“HIGHER EDUCATION SUMMIT 2012”
Panaji, December 15, 2012 … The Governor Shri Bharat Vir Wanchoo, has said that, Goa Should become a major educational hub of the country, provided we take the right steps coupled with proper determination and rise above narrow political and parochial considerations. He said he will like to see Goa as the Boston of India.
The Governor was addressing at the one day Higher Education Summit 2012 held at Panaji today. The summit was jointly organized by Government of Goa in association with Confederation of Indian Industry. The theme of the summit was “Improving Quality of Higher Education to Drive Goa’s Economy”.
Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, Education Secretary, Shri Anil Kher, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry Goa Council and MD, Micro Interconnecxion Private Ltd., Shri Shrinivas V. Dempo, Past Chairman CII WR and Chairman of Dempo Group, Shri Atul Pai Kane, Vice Chairman CII Goa Council and MD, Power Engineering (India) Pvt. Ltd and Ms. Mausami Kamat graced the function.
The Governor was of the opinion that, Goa can attract highly talented faculty that would be willing to help make Goa emerge as the major educational hub. Goa can set up centres of excellence and research in niche areas besides also to consider setting up an integrated educational complex that can help to create skills to participate in the new media like animation, graphics, cyber security etc., he added.
Taking into consideration the interest of youths in Goa the Governor said, Goa can emerge far further in the field of textile or product design and even in films. These are all areas that would be of interest to the Goan youth and enable them to participate in this educational opportunity and occupy this particular niche in the Indian and global economy said the Governor.
Speaking further the Governor said the aim of education or higher education should be to broaden the horizon of people to make them responsible citizens and not merely to provide them a means of livelihood. However he said, from practical stand point, education should aim to adequately equip the youth with skills to meet the challenges of life and prepare them for various types of employment.
Touching upon educational aspects in the state the Governor said, after the liberation Goa has made considerable progress in the field of education, including higher education, and the Government is making concerted efforts to make higher education to still higher levels, to meet the needs and aspirations of the people, in keeping with national priorities and objectives. The Governor further said, Government is doing its best to promote higher education and has introduced several innovative schemes he added.
Stressing on the educational aspects the Governor Shri Bharat Vir Wanchoo said, we make rapid progress in promoting technical and technological innovation, we have to ensure that it serves the social needs and creates a better way of life for the people. Promotion of technical education is an integral part of our effort for the development of human resources. The Governor said, Goa has good network of technical institutions which are expected to set the trend of engineering and technological education in the state to meet its special needs. These institutions, besides imparting basic theoretical knowledge should gear themselves to the stupendous task of moulding youths into practical technicians whose services are required by the society.
In his special address Shri Keshav Chandra, Secretary to the education suggested to introduce measures for promoting quality education. These includes increasing the number of seats at the undergraduate level, introduction of new courses and increasing seats in Goa University, establishing design schools in Goa, setting up of autonomous colleges, extending teaching assistance and formulating schemes for visiting professors in the state.
Stressing the need to gain educational knowledge to promote self employment Secretary for Education mentioned that, the student’s community of today is fortunate to have several schemes in education sector which he pointed out needs to be derived by the students.
Earlier Shri Anil Kher who welcomed the guests briefly stressed on the motto behind organizing the educational summit 2012. Shri Kher said, when it comes to improving the quality education, there is a need to revise curriculum with benchmarking against the best in the world. Academic autonomy is also very important for better education.
Shri Shrinivas Dempo also spoke on the occasion.
Shri Atul Pai Kane proposed vote of thanks.
