Vice-President M. Hamid Ansari has said that sharing of facilities for research and exchange of skills and knowledge will, in the long run, contribute to a more networked, efficient and productive university system.
Inaugurating the Inter-University Centre for Biosciences (IUCB) on the Mangattuparamba campus of Kannur University here on Saturday, Dr. Ansari said sharing of such facilities would promote a better interaction and movement between academia and industry.
Congratulating the State government for its initiative in establishing inter-university centres (IUCs) in eight fields of academic study in various universities in the State, he said the autonomous centres would facilitate the nucleation and growth of active groups in specific fields of research. They fostered the development of centres of excellence within the university sector for teaching, research and development in specialised disciplines.
The Vice-President said the IUCB was expected to build on the progress made by the university's Biotechnology and Microbiology Department in structural biology and structure-based drug discovery and designing. It would provide an impetus to harnessing the herbal wealth and traditional knowledge systems in the north Malabar region, within the framework of advanced science and technology. This could be achieved in the context of interdisciplinary study and research and interface with academic institutions, the national laboratory system and the industry.
He hoped that in addition to core academic programmes, the IUCs would promote visitor academic programmes and assist in continuing education of the teaching fraternity. The proposed herbal garden under the IUCB, to be named after E.K. Janaki Ammal, world-renowned ethno-botanist from the district, would be a fitting tribute in her memory.
Governor and Chancellor of the university R.S. Gavai, who presided, said the IUCB would open a new chapter in the higher education sector in the State.
Education Minister M.A. Baby, in his address, said the higher education sector should devise a programme to retain the country's best scholars and ensure brain regaining. Concerted efforts should be made to strengthen research institutions and universities for improving the quality of education. The IUCs were envisaged as interdisciplinary centres for cutting-edge research across disciplines. Scholars of eminence within the country and abroad would be invited as scholars-in-residence.
He emphasised that when science education programmes were designed, efforts should be started from the school level.
Vice-Chancellor P.K. Michael Tharakan, Pro Vice-Chancellor A.P. Kuttykrishnan, Registrar of the university K.M. Abdur Rasheed and Syndicate Member and Director of IUCB M. Haridas were present.
