IMPHAL, October 10: Manipur University in association Azim Premji University organized a National Seminar on ‘New Dimension of Higher Education 2012’ at Court Hall at the University campus today.
The inaugural function was attended by Works Minister Kh Ratankumar as the chief guest. Vice-chancellor of MU, prof. HNK Sharma and prof. Reshmi Mitra of Azim Premji University were the functional president and guest of honour respectively.
The chief quest in his speech stated that higher education is a powerful tool of empower the society and universities have to acquire new capabilities to further build up the human resources.
The importance of providing quality higher education to bring about a change in the society to bring about development holistically was also pressed by the speaker. He voiced that the resolution concluded in the seminar would be pivotal in augmenting the educational policies of the State and for the Nation.
Prof. Reshmi Mitra shared her perspective on the probability of the higher education status in the country in regard to 2025 A.D. She mentioned the need for creation of ‘Navaratra Universities’ or 9 Universities which are of World class stature.
Adding that there is need for creating better access for the public in availing higher education.
Mitra observed that Manipur has a status of better accessibility as compared to other states.
She observed that hindrances may be there due to financial lacking or due to uneffective policies of the Government.
However, she also highlighted that education is also best given even in a problematic situation as both teacher and student views that being educated will lead them towards a way out of the situation.
Prof. HNK Sarma dwelled on the need for the Universities of the nation to further develop and a to be par with the other world class universities. He observed that there are only 500 universities catering to a population of 1.5 billion and that is insufficiency in giving higher education to the masses, a thousand universities should come up, he said.
He mentioned that there ha to be a vision, new ideas to bring up the universities to better address the lackings suffered at present and also to provide quality higher education.