Prof. (Dr.) Rajan Gurukkal P.M., Vice-Chairman, Kerala State Higher Education Council,
Dr. Saji Gopinath, Chief Executive Officer, Kerala Startup Mission,
Dr. Jeff Hamilton, Executive Director, Rangsit University, Thailand,
Prof. (Dr.) E. Balagurusamy, Former Vice-Chancellor, Anna University, Chennai,
Dr. Muhammed Majeed, Founder and Managing Director, SAMI Labs Ltd.,
Shri Ranjit Srivenkatesh, Managing Director, Future Kerala,
Shri Kainakari Shibu, General Manager, Future Kerala,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,
Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram.
It gives me great joy to inaugurate the third Future Kerala Education Conclave on Kerala Education - Prospects and Challenges in the Changing Industrial and Economic Scenario. It adds to my joy that I could honour some of the leaders in higher education at this function.
Let me begin by complimenting Future Kerala financial newspaper on its decision to honorthe achievements of some leaders in the field of Education. The decision to use this platform to think loudly about Education in the changing industrial and economic scenario, points to the highly interdependent relation between Education and the Industry. Besides, with the concept of Education as an economic activity, this interaction involving the leaders of the industry, leaders of educational institutions and policy makers has great relevance.
As we all know, Education or human resources development is fundamental to the development of a nation. It is also a process of refinement and the best investment that a country can do on its youth. I believe that in today's knowledge economy, any social revolution can come only through education and our universities. Our universities can make social revolutions possible by contributing batches of scientists, technicians, engineers, agriculturists and others who would change the economic character of our society.
All over the world, education receives governmental priority. In fact, most developed countries are willing to spend almost ten to 15 percent of their national income on education. In Europe, about three fourth of the cost of education is covered by the government and in the United States, about half is covered by the government. However, even these affluent nations have not been able to ensure equality in terms of access to higher education, since the number of State-funded institutions has not increased considerably in those countries.
But, in spite of not being able to spend heavily on education, we in India and especially in Kerala have made several interventions to ensure highest access to education and to regulate quality in infrastructure and instruction. It may be true that in the last two decades, the number of new institutions in the government and aided sector is lower than that in the self financing sector. But, we have not compromised on the standards of quality, especially in facilities and the quality of teaching. The question is, are we ready to utilize the opportunities accorded by the industry and the new economy which are driven by the post digital era? It is such a readiness which will decide the level of excellence we reach in terms of education.
To implement ideas which will lead us to excellence, we need regular and close interaction between educational policy makers and Edupreneurs. Today, many institutions in the private sector fail to comply with the standards set by regulatory bodies. Every institution must take Quality as a passion and a culture. It is not something we rush to ensure when we are threatened with the loss of affiliation. The mindset of our edupreneurs must change to see quality as a basic norm.
As Chancellor of the State universities, I must inform you that Kerala now has a stronger sense of quality in higher education. Every year, more universities from our State are figuring in the National Institutional Ranking Framework of the Ministry of Human Resources Development. We also see more colleges getting the accreditation of National Assessment and Accreditation Council [NAAC]and the National Board of Accreditation [NBA]and some even qualifying to become autonomous.
My personal satisfaction is that I could contribute to this desire for quality by instituting the Chancellor’s Award in 2014 to nurture the spirit of healthy competition among the Universities in the State for improving quality. As you may know, the Award carries prize money of Rs.5 crores, a Citation and a Trophy. So far, the University of Kerala [2015], Cochin University of Science & Technology [2016] and Mahatma Gandhi University [2017 & 2018] have won this award through a rigorous process of evaluation covering the major determinants in the quality of education. In 2016, we instituted an additional award of Rs.One Crore for the “Emerging Young University”to create a spirit of healthy competition among newly established Universities. The Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University [KVASU] State Government has won this award in 2017 and 2018.
Our decision to call for Quarterly progress reports from all the Vice Chancellors and to review them has also improved the functioning of our universities. Reports on sexual harassment in the work place, ragging, drug abuse etc. are also called for on a monthly basis. All grievances in the form of petitions, e-mails from students, parents, faculty and general public are being attended, to then and there, and remedied by getting report / reply from concerned authorities including Vice-Chancellors. All these have certainly instilled a better sense of quality in higher education. After setting guidelines for selection of Chancellor’s award, we have handed over the process of selection to the higher Education Department.
Today, India has the largest number of youth in the employable age. Our institutions have to concentrate on imparting the skills that would help our youth to corner the emerging global opportunities. The knowledge and skills we impart to our students should instill in them a craving for higher knowledge through research. Innovation and Research should be the keywords in the higher education sector in the coming years and should remain above mere Industry requirements. The industry may offer many career openings in the software sector, but our institutions should think above those levels and concentrate on research and innovation.
Innovation and research should also manifest through scholarly journals and publications with high impact factor.
I would request Future Kerala to select for future awards, educational institutions which succeed in having high quality research and journals. Our edupreneurs should motivate their institutions to achieve this goal.
Today's trend among our youth is to go in for Start-up ventures for which we have developed a good ecosystem. Many youngsters are coming up with business enterprises which are driven by new technology. To motivate them, we need more active linkage between Industry-and the academia. Our banks must also be lenient to start-up ventures.
I personally congratulate all the leaders of education who have been honoured today. I hope their inputs will contribute to the better management of the higher education sector in Kerala.
I compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
