Higher education in India to get global touch

‘1.46 crore students study in 600 universities, 32,000 colleges’

Deputy director general of Union higher education department Vijay P Goel said the government was making efforts to bring about major changes in course structure and content to make courses relevant, keeping in view global perspective.

Delivering the fifth graduates day address at JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science here on Saturday, he said attempts were on to establish a National Commission for Higher Education; to set up inter-university centres with sophisticated analytical facility; to set up exclusive management information system and to transform academic staff colleges into faculty development centres.

He pointed out that 1.46 crore students were studying in 600 universities or university level institutions and 32,000 colleges — comprising around six lakh faculty members.

“A number of measures were taken to enhance the quality of higher education during the XI Five Year Plan period, the efforts would continue even during the XII Plan period. The foreign education institutions (regulation and entry operations) bill and higher education and research bill would be introduced in the Parliament soon,” he said.

Stressing on the employability of graduates and postgraduates, Goel said attention is being given to the area of vocationalisation of higher education.

“The Universities Grants Commission has prepared a document on higher education ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Expansion of Higher Education’ to give insight into the sector. It states that ‘Access, Equity and Excellence’ have been realised due to concerted efforts,” he said.

Calling upon the students to acquire the art of using knowledge and skills not only to make one’s life good but also for the greater good of the society, he stressed on the ‘real education’ one gets after passing out of educational institutions.

Three toppers each in each of the five degree level and five PG level courses were honoured on the occasion. The toppers got cash prizes also.

Principal B V Sambashivaiah, deputy secretary of JSS Mahavidyapeeth S P Manjunath, director of education T D Subbanna, S Kumar and S Shivakumaraswamy were present on the occasion.

Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/285173/higher-education-india-get-global.html