PTI

Mumbai, Jan 1:  A US university has shown interest in setting up an "American-style University" near Mumbai ahead of a move by the government to allow the entry of foreign varsities to the country.

A team from the Washington-based American University will visit Delhi and Mumbai next month to evaluate Indian business group Akruti Nirman's proposal to set up the university near the country's financial capital, said P M Bhargava, Vice- Chairman of the National Knowledge Commission (NKC).

The American University (AU) has written a letter to the NKC, which works to improve education, about its interest in helping Akruti Nirman set up a private "American-style university" and sought an appointment with authorities in Delhi, Bhargava told media.

A delegation led by American University's Assistant Vice President for International Affairs Robert Pator will visit Delhi and Mumbai in the second week of January.

"American University has some experience in this area, having already helped to set up such universities in Sharjah UAE and in Nigeria," the AU letter said.

"This is an exciting proposal, and we intend to evaluate whether AU could play a role in the project. We would like to obtain the opinion of various parts of the education sector about the feasibility and usefulness of projects such as this, and, indeed, of the overall trends in higher education in India today," it said.

Bhargava, however, has informed AU officials that he would be "tied up" at the time of their visit and would be unable to meet them. A group of ministers has reportedly finalized a draft legislation on allowing the entry of foreign varsities.