Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Education is international commodity: former VC

Staff Reporter

`A prospective student is prepared to study anywhere'

COIMBATORE: At the higher levels, education has become an `internationally traded commodity', the former Vice-Chancellor, Dravidian University P.V. Arunachalam said.

Technology convergence

"With the advancement of information and communication technologies, and also due to the convergence of technologies, any university on the globe can offer its education to any person of any country.

A prospective student is aware of the availability of quality education and is prepared to go and study anywhere," he said, in his convocation address at the V.L.B. Janakiammal College of Arts and Science.

Situation changes

In ancient times, tradition had been the defining element of education. Religion had taken the place of tradition and the situation had continued for several centuries until reason had taken its place.

With the emergence of a knowledge society, the situation had changed again. Quality had become the defining element in education.

The ability to convert knowledge into value, wealth and social utility through innovation would determine the success of individuals, societies and the nation. Knowledge had superseded land, labour and capital to create wealth and improve the quality of life in the knowledge society.

Virtual reality

Intellectual assets were exchanged on the Internet in a world of virtual reality. Search engines could give almost instantaneous access to information from hundreds of reference documents. Libraries were becoming irrelevant. Farmers in remote villages could obtain the information they needed.

Taking shape

Knowledge workers did not need to be high profile scientists, technologists or research personnel. Quality was of great importance in the knowledge society that was taking shape. Nations were struggling to cope with the demand for quality education. "Quality, which was for long associated only with goods, is now cherished in every walk of life," he said.

Sign of scholarship

Intellectual attainment was only one side of education. It could be a sign of scholarship but not of enlightenment or wisdom. Knowledge, skill, awareness and poise marked the enlightened person.

Degrees given

Managing Trustee, V.L.B. Trust N. Suryakumar presided over the function and the principal R. P. Thangaraj welcomed the gathering. A total of 299 students received their degrees.

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