Mini Joseph Tejaswi for TNN

Bangalore, Jul 12: Microsoft Corporation has chosen the city for its first-ever exclusive and independent educational venture in the world. The company will set up a university in the city to impart high-end computer education. The university may well be India's first run by a multinational company.

The varsity is expected to contribute greatly towards building a pipeline of billable tech talent in the country. To start with, the university may train around 1,000 students.

A couple of months ago, a team from Microsoft approached the Karnataka government with a proposal for the varsity here. The team conducted another project presentation at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, US.

"Microsoft will now come back with a formal request and proposal with details on the project outlay, land required to set up the university, via-media (a society, trust or another alternative entity) to enter the country's education industry as a direct partner, courses to be offered, number of students to be trained and the nature of Microsoft's contribution to manpower development in the country," said a source.

IT/BT secretary M N Vidyashankar told TOI: "Negotiations are on. Microsoft is in the process of drawing up a road map and deciding on the via media for the project. Ultimately, the high level co-ordination committee headed by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy will evaluate the project and take a final decision."

Microsoft will also require clearances from the HRD ministry and the UGC. Microsoft has a special focus on higher education initiatives in China.

"However, India will be the first country where it would have a wholly-owned university," sources said.