The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Reinvent, offer courses that will produce scholars, Chidambaram urges universities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Reinvent, offer courses that will produce scholars, Chidambaram urges universities

Special Correspondent

Addresses students at 149th annual convocation of Madras University

CHENNAI: Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has urged Indian universities to "read the writing on the wall, reinvent and offer courses of instruction that will turn out scholars with relevant talent and skill sets required today in India."

Addressing students and faculty at the 149th annual convocation of Madras University, Mr. Chidambaram said the goal of the university should be to develop talent. "Because universities appear to be failing in their task, large corporations are establishing their own institutions of higher education and training. Imagine corporations becoming universities. Can universities become corporations?"

Dwelling on the lack of adequate skills, he said employers had complained of being unable to attract adequate talent. Citing the example of a leading software firm, he said it had screened 14 lakh applications in 2005-06.

Of this, it tested 1.64 lakh candidates and interviewed 48,700. And it appointed, "for the purpose of undergoing training," 21,000 selected candidates.

"Such examples can be multiplied. It is obvious that the skills acquired at the end of a course of higher education do not meet the skill requirements of modern enterprises."

Centre for nanosciences

Mr. Chidambaram said his Ministry had received detailed proposals from Madras University for setting up a National Centre for Nanosciences and Biomedical nanotechnology. "I understand that the Centre will offer a five-year integrated post-graduate degree course as well as a five-year integrated Ph.D programme." The Centre was being set up with a Rs.100-crore grant to mark completion of the university's 150 years.

State Higher Education Minister and Pro Chancellor K. Ponmudi said the Government would abolish the Common Entrance Test for admission to professional colleges. This would benefit many rural students.

Governor and University Chancellor Surjit Singh Barnala presided. Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran said 23 Memoranda of Understanding had been signed with reputed international institutions and universities. A total of 378 graduands received degrees/prizes and medals in person and 45,580 in absentia. Of this, V. Murugan received the D.Litt. in English and 207 received their Ph.D. Among those who received their Ph.D were a visually handicapped New College Sociology lecturer K. Gulam Gasthagir, and Secretary - III to Chief Minister, K. Rajamanickam. An M.Phil (history) scholar from Pachaiyappa's College, M. Panneer, was the highest medal winner, taking home as many as 10 prizes including the President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan prize and the K. Kamaraj prize.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu