Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon’ble Chief Minister,
Prof. K.V. Thomas,  MP,
Shri V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, MLA,
Dr. Davendra Kumar Dhodawat IAS, Secretary to Governor,
Dr. J. Letha, Vice-Chancellor, Cochin University of Science
and Technology,
Shri Anil Xavier IAS, Vice-Chancellor-in-charge, Kerala
Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Other Vice-Chancellors,      
Syndicate Members,
Distinguished Guests,
Respected Teachers,
My beloved Students,

Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,

       It is with a deep sense of satisfaction that I am addressing you after presenting the third Chancellor's Award to Cochin University of Science & Technology [CUSAT] and the first Chancellor's Award for the Best Emerging Young University to the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University [KVASU]. 

But, before I go any further, let me convey my heartiest congratulations to Dr. J. Letha, Vice-Chancellor, CUSAT and to Shri Anil Xavier IAS, Vice-Chancellor-in-charge, KVASU on receiving the awards. I also convey my heartiest congratulations to all the twelve Universities which  participated in this selection process with competitive zeal. As all of us are aware, the Chancellor's Award of Rs. Five Crore was instituted in 2015 to nurture a spirit of healthy competition among the Universities for improving the quality of Higher Education. The first award went to the University of Kerala, in 2015, and the second, to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam in 2016.  It was in 2017 that we instituted  a separate award of Rs. One Crore for the best Emerging Young University in Kerala to create a spirit of healthy competition among newly established Universities.
As I just mentioned, this year, the participation was very good, with only Kalamandalam Deemed to be University not competing due to technical reasons. The dedicated efforts of the selection committee, comprising  Dr. (Smt.) Usha Titus, Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department, as Chairperson, Dr. Suresh Das, Executive Director, Kerala State Council of Sciences, Technology and Environment,  Thiruvananthapuram, Prof. Kulbhushan Balooni, Director
(in-charge), Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, Prof. V. Ramakrishnan, Director, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, Prof. (Dr.) Rose Varghese, Vice Chancellor, National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kalamassery as Members and Dr. Davendra Kumar Dhodawat, Secretary to Governor as  Convener, also merit mention and appreciation. I also appreciate the great enthusiasm shown by the State Government in providing funds, as and when we had recommended the institution of these awards. 

This year, the Selection Committee had prepared the application for the Chancellor’s Award with 47 components having critical role in the quality of Higher Education such as Academics, Teaching and Pedagogy methods, Students profile and Achievements, Academic Governance and other achievements. The total score was fixed as 750. It was decided that the same yardstick of evaluation shall be followed for Emerging Young Universities also.
Overall, I am happy that the institution of these two awards has brought in some positive changes, which will continue to enrich our higher education sector in the years to come.

First of all, I have noted a greater interest among Universities in designing a focused plan of action for overall development in their academic and extension activities. For instance, in 2016, Cochin University of Science and Technology [CUSAT] was the only University in Kerala which had figured in the Ranking of the National Institutional Ranking Framework [NIRF] of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. I was happy to note that during this assessment, five of our Universities including Cochin University had figured in the NIRF rankings, with University of Kerala securing the 29th rank and figuring first among the Universities in the State. University of Calicut got the 57th place and Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, the 67th position and the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University, the 126th position.

Another positive change we had noticed during the evaluation process of the applications submitted by the Universities for these awards was that our Universities had moved far ahead in Innovations in Teaching methods, Issuance of Academic Calender on the day of admission, Setting up Internal Quality Assurance Cell and in ensuring measures for enhancing the skills and knowledge of students from socially weaker sections.

As we all know, society expects Universities to excel as seats of wisdom that provide intellectual leadership and guidance to the rising generations. It is true that Universities facilitate and promote studies, research and the building of human capabilities. But, our academic activities should not be confined to the mere imparting of textual knowledge. University Education must refine the character of students, thereby raising the intellectual tone of the entire society and even purifying the national taste. 
While our earlier expectations of Universities were limited to the dissemination of knowledge, the age of globalization has made larger demands. Earlier, we wanted our varsities to act as repositories of knowledge, to function as trusted authorities capable of generating new knowledge through academic research and to transfer that knowledge to society.   Today, in addition to these roles, we also expect Universities to generate development and economic growth, that too, at a time when the funding for higher education comes with conditions or clauses. Universities are now expected to generate funds through research output. This requires concerted action to ensure that research projects get translated into workable technologies. But, developing technologies is not enough; we must ensure that information about such developments reach society in a credible manner so that people come forward to make use of our research output.

