“Do good to the nation, nation is looking towards you.” – Prof Ved Prakash
Top ‘Think Tank’ of Indian Higher Education System ‘Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is organizing three-day 89th Annual General National Meet at Lovely Professional University. Prof Ved Prakash, Chairman, University Grants Commission, inaugurated AIU conference to be continued up to 25th May 2015.The AIU national meet saw massive participation of top 200 international and national Vice-Chancellors, Officials from Ministry of HRD, and Heads of Higher Education Apex Bodies. UGC Chairman also released the special issue of the University News on ‘Promotion of Excellence in Higher Education in India’. Participants on the inaugural day included foreign delegates from UK, UAE, Germany, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Columbia, Australian High Commission, European Union and more. AIU President Prof HM Desai presided over the Meet.
While addressing the galaxy of intelligentsia, UGC Chairman lauded the effective role being played by private sector in Higher Education. He said: “Great universities of the world are private universities and same can be emulated by the Indian universities. Many of the Indian Universities have proved this in past already. Presently 58 percent students of the country are studying in private institutions and 46% institutions are privately managed.” Laying more stress on the point, he further shared: “Private and Public sectors can fill the gap, if any, by going hand in hand and not as adversaries. Only those institutions can survive which provide quality education, and private sector has set up benchmarks to achieve national goal. Future of higher education lies in inclusive, quality and creative education.” Invoking intellectual fraternity, he said: “Do good to the nation, nation is looking towards you.” He asked all to utilize the potential full opportunity provided through ‘Meet’ to relook at individual strengths and shortcomings and to think new. Talking about different phases of education in India, he clearly mentioned that societal expectations are ever increasing along with phenomenal growth in Indian education. He also hinted that universities too have obligation towards school education to get good inputs for propagation of good higher education. He invoked all to go for good education loyally and professionally and not to bother about criticism. Applauding working of LPU time and again, he specially mentioned: “LPU has created wonderful development in higher education in a very short time and is doing great service to the humanity.” AIU President Dr HM Desai, Vice President Prof Ranbir Singh, Secretary General Prof Furqan Qamar; Immediate Past President Prof R B Lal; Secretary UGC Dr Prof Jaspal Sandhu; Chairman NCTE Prof Santosh Panda; Chairman RCI Dr Sudesh Mukhopadhyay; LPU Chancellor Mr Ashok Mittal, Pro Chancellor Mrs Rashmi Mittal, and Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ramesh Kanwar also shared the main dais. Prior to this, Chancellor Mittal welcomed all and expressed his happiness on hosting the prestigious national event. Next sessions included introduction to new education policy, interaction with heads of apex bodies, national initiative on skilling India, and employability & skilling in higher education. Top officials from apex bodies and Ministry of Skill Development/Sectoral Skill Councils participated in fruitful discussions with the visiting intellectuals.
