The University of Oxford on Monday expressed its keenness to enrol more students from India on its campuses. "We are keen to increase the number of students from India," said Chancellor Chris Patten. He was speaking at a conference on globalisation here which was attended by Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

The conference was jointly organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Said Business School.

The university is conferring an honorary doctorate on Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Nath and other Indian delegates were ushered in the Nelson Mandela Lecture Hall amid Bhangra beats. "Oxford never understates its welcome," said Patten. "Oxford programmes offer the best exposure to Indian students. We want to build on this relationship," said FICCI Secretary General Amit Mitra.

Underlining India's importance as one of the fastest growing economies in the world and an influential player in the World Trade Organisation, Patten equated Nath with the US President Bush in terms of being hosted by the United Kingdom.

Fields like Business Administration, Civil Law, Development Studies, Financial Economics, Bio-Chemistry and Engineering Science are favourites with Indian students. About 54 of them have won various scholarships, including the Clarendon Fund and Rhodes Scholarships.

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