Higher and Technical Education Minister Umashankar Gupta has extended best wishes to all principals, professors, assistant professors and other staff on beginning of new academic session. He said that higher education institutions should see to it that under changed circumstances, not only educated, but also self-reliant youths come out of educational institutions.
Gupta said that this session will also be the year of personality development achievements for college and university students apart from academic excellence. Modern scientific and technical methods of learning and teaching should be promoted. Current syllabi should be improved and updated as per present requirements.
Gupta said that progress is very vital. “But it does not mean that we shy away from this country’s culture and traditions”, he said.
He also said that in this session, the Government has included lessons on moral values in courses and personality development cells have been constituted to ensure all –round personality development of students. The cells will deliver inspirational lectures to students in every college.
The Higher Education Minister said that online admissions have been given in colleges during last 2 years. This exercise has resulted in increase of enrolments in colleges and through it SC, ST, backward class and rural area students have been able to choose best colleges of their choice. It has brought about transparency in admission process. This apart, efforts have been made to connect rural area students with colleges under “Aao College Chalen Abhiyan”.
Gupta said that during Quality Year and Quality Extension Year, works have been undertaken like visits of ambassador-professors, constitution of talent-banks, language improvement programme for Hindi and English, zero classes at beginning of session, students charter, publication of newsletters in colleges, e-newsletter issued from directorate level and delivering of lectures by experts in virtual classes. NAAC is undertaking evaluation of colleges.
He said that process is underway for qualitative development and change in higher education. The Higher Education Minister said that any suggestions regarding this can be mailed to him directly or through academic section.The Higher Education Minister expressed hope and confidence that entire staff will play an important role in future-building of students. Through united efforts, the degree holder students’ faces will be lit up with smiles and self-confidence, he added.