The Hindu : Karnataka News : Higher education needs greater attention: Pai

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Monday, Apr 11, 2011
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Higher education needs greater attention: Pai

Staff Correspondent

‘Universities should enhance knowledge'
‘Education should enhance quality of life'

Manipal: “Universities have to contribute to new knowledge for economic and social development, upholding professional and academic independence to ensure freedom of thought and action,” Chancellor of Manipal University Ramdas M. Pai said here on Sunday.

He was speaking at a felicitation organised by Manipal Group of Institutions on his (Dr. Ramdas Pai) receiving the Padma Bhushan Award recently.

Dr. Pai said in the context of educational reforms, higher education needed greater attention. The purpose of education was enhancing the quality of life. Individual human security provided by education was the basis of all development. “Universities today have a broader role and responsibility than at any time in the past,” he said.

The world was now reshaped by powerful influences of political, economic, technological and socio-cultural changes. “This is an age which has given rise to new high intensive technologies, new academic disciplines, changed structural employment and escalation of research work,” he said.

“The Padma Bhushan conferred on me is an indicator of the appreciation of the Government about the useful role played by our institutions in the educational and healthcare sectors. It will be a feather in our cap if our institutions can attract greater worldwide attention on account of the excellent standards they have been able to create and sustain,” he said. He recalled the challenges the institutions of Manipal University had to face with the regulatory bodies turning fault-finders instead of being facilitators.

Private enterprise was not given government support in the running of institutions to the extent it could have been done. But of late, the concept of public-private partnership had gained ground with the Government realising that the private sector could play a vital role. “I wish more young boys and girls receive scholarships for professional studies ,” Dr. Pai said.

Heads of various Manipal Group of Institutions lauded Dr. Pai as a courageous, visionary, fearless and compassionate leader, and a man of conviction and values.

Pro-Chancellor of the university H.S. Ballal, Vice-Chancellor K. Ramnarayan, President of Dr. T.M.A. Pai Foundation T. Mohandas Pai, President of Academy of General Education A. Krishna Rao, Honorary Director of Manipal Institute of Communication M.V. Kamath, wife of Dr. Ramdas Pai, Vasanti Pai, were present.

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