1 December, 2008 - By the next academic session, Bhutanese class XII graduates can look forward to study in the country’s first private college. The Royal Thimphu College is all set to open in July 2009 with more options in terms of seats and courses.
Spread over a 25-acre area in Nagbephu, about 10 km from Thimphu town, Royal Thimphu College will accommodate 300 students in the first year. The chief executive of the college, Tenzin Younten, said that the college will offer courses in computer applications, business administration, commerce and, art degrees ranging from English and environmental studies to sociology and political science.
The college is one of the constituent colleges of the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) after a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the RUB, department of education and the promoter, Her Royal Highness Ashi Kezang Wangmo Wangchuck on May 11, 2007.
An education official said that, though RUB is expanding, it is under a lot of pressure to increase its intake with the increasing number of students graduating high school every year. He said that such private participation would definitely ease the pressure.
Tenzin Younten said that admissions for the college would start soon after the declaration of Class XII results in early 2009. The faculty recruitment for Bhutanese teachers will begin in December, while recruitment of foreign teachers will start in January. He also said that the college aims at having about 70 highly qualified and experienced national and international faculty members.
“The first phase of the construction of the college facilities is complete and we’re very much on track to open the college in July,” he said. He said that, when fully constructed, the campus would have 34 buildings, which include a library and IT centre, eight residential hostels for 500 students, football ground, multipurpose hall and other facilities. “We are planning to accommodate 900 students by 2011,” he said.
Asked about the admission fees, the chief executive said that they have submitted a range to the education ministry to consider. “We’re targeting comparable colleges in India, especially the south Indian colleges,” he said.
Tenzin Younten said that they had submitted their interest to the education ministry in 2006, followed by a detailed project proposal in February 2007.
“The physical aspect of the college is done and now we’re working on curriculum and institutional development,” he said.
By Phuntsho Choden
phuntshochoden@kuensel.com.bt
http://www.kuenselonline.com/
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