Minister sees need for quality education

Basavaraj Rayareddy speaks at convocation of Rani Channamma University

Universities must focus on providing quality education to students, Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy said in Belagavi on Monday.

Speaking at the convocation of the Rani Channamma University in the VTU auditorium, he said several universities were facing the general complaint of imparting low quality education. “Academic leaders heading universities should introspect on the contribution of these institutions to the quality of higher education in the State. Karnataka produces the highest number of graduates in all disciplines in the country. However, it would be great to produce graduates of the best quality too.” Only when those in charge of running universities and higher education institutions think honestly can we see any real change. By producing quality graduates, we will be able to beat China. He said the State government was spending Rs. 24,600 crore on the education sector per year.

The Minister advised students to strive to bring social transformation and not just work for getting degrees and jobs. The new university bill is drafted in a way to address such issues. It will increase the efficiency of these institutions and make them corruption free. He denied allegations that the State government was trying to reduce the autonomy of universities by bringing this bill. It is intended to bring in accountability and not to interfere in varsity administration. As many as 2,160 posts in higher education institutions will be filled on merit.

The State government will explore legal challenges against the Income Tax department’s move to levy over Rs. 400 crore income tax on Visvesvaraya Technological University. Some former officials of the University caused embarrassment to the government with their behaviour, he added.

MoUs with foreign universities

Rani Channamma University will soon enter into agreements with universities in England and U.S., Vice-Chancellor Shivanand Hosmani said during his speech at the convocation. These agreements will help the six-year-old university in student and faculty exchanges, research, and designing of new courses. The State government had approved a grant of Rs. 85 crore to the university. The Union government had decided to set up the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya chair in RCU at the cost of Rs. 5 crore.

RCU is the second largest university in the State after Bengaluru University, in terms of affiliated colleges and number of students. It has been ranked the second best young university in the State by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, he added.

Dhirendra Pal Singh, Director, National Assessment and Accreditation Council, in his speech urged universities to focus on skill training of students and not just issuing academic degrees. Under the Skill India programme, the government, universities and the industry should work together. There is a need to establish a better interface with industry and academia for designing job-oriented courses and for placements, he added.

Former judge and Kannada writer Jinadatta Desai and educationist and former MLA Veeranna Charantimath were given honorary doctorates. Pooja Jain of Jamkhandi walked away with five gold medals. Ten students got doctorates.