Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily on Wednesday asked all universities and institutions of higher learning and research to march towards excellence and face challenges within the country and abroad.
Addressing the convocation of Sambalpur University here, Mr. Moily also highlighted the need for setting up higher standards to be enforced by professional, scientific and research bodies as well as by the proposed National Council for Higher Education and Research.
He said globalisation is a relevant issue for higher education as India was a founder member of the World Trade Organisation and has undertaken certain obligations.
Describing General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), a pact within the WTO, as an important development, he said developing common curriculum, evaluation standards, recognition of credits and grades, professional accreditation and periodic assessment of standards were likely to impact on higher education too.
Universities and other institutions in India must deliberate on these developments and take informed decisions affecting their status as well as standards of education. He also said must make initiatives to build a network both within India and overseas through MoUs.
“We need to focus on creation of benchmarks in every field of knowledge as well as a constant effort to improve the same on a regular basis,” Mr. Moily said.
This is the only way through which institutions of higher learning can attract a large number of faculty and students from other countries, he said.
