Inaugurating the 88th national Vice-Chancellors’ Conference of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) at the KIIT University here on Tuesday, Governor SC Jamir called for qualitative improvement in the standard of higher education in the country.
Over 500 Vice-Chancellors from various universities of the country as well as senior functionaries of apex bodies like the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and the Ministry of Human Resource Development attended the meet.
It also saw important personalities like UGC Vice Chairman Prof H Devraj, AIU President Prof Rajendra B lal, Vice President Dr HM Desai, Secretary General Prof DS Chauhan, KIIT and KISS founder Dr A Samanta and KIIT University Chancellor Prof Nl Mitra.
The Governor lamented that none of the Indian universities figures in the top 200 universities of the world. Only about 11 per cent of our colleges are in 'A' grade, whereas 71 per cent are placed in 'B' grade as per the latest assessment by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the Governor informed. He appreciated the theme of the conference — 'Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)' and said that it will provide wide scope for exchange of views and ideas on this flagship programme of the Government which is designed to transform higher education in the country.
Prof Devraj praised the beautiful campus of the KIIT University and congratulated its founder Dr Samanta’s efforts. Saying that the UGC has always laid importance on quality education, he invited the educationists and academicians to think of ways to make higher education more qualitative.
Prof Mitra said universities are a link between future and past. There should be integration between external and internal education. He suggested proper training for the Vice Chancellors, when they shift from academy to administration.
Dr Samanta said after organising the prestigious Indian Science Congress, Eurasian Silk Road Consortium and many more national and international events successfully, the KIIT is proud to host the Vice-Chancellors' meet. Such events bring pride to Odisha nationally and internationally, he stated. KIIT VC Prof PP Mathur also spoke.
Notably, Odisha is hosting the prestigious meet after a long gap of 67 years. It was held in the erstwhile Ravenshaw College in 1947 last.