In consultation with the industries, the universities should introduce professional courses to meet their demands.
Despite having limited resources, State Government will provide all possible financial assistances to the universities if they implement such a programme sincerely, said Uttarakhand Higher Education Minister Dr Indira Hridayesh while interacting with the vice- chancellors of State-based universities at Doon University campus, Dehradun on Saturday. She appealed to the VCs to take measures to improve the level of education being provided to the students. Knowledge is power and they should work hard to make the universities storehouses of power.
She laid emphasis on improving the quality of construction related infrastructures, research and training, books, journals, faculties, professional curriculum in colleges and universities under central sponsored scheme Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). In this regard, a proposal of Rs64.48 crores has been approved RUSA by the Central Government for the year 2014-15. Rs2.49 crores have been approved for the enhancement of Academic Staff College in Kumaon University Nainital.
University should select their faculties based on their specialisation on particular areas. Uttarakhand should be developed as education hub in consultation with the well-known universities of the country. She would convene a meeting with college principals and industrialists on December 29. She assured that the State Government would provide scholarship for students of private universities as proposed by the private university VCs.
Higher Education Secretary RK Sudhanshu said due to the shortcoming in education system, particularly in the realm of higher education, problems are cropping up when it comes to develop industry courses based on employment. Such courses would help the students to get jobs in the industries on completing their technical education. A lot of works need to be done in this direction. It has been observed that the universities do not have branch for research and planning. If somewhere it exists, it is not properly exhibited. He expressed disappointment over the level of education presently being provided to the students in the universities.
Kumaon University VC Prof HS Dhami, Sri Dev Suman University VC Prof U S Rawat, Uttarakhand Open University VC Subhash Dhuliya, DIT Pro Vice Chancellor KK Rana, Uttarakhand Sanskrit University Dr Mahavir Aggarwal, VK Tiwari and Sanjay Jasola from Graphic Era University were among those present on the occasion.