Dear Vice-Chancellors,

       It gives me great joy to address this Vice-Chancellors' meeting convened to evaluate our performance in the recent years and to chalk out a clear strategy for quality improvement in higher education in the State. Our intention is to make sure that we attain further excellence by enhancing our research and innovation systems so as to enable Kerala to emerge as a true global leader in higher education.

       This isa good occasion tohave the information of status of education and research in the universities and learnfrom each other, to further improve the level of education & research in the stateUniversities. lt is also important that youths in these Universities also gets skill training so asthey become employable. Vice Chancellorsmay also indicate the steps taken by theseUniversities to impart skill training to their students and to encourage this they might haveadopted dual system. Similarly, status of R&D activities in these universities will also discussed.

Universities act as nurseries for research and innovation in our society. To be successful in this role, they not only need to provide the physicalInfrastructure but also the intellectual environment that can foster innovation and creativity. Our universities should build networks with the other universities in the State and  from around the world and act as bridge for our youth to traverse the world of knowledge and research

Our university campuses should transform into learning centers that provide all the ingredients of learning, be it in the field of skill development or research and technology. The campuses should experiment with all the practices and technologies that a student can learn and use after going out for the benefit of the nation. The Vice Chancellor can utilize his position, understanding, wisdom and experience to motivate the Senate / Syndicate, students and staff to make our universities world class.

As the Principal Academic and Executive Officer of the University the Vice-Chancellor has to provide energetic and imaginative leadership to the academic community.  For this, there has to be better interaction among the Universities and the Vice-Chancellors. Each Vice-Chancellor should be aware of the success stories or new initiatives of other Universities and should examine the feasibility of their adoption in his or her University.

       For example, Kerala Technological University has adopted the system of Academic Audit and Open book examination for the Engineering Design Examination. Mahatma Gandhi University's Jaivam Project is trying to make Kottayam the first Organic Farming Literatedistrict of the country. CUSAT has started Deen Dayal Kaushal Kendra for Skill Development and Calicut University has brought out DAISY – as audio book system.  Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit has set up a very good Psychology lab.  The Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cell of Kerala Agricultural University, the Technology and Business Start up Centre of Kerala University and the pilot project of Startup village at Kole area of Thrissur set up by Kerala Veterinary & Animal Sciences University to promote Safe to eat products, should encourage other institutions to adopt such schemes which are models worth following. Universities should also use more and more of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology in teaching methods, research and academic administration. I understand that University of Calicut is arranging a facility for receiving applications online for issuing Degree Certificate.  The use of Information Technology or success of initiatives should be analysed in measurable output like reduction of time taken in Evaluation / Result declaration or issuing of degree.

       I am glad to share with this august gathering that the Professors from Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences [KUFOS] and Mahatma Gandhi University participated in the Indian Arctic Expedition and the Southern Ocean Expedition in 2016 and 2017. 

       The recent statement of the Chairperson of the State Women's Commission that sexual harassment cases are on the rise in educational institutions should compel us to act immediately. Vice-Chancellors should ensure that all affiliated institutions under them shall enforce the guidelines of the Supreme Court in setting up Internal Complaint Committees (ICC) to prevent sexual harassment at the work place.

       Another area I would like to suggest is the facility for Industry Incubation. You may be aware that the Kerala   Start-up Mission [KSUM] is going to invite globally reputed accelerators to vitalize the State’s start-up ecosystem and to create co-working spaces for hardware start-ups to incubate and get nurtured. Besides, companies like Nissan have expressed interest to open their hubs in Kerala.  I hope our universities will enter into some pact with such facilities.

Until recently, most of our major universities were reeling under the shortage of staff.  The posting of teachers had been facing roadblocks due to legal issues in some varsities. The situation has now changed, at least in the case of non-teaching staff, after the recruitment by the PSC.  Yet, every day, we hear of exam results being delayed and examinations not being held on time. The wise use of Information Technology can be a helping hand to a great extent.

