KOZHIKODE: With twelve years into training graduates from the backward sections across the nation, Centre for Research and Education for Social Transformation (CREST), the city-based institution is all set to have its exclusive campus near Cyber Park. With the state government sanctioning Rs 15 crore for the building complex, the blueprint is taking shape. CREST director D. D. Namboothiri told DC that they hope to complete the construction in a year or so.
“Once it is over, we would be able to accommodate more students from the backward communities for the life skills training and other empowerment programmes," he said. Now functioning on the KIRTADS campus at Chevarambalam, CREST has proved its success in empowering the youngsters from the marginalised sections, assisting them to bag respectable jobs, improve living conditions and pursue goals with better pace and confidence.
“We are in the final discussion, and the masterplan is getting finishing touches,” he said. "It's a long, long dream to own a campus of our own." CREST has been training students and professionals of NITs, IITs and from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi. So far CREST had prepared a thousand candidates in 24 batches, besides the faculty of elite educational institutions. Rechristened in 2008 as CREST, the institution was an active presence in the arena of training since 2002. Named ‘Centre of Excellence’ earlier, it was an extended training arm of Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode.
