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Kochi to host Global Education Meet

Staff Reporter

Aimed at establishing Kerala as destination for higher education

KOCHI. Kerala's potential as a world-class educational destination will be explored at the International Education Meet (IEM) 2006 to be held in Kochi from February 6 to 8, 2006.

Addressing a press conference at the Ernakulam Press Club on Thursday, Minister for Education E.T. Mohammed Basheer said that the vision of the meet will be "Kerala reaching out: repositioning higher education sector for global excellence."

"The idea is to establish Kerala as a world-class destination for higher education and thereby contributing to the economic well-being of the State without compromising on the social commitment implied in education," he said.

The Minister said that the meet aims to bring together all stakeholders of higher education including institutions, policy makers and academicians from within the country and abroad. Cochin University of Science and Technology will be the partner institution for the education meet.

The core themes to be discussed at the meet include autonomy in higher education: academic, administrative, financial and operational and financing of higher education. Other themes include motivation schemes and career management for teachers, safeguarding quality in higher education, access and social justice in higher education and knowledge creation, innovation and research.

Mr. Basheer said that the meet will evolve a blueprint for action. "By equipping Kerala with international standards in education, the Government feels that more students from abroad will enrol for programmes offered here. Moreover, creation of such standards will also help in checking the outflow of students from India to foreign countries," he added.

The Minister said that a critical appraisal of the higher education sector of Kerala in comparison with other States and foreign countries will be done during the meet. Attempts will be made to explore the possibilities of collaborating with appropriate foreign partners. A framework for management of higher education in the State will be developed. The meet will carry out a critical evaluation of the current state of affairs in higher education sector in the State. It will come out with suggestions for a broad-based higher education strategy. Delegates from Europe, the United State, West Asia, Africa, East and South Asia will attend the meet to be held at the International Convention Centre in Kochi.

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