Vice Chancellors of 31 Central universities are going to attend an interactive review meeting with the newly-appointed Union Minister of Human Resource and Development (HRD) Prakash Javadeker with “high expectations” at Banaras Hindu University on Thursday.
“The expectations are high... this is going to be review meeting where he is going to take stock of the future of universities. Our prime focus would be academics. We are happy to have this kind of exercise where all the Vice Chancellors will get the opportunity to interact with each other and exchange ideas,” Vice Chancellor of the Delhi University, Yogesh Tyagi told The Pioneer.
Javadeker replaced former HRD minister Smriti Irani after she completed two years.
A few days ago, Javadeker had visited Jamia Millia Islamia, a minority institution.
Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Professor Talat Ahmad said, “He would suggest the new Minister to support the university with more funds, as it aspires to introduce more departments.
“Our priority is to establish department of Disaster Management…We would want him to support our centres… and create more positions within the varsity,” he said.
Since Javadeker has taken over as the HRD minister, no controversy has unfolded in any campus so far.
Officials from HRD told The Pioneer that the Minister has been trying keenly to take “all the stakeholders into confidence”. “He has been very active since he took over. His reach is far better.”
At Jamia, Javadeker had said the Modi Government was focused in providing education of girls across the country. He said “only if women progress, a nation progresses.”