Noted journalist Hari Jaisingh on Friday underscored the need for freedom in academic field while stressing on the need to reorient the system to meet the changing needs of society and the expectations of youths.
Those associated with the academic world must feel free to raise inconvenient questions and issues without fear, he said while delivering the eighth foundation day lecture at the SOA University here.
The scribe further suggested that the Government should explore the possibility of setting up rural universities to meet the aspirations of rural youths. Referring several controversies erupted in institutions over appointment of people with leaning towards certain political ideology, Jaisingh said high-profile positions in academic institutions should be decided on merit when there is no dearth of talent.
University Vice-Chancellor Prof Amit Banerjee presided over the function, where university’s Deputy Chairman Prof BK Sarap and Director (Research) Prof PK Dash were felicitated for their contributions to the university’s growth. Besides, two faculty members, Smruti Ranjan Mohanty and Pamela Satpathy, were felicitated for their success in the civil services examination, recently.