmarks in higher education and help India emerge as a global human resources hub in the energy sector.

Mr. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Industries and President PDPU, said on the occasion that the University was a shining example of the PPP (public-private partnership) model and praised the visionary leadership of Mr Modi for conceptualizing the university three years ago. “At that time, few would have expected the energy sector would soon face the acute talent crunch we are experiencing now,” said Mr Ambani.

"I believe that Gujarat in 10 years will be known for producing world-class petroleum technology and management talent, most of which will come from the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University," said Mr. Ambani, President of the University and Chairman of its Board of Governors.

The overall shortfall in petro-technical workforce is expected to increase to around 30,000 in the year 2012. The current E&P petro-technical workforce is estimated at around 375,000, according to the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Mr Modi said that it was proposed that the university will soon start courses in nuclear and solar energy as well.

Among the Board of Governors of the University are: Mr Mukesh Ambani (Chairman), Subir Raha, former ONGC Chairman and present Executive Vice Chairman, Hinduja Group, Sudhir Mehta, Chairman, Torrent Group, Vikram Singh Mehta, Chairman, Shell Group India, Mr. K. V. Kamath, Managing Director and CEO, ICICI Bank Limited, Pallavi S Shroff, Senior Partner, Amarchand & Mangaldas, Dr. R.A. Mashelkar, Former Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr. Bakul H. Dholakia, former Director, IIM, Ahmedabad, Ms Vijayalakshmi Joshi, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Energy, Government of Gujarat, Mr. D. J. Pandian Managing Director, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited, P. Panneervel, IAS, Principal Secretary, Higher & Technical Education, Government of Gujarat, Phase 1 of the university is set up on 50 acres of land provided by the Gujarat government, which has further committed another 250 acres of land for the expansion of the project.

The university is already functional and offers the following courses- MBA in Petroleum management and B tech in Petroleum Engineering.

- End -

For further details on the university kindly log on to www.PDPU.ac.in
For AdfactorsPR: JSSai (9821057181)/ Mr. Rohan Sukhatankar (09820401304)