I understand that most of our institutions have a more or less common pattern of courses and exams.  I urge all
Vice-Chancellors to make sure that Examination software being used now are fully utilized so that we improve efficiency in result declaration. I may also share Automation of examination wing in Kerala University under Student Life Cycle Management System (SLCM) with support infrastructure and software were every student, teacher, institution and course have a unique ID and all well integrated processes starting from admission as entry point and ending with issue of certificate as exit point can also be of use for other Universities.

 Vice Chancellors should see how the general issues and common problems are being dealt with by the other Universities. The student related common issues which occur to my mind are timely completion of Academic Course, timely conduct of Examination, timely declaration of Results and timely delivery of Degree or Certificate.   These issues are interlinked and have cascading negative impact not only on each other issue but also denting impact on the future of the Students as well. For eg. a University might have completed the course on time , declared the result on time but failed to deliver Degree Certificate on time , deprives the student from timely registration in higher studies , availing scholarships and applying for jobs . 

All over the world, procedures are being simplified for efficient delivery of services. But, in some cases application forms of universities are getting complex by the day. A Technological university's application for a Provisional degree certificate demanding copies of school certificates and signatures of Head of the Department and Principal should be seen as an  insult to the data-base that stores all details of a registered student.  If our universities are to be truly student friendly, such tangles have to be avoided at the earliest.

I had earlier directed all universities nearly 10 months ago to register and participate in the National Academic Depository of the Ministry of Human Resources Development. But, I have been told that only CUSAT has so far done it. 

 I would also suggest that our universities regularly update their web sites and compare their web sites with that of other universities in the world. I may also remind you that a university web site would be incomplete without the details of Voluntary Blood donors. 

In our previous meetings also, I had suggested that universities should develop their social connect through involvement in events that have a bearing on society.  Along with social work, we should develop our capacity to be of guidance to society in disaster management also. Many of our villages which are now struggling under the fury of the monsoon, do not get the right guidance in limiting the damage caused by such disasters.

Waste management is another area where our guidance and participation can be of help. Unscientific waste disposal has been causing unexpected flooding and epidemics in many of our localities.  Each university should have scientific waste management systems capable of producing energy and utilizing it for useful purposes. The transfer of these systems to local institutions and the increased dependence on renewable energy could send a useful message to the people.

Universities should try to develop the Campus as self sustainable Campus in the matter of energy and water conservation and waste disposal.  The measures taken by Universities for Green Technologies, Solar Energy, Environment Audit and Energy Audit should be shared with each other with the objective of converting University Campus into a Model Campus.

 All Universities could also consider adoption of villages for development as Smart Village in the way it was implemented in Wayanad by Kerala Veterinary & Animal Sciences University. The Universities having their centers and jurisdiction over Wayanad may be aware that Wayanad is the only Aspirational District selected by Government of India.  During village visits by students, they should look into the school drop-out rate and functionality of community toilets.

I would request all Vice-Chancellors to do everything possible to make the presence of the university felt in every moment of the social life of Kerala. For that, universities must enhance their interactions with each other. Our inter university centres are vehicles for such scholarly interactions.

I would also invite the attention of the Vice-Chancellors towards the implementation of Quality mandate of UGC and AICTE and appeal to make best efforts to meet the deadlines.

The Chancellor is the Appellate authority in disciplinary proceedings Orders issued by the Vice-Chancellor / Syndicate.
I would like to point out that the procedures in the Manual of Disciplinary proceedings, statutory provisions and the principle of natural justice should be strictly observed by the University. You are also advised to give effect to the Statute amendment only after getting the formal assent of the Chancellor.

I am happy to note that some of the Universities have started Massive Online Open Courses[MOOC], Additional Skill Acquisition Programme[ASAP] and Add on courses. However some of the Universities have not started such courses. All Universities should exchange the notes regarding Massive Online Open Courses[MOOC] / Additional Skill Acquisition Programme[ASAP] / Global Initiative of Academic Networks[GIAN] and Add on Courses and start such courses.

I have just listed some of these suggestions so that you may ponder over them and take appropriate actions. I am certain that you all will be taking considerable efforts in implementing many of these suggestions.

I wish you all success in your efforts to make our universities live up to the expectations of the people of our State. Together, let us make Kerala, the world's preferred destination for higher education.

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal

Nanni

Jai Hind

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