Vedanta University: Building a 100,000 Student Top Level Research Institution from Scratch

Philip G. Altbach is quite pessimistic about Vedanta University's chances. Ouch:

The latest grandiose and probably unrealistic idea for establishing a world-class university is Anil Agarwal's Vedanta University, which is planned to be opened in 2008 in the state of Orissa, India. Mining magnate Agarwal has pledged an initial $1 billion for this project. International architects have been hired, the authorities in Orissa are on board, and a group of academic leaders is being hired from around the world. The idea is to create a university with 100,000 students, offering degrees in the major fields and stressing an interdisciplinary approach. While the details of the university's organization have not been revealed, it is intended to look like Harvard and Stanford. While it is always a good deed when one of the world's richest men takes an interest in higher education, it is unlikely that Vedanta University will achieve the desired results, no matter how much money Mr. Agarwal spends on it.