The GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, was awarded Governor’s Best University Award by the Governor of Uttarakhand, KK Paul at a meeting on higher education held at the State Secretariat on Tuesday. The Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University, Mangala Rai received the trophy from the governor which carries a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for library of the University.
To promote qualitative improvement in Higher education in the state, the governor has conceptualised the award in which top four universities of the State would be felicitated every year. The second place was awarded to the Kumaon University, Nainital while third and fourth place went to Doon University Dehradun and Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) respectively. The University placed second got a cash reward of Rs 75,000, University placed third received a prize of Rs 50,000 while Rs 25,000 were handed over to the University placed on the fourth position.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that competitive spirit would help in improving academic excellence and new achievements in field of research in the Universities of the State. He hoped that the Universities of the State would get recognitions at national and international level and students of these institutions would help in nation building. Dr Paul complimented the VCs and hoped that they would infuse more improvements in their institution.
The award is part of the Governor’s endeavor to improve academic standards in the universities of the state and make the state a model for higher education.
For the award the universities are graded on 16 standards which included National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) score, smart campus, research publications, Patents registered, schedule of convocation, time table of examination and their results, status of 12 B of University Grants Commission (UGC) and grants received, ratio of student and teachers, tutorial status, status report of the villages adopted, creation of centre of excellence and coordination with industry for training and employment generation. In the meeting the Vice Chancellors of all the Universities and top officials of higher education department participated.