Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today said that Goa is open to international universities establishing campuses in the State, positioning Goa as an emerging hub for higher education.
He was speaking at the inauguration of Parul University at Quepem, Goa’s first private university, which has commenced operations with 509 students across 13 programs, of which 75% are Goans. Sawant said the new institution will help local students pursue higher education within Goa while also creating employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister added that two more private universities have already been approved, taking the total to three.
“If Goa didn’t have Parul University, students would have had to go outside. This marks the beginning of a new era. The private university will benefit students and revive the economy,” he said.
Sawant stressed that the new university will reduce the need for Goan students to pursue education outside the State, while also creating local employment and boosting the economy. “This marks the beginning of a new era for Goa’s higher education,” he said.
The Chief Minister of Goa in his speech at the Official Inauguration also mentioned —-All dignitaries acknowledged the increasing role of the university in the development of the educational and healthcare system of the state, as it helps to develop local talent and prepares students to work in the world.
“Their words of encouragement were a great testimony in the form of the difference the university has already made and the additional responsibilities it will take in the next few years,” he added
Governor of Goa Ashok Gajapathi Raju has given his assent to an amendment to the Goa Private Universities Act, paving the way for private universities to operate transitional off-campus centres during their initial establishment phase.
The amendment, which was passed in the State Assembly on July 31, 2025, received the Governor’s assent on September 11. According to the government, the provision is aimed at expediting the setup of private universities in Goa by allowing them to begin operations while their main campuses are still under development.
The Opposition, however, had strongly objected to the bill during its passage, warning that such a clause could open the door to “fly-by-night operators” establishing temporary setups without long-term commitment to quality education in the State.
With the assent now granted, the government is expected to notify rules to operationalize the provision in the coming weeks.
