The Coimbatore office of the Panama-based Dr APJ Abdul Kalam University was inaugurated today by Puducherry Minister of Revenue, Transport, Industries and Commerce MOHF Shajahan Maricar.

The varsity is funded by the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam University Foundation and offers research programmes in almost 70 streams, excluding medicine and law.

Maricar in his inaugural address said, “India needs more research and development institutions like these. India has largest young population in the world now and universities should be centres were students get moulded.”

Varsity Chancellor Dr Subramanion said the university had three-year doctorate programmes. The curriculum for this programme with 15 papers could be quite tough for Indian students. “The university also allows inter-disciplinary research and students can apply for the research without a supervisor and a guide,” he added.