Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday sought to dispel fears about faculties of Indian universities joining foreign institutes after they set campuses here. "I know my faculty is patriotic and passionate about India and I know my faculty will not sell their conscience for a little bit of money," he said.

"Had it been the case, the faculties would have been picked up by Stanford and Harvard even today. But it has not happened," Sibal said at an international education seminar, organised by the Assocham here.

He said even private universities operating in India, which have the capability of paying huge money to teachers, have not affected the faculty working in elite institutions like IITs and IIMs and government universities. "The freedom to do research work and benefits available in IITs and other universities cannot be matched anywhere else," Sibal said in reply to a question that the foreign institutions may offer fat packages and take faculty from the India's elite institutions.

While not expecting Stanford and Harvard to come to India, he said it does not mean low-grade universities will be allowed. "The National Accreditation Authority will assess all the educational institutions. The foreign universities will also go through the same process before setting up campuses here. And if not found good enough, they will not be allowed." He also said that the foreign universities will not be given any undue favour.