The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Increase higher education opportunities”

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Thursday, Aug 14, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“Increase higher education opportunities”

Staff Reporter

Photo: M. Moorthy

Big talk:(From right) N.R. Shetty, president, ISTE; V.K. Sundaram, College Chairman; V. Ramachandran, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University –Tiruchi; N. Ramachandran, Vice-Chancellor, Periyar Maniammai University, Thanjavur, at the conference in Pudukottai, on Wednesday. —

PUDUKOTTAI: The Central Government has to take significant steps in the 11th five-year plan period (2007 – 12) to increase opportunities in higher education, N.R. Shetty, president, Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) emphasised on Wednesday.

An increase by five per cent over the current level of about eight per cent of enrolment in higher education demands the creation of eight million additional seats. For achieving 15 per cent access to higher education by 2015, there must be 1,500 universities. By providing higher education opportunities to the young population, abundant prospects in other parts of the world could be tapped, Prof. Shetty said inaugurating ISTE-CON 2008 at Sudharsan Engineering College. The two-day conference on ‘Industrial Expectations and Institutional Preparations’ is jointly organised by the ISTE Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Section and Anna University – Tiruchi.

Advocating industry involvement for enhancement of curriculum with domain inputs, Prof. Shetty called for an overhaul of the system for large scale production of technical power of international standards. Higher standards and greater creativity could be achieved through autonomy, he said, adding that institutions must possess the competence and willingness to use the delegated powers. Autonomy does not mean cessation of financial support from governments. The Government, while funding colleges should hold them accountable for learning based on out-put oriented education, said Prof. Shetty.

The Vice-Chancellor of Anna University – Tiruchi, V. Ramachandran, Patron of the Conference, said technical education should be aligned to global employability. He favoured academic reforms for ushering in innovation in educational system, and enhancing learning abilities of students.

Institutions must assume the responsibility of imparting all technical skills within campus. Success of the system is in the hands of teachers and industries, he said observing that as part of the University Syndicate, Academic Council and Boards of Studies, industry representatives should come forward to train teachers.

College Principal and Conference Secretary P.K. Balasubramanian, Conference Chairman V.K. Sundaram, and K.Sourirajan, Co-Chairman spoke on the need for accelerating synergy between industries and institutions.

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