Central Varsities need lead Education Transformation: President

New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee Wednesday said central universities had the responsibility to lead the "transformative processes" of India's higher education system.

Speaking at a conference of vice chancellors of central universities, the president stressed the need to recognise global trends that are likely to bring "sweeping changes" in higher education and the need to imbue young minds with competitive spirit.

"It is important to recognise emerging global trends which are likely to bring sweeping changes in higher education worldwide," he said during the conference held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

"Rising costs of higher education and the changing profile of education seekers, aided by technological innovation are leading to the creation of alternative models of knowledge dispensation."

"Central universities have the responsibility to lead the transformative processes of India's higher education system," he added.

This is the third such conference convened by the president since assuming the office.

The vice chancellors of 40 central universities, to which the president is the visitor, participated in the conference. Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani also attended.

Stating that students passing out from the country's higher education system would have to compete with the best in the world, Mukherjee said there was a need to "imbue young minds with competitive spirit and a sense of pride in their alma mater".

"In addition to international rankings, the universities should attempt ratings on a National Ranking Framework which needs to be expeditiously developed," he said.

Noting that the vacancy position in the central universities was "alarmingly high", Mukherjee said that the non-availability of the visitor's nominees in the selection committee of faculty had been addressed.

"In terms of percentage, vacancies have increased from 37.3 percent as on March 31, 2013, to only 38.4 percent as on Dec 1, 2014...Each central university will now have a panel of five names of nominees who can be called as per extant instructions," he said.

"Efforts aimed at engagement of central universities with industry and alumni need far greater focus and direction than at present."

Only four universities have so far established centres of excellence while another five are working towards these.

Mukherjee also said that particular emphasis needs to be provided by Indian higher learning institutions on the "inculcation of core values in our students".

"Our civilisation has championed patriotism, pluralism, tolerance, honesty and discipline. Our democracy has thrived on these values," he said, adding that the next generation "must learn to recognise our diversity, inclusiveness and assimilative capacities as inherent sources of strength".

"... Teachers must encourage the taught to satiate their curiosity, question established knowledge, accept a proposition only after investigation, and pursue ingenuity."

He said a scientific temper, which takes one's imagination beyond the realm of grades and classroom, "is essential in our students".

"In particular, the habit of reading and learning through books must be inculcated to sharpen their energetic and inquisitive minds. Books also break societal and cultural barriers," the president added.