Of late, there seems to be a pre-occupation with technological research and a neglect of research in pure and social sciences.  However, social inquiry is also of paramount importance, especially for societies like ours that are in a process of transition. Research on social issues can be used to address challenges and to identify solutions in areas related to political stability, socio-economic development and issues like inter-ethnic relations, protection of minorities, nation-building and good governance.
Besides, let us not think that research becomes relevant only when its fruits generate economic gains. Some research initiatives may not even bring the desired effects or results; but risk, reasonable waste and failure also have a place in academic pursuits. We also must acknowledge the creation of ideas and new knowledge through research where the gains may be more intellectual than economic.   

Every University operates in a geographical context and society expects a University's intervention in times of crisis or need. The recent Cyclone Ockhi was a case in point, when people had questioned the efficiency of our facilities for weather prediction. I understand that the Cochin University of Science and Technology also has a powerful radar facility, but very little powers to intervene in the process of prediction.  I think, institutions must take up such issues with the appropriate authority so as to enable themselves to carry out more meaningful extension activities that would connect them to people. 

I am persuading our Agricultural University and Veterinary University to help our farmers by informing and identifying good seeds, season for various crops, required fertilizers, organic farming, animal protection, weather report etc,. Fisheries University must help our fishermen community by identifying new methods and how to save our fishermen from natural disaster like ‘Ockhi’.

Our Universities have always been catalysts of change not only in the scientific and economic areas, but also in bringing social change. Our Constitution, through its Directive Principles urges us to develop scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform. It is through the Universities that we should nurture the spirit of reform by using knowledge to provide scientific and technical services that people actually need. It is our social obligation, too, because the infrastructure we use for our education is provided by the society, to which we must give our share in return. For this, the Research Departments in Universities must reach out to people, because people may be hesitant to demand our services. Adoption of villages on a long term basis could be one way of reaching out to people.  Remember:  Better outreach builds better trust.

Last year also, I had emphasized the need to give more importance to the publication of research oriented books and Research papers in peer reviewed journals by the faculty and students. We had also suggested reducing the days for declaration of examination results for both under-graduates and post-graduates from the present duration of 60 to 75 days in some Universities to below 40 days, speedy recognition of Degrees of other Universities, E-Governance initiatives in Administration, Academic and Examination Systems etc. When it comes to journals published by Universities, none of our Universities have so far achieved the target of having own journals with Impact Factor greater than 0.5. I sincerely hope to see a positive change in this trend at least next year, with each varsity having at least one journal with the desired Impact Factor.

With regard to Extra-curricular activities in Sports, Culture and Arts in National and International level, the University of Calicut and Mahatma Gandhi University were found to be far better than others. The Universities should also implement focused action plans to improve their achievements in extra-curricular activities and should take more initiatives for adoption of Green Technology, Waste Management and utilization of Solar Energy.

Knowledge sharing among Universities also deserves our special attention. We should realize that at present, Kerala is actively identifying knowledge-based and skill-intensive economic activities, since our urban and rural areas are equipped with a well developed communication infrastructure. Our educational institutions should utilize this facility and go into a networking for research and development.  The need of the hour is to give a thought for education in the twenty-first-century skills like critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, digital literacy etc., so as to help in Kerala's transition into a true knowledge society.

Coming to campus life, you all know that I am regularly monitoring the reports related to ragging, prevention of drug abuse, ensuring gender quality with emphasis on transgenders, arranging disabled-friendly amenities and safeguards against sexual harassment in campuses. The atmosphere in our campuses have to be conducive to the free expression of ideas.  Academic freedom and intellectual integrity must be the foundation of a university's efforts to innovate and disseminate knowledge.  Universities must stand out as free spaces, strengthened by independent and critical thinking that would strengthen a nation.

Once again, I compliment all the twelve participating Universities, especially the Cochin University of Science & Technology and Kerala Veterinary & Animal Sciences University on their remarkable achievement and wish they would continue to improve their performance.
I greet everyone present here, and wish them all the best.

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni 
  Jai Hind