'Education is a responsibility and not a commodity'
Kaziranga University conference concludes, stresses on quality higher education for holistic development of students
Jorhat, May 7: Privatization of higher education has had many advantages including, introduction of relevant courses and adoption of new technology. However, the quality of education should not be compromised at any cost as education is a responsibility and not a commodity.
This resolution evolved during the deliberations in the three-day tiol conference on “Challenges of Development of Higher Education through public and private initiatives”, which concluded at the Kaziranga University in Jorhat last week.
In keeping with the theme of the conference, the conference discussed at length on various emerging areas of higher education including the challenges of achieving equity, inclusiveness and excellence through based credit system, fusion between western and indigenous knowledge, the values and thought processes and factors of development of higher education to me a few, a press release stated.
The three-day conference that took place in the lush green campus of the Kaziranga University also felt that there is a need to restructure the higher education system in the country through the implementation of Choice Based Credit System and for greater autonomy to institutions of higher education.
“There is a gap in access, equity and excellence in the higher education system. There also exists an academic vacuum due to which quality higher education is not imparted,” pointed out Dr. B.K. Das, one of the participants of the conference during one of the technical sessions of the conference.
Some of the speakers of the conference pointed out that holistic development of the student should be the goal of higher education and that there is a need to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio and also to strengthen the link between primary education and higher education for achieving this goal of holistic development of the students. They also advocated the need for value system to be included in course curricula and stressed that the teacher-student relationship should be like that if a parent and their children.
“There is also a need for implementation of certificate courses along with regular degree courses,” some other experts who participated in the conference opined.
It may be mentioned here that Chancellor of the University, M.D. Khetan iugurated the conference at the University.
The conference, which was organized in collaboration with Indian Colleges Forum, Society for Education and Economic Development (SEED) and Assam College Principals’ Council, witnessed participation from over 100 heads of institutions and college principals from different parts of the country and even from abroad.
Among the high profile dignitaries, who participated in the conference included Dr. Mridul Hazarika, Vice Chancellor, Guwahati University, Prof. (Dr.) V.M. Salokhe, Vice Chancellor, Kaziranga University, Prof. M.M Pant, Pro Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi tiol Open University (IGNOU), Dr. B.K.Tyagi, Secretary, ICF , Dr. Bolendra Kumar Das, President, ACPC, Dr. Budhin Gogoi, Vice President, ACPC etc.
“The future of our tion depends on the quality of our higher education institutions. At Kaziranga University, we are highly committed to tion building through various initiatives including this conference to develop new insights for higher education,” said Dr. P.K. Mishra, president, North– Eastern Knowledge Foundation (Promoters of Kaziranga University) while speaking on iugural session of the conference.
“The future presents many challenges for higher education in India. Considering this, the conference is expected to offers a great opportunity to change the course of events and developments to the advantage of India and the people at large,” Mishra added.