The universities should move towards economic self-reliance by promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship and commercialization of research and innovations, stated Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla while presiding over a meeting with Vice Chancellors of six government universities of the State at Raj Bhawan, Shimla.
The Governor said that the universities must continue to strive towards excellence, ensuring that the education we provide was not just robust in content, but also relevant to the evolving demands of the global landscape. He added that it was imperative that our curriculum was continuously updated to reflect the latest advancements in various fields. “We must emphasise on holistic development to equip our students not only with academic knowledge but also with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills to assist them to excel in life,” he said.
The digitisation of universities was not merely optional but necessary. We must work towards creating smart campuses where technology seamlessly integrates with education, said the Governor. He added that from online learning platforms to digital libraries and administration, the adoption of these tools would be crucial in maintaining the competitive edge of our universities.
While speaking on Self-Reliance in Economic Resources, he said that developing partnerships with industries, enhancing alumni networks, and creating endowment funds were strategies that could help our universities generate sustainable income. He said that fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among students and faculty, could lead to the commercialization of research and innovations further contributing to the economic self-reliance of our institutions.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur who was present on the occasion said that the State Government was determined to bring qualitative improvement in education and many important decisions were being taken in this direction. He said that educational institutions in the State were being developed as ‘Cluster of Educational Institutions’ in a phased manner according to predetermined parameters. He said that the State Government was spending Rs. 9.56 crore in the education sector.
He said that the enrolment in government schools has decreased and efforts were being made to improve it. He said that Agriculture and Horticulture Universities of the State could provide more support to the farmers and orchardists with enhanced technology and innovations so as to increase the productivity of their crops.
Earlier, Rajesh Sharma, Secretary to the Governor welcomed the Governor and other dignitaries and gave a detailed presentation on Concerns and priorities in higher Education etc. Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary Education also briefed about the steps being taken by the State Government in improving quality education in the State.
Prof. S.P. Bansal, VC, HPU, Shimla, Prof Rajeshwar Chandel, VC, Nauni University, Prof. Lalit Kumar Awasthy, Sardar Patel University, Mandi, Prof. Shashi Dhiman, VC, HP Technical University, Hamirpur, Dr. Surender Kashyap, Atal Medical University, Mandi and Dr. Naveen Kumar, Agriculture University, Palampur also gave their valuable inputs through power point presentation.
