Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 16 Oct: Chancellor and Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd) held a meeting with the Vice-Chancellors of State Universities at the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday. Officials from the Higher Education Department and the State Administration were also present.
During the meeting, the Governor said that universities are not just centres of education but are also key pillars of nation-building. He stated that the objective is not merely to award degrees but to prepare such young individuals who not only secure employment but also contribute to the development of society, the state, and the nation. He emphasised that every university must ensure that its students acquire knowledge and skills relevant to the needs of the future. In the changing global scenario, it is essential to integrate education with industry, innovation, and technology.
The Governor said that each university should update its curriculum keeping in view the needs of the state, natural resources, and social challenges. He added that students should be connected with industries, research institutions, and startups to provide them with practical exposure so that they are capable of meeting future technological and professional challenges.
The Governor instructed universities to strengthen their alumni networks. He said that alumni are the greatest asset of any institution, and their experience, guidance, and resources can contribute significantly to the development of the university. He directed that active placement centres be set up in every university to maintain continuous dialogue with the industry and provide internship and employment opportunities to students.
During the meeting, the Governor issued instructions for the speedy disposal of matters related to university affiliation. He said that colleges not fulfilling the prescribed standards should not be granted affiliation. He further directed universities to contribute to their adopted villages based on local needs. Educational institutions, he stressed, should not remain confined to their campuses but must reach society and bring positive change in the fields of education, health, environment, and livelihood.
The Governor said that, under the “One University – One Research” initiative, all universities have conducted excellent research work. Appreciating this achievement, he said that in the second phase of this initiative, new, relevant, and impactful research topics should be selected so that research can be directly linked to the needs of the state and the nation. A detailed discussion on this subject also took place during the meeting.
The Governor urged universities to prioritise studies and research in AI, new technologies, and emerging sectors. He said that through the proper use of new technologies, the youth of Uttarakhand can be prepared for global competition.
In the meeting, the Vice-Chancellors shared information about the achievements, challenges, and requirements of their respective universities. The Governor assured full cooperation for resolving all concerns. Expressing satisfaction, he said that all Vice-Chancellors are performing well in their institutions, and this positive transformation will take Uttarakhand’s higher education sector to new heights.
Present on the occasion were Secretary to the Governor Ravinath Raman, Legal Advisor Kaushal Kishore Shukla, Secretary Dr Ranjit Kumar Sinha, Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar, Secretary Dipendra Chaudhary, Secretary Deepak Kumar, Additional Secretary Anand Srivastava, Vice-Chancellor, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Prof Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, Sanskrit University, Prof Dinesh Chandra Shastri, Vice-Chancellor, Soban Singh Jeena University, Almora, Prof Satpal Singh Bisht, Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Ayurved University & HNB Uttarakhand Medical Education University Prof Arun Kumar Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor of Doon University Prof Surekha Dangwal, Vice-Chancellor of Sridev Suman Uttarakhand University Prof NK Joshi, Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Technical University Prof Onkar Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Prof Parvinder Kumar Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Open University Prof Naveen Chandra Lohani, and Vice-Chancellor of Kumaon University Prof Diwan Singh Rawat, among others.
