Pune, Oct 23 (UNI) In order to improve the quality of education and
attend world-class standard, the central government has resolved to
promote and support 20 institutions of higher education as
institutes of eminence