India lags in investment in research compared to other industrialised
nations, corporate sector must do more: Pranab Mukherjee
University administrators must keep in mind that quality is of primary
importance in the education sector, former President Pranab Mukherjee said.
The former president Pranab
Mukherjee was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Indian chapter of
UK-based nation-wide higher education rating system – QS I-GAUGE.
University administrators must keep in mind that quality is of
primary importance in the education sector, former President Pranab Mukherjee
said, highlighting the issue of brain drain of innovative and creative minds
from the country and the need for training and educating the youth of the
nation. He further said that the corporate sector should take up the
responsibility of nurturing these minds by investing in research. The former
president was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the Indian chapter of
UK-based nation-wide higher education rating system – QS I-GAUGE on Wednesday.
Mukherjee said that the corporate sector, in particular, must emphasise on
research and spending on research. According to the former President, the
investment in research in our country is much less compared to any other industrialised
nation. He said that until people develop an innovative and creative mind,
India cannot be great. And this would not come automatically, but needs to be
nurtured for which the responsibility lies with the society itself, former
President said.
The former President further said that the youth of the country stand to
lose on their valiue in the job market if they are not properly trained and
educated. He also warned against the scenario with an abundance of unskilled
people in the nation and said that if the sector fails to utilise the huge
forces, it will create an explosive situation in the country.
The QS I-GAUGE ratings have been modelled after the QS Stars international
rating but adopted to capture the reality of the dynamic Indian higher education
sector. The QS I-GAUGE rating will provide a unique 360-degree perspective of
Indian institutions for higher learning.
Besides, Pranab Mukherjee, NAAC Chairman Virander Chauhan was also present
at the event. They also accorded QS I-GAUGE Diamond, Gold and Silver
certificates to many universities. These included Banasthali Vidyapith
University, Vellore Institute of Technology, Symbiosis Institute of Business
Management, Manav Rachna University and MIT College of Engineering among
others.
Source: Financial Express dated 23/03/2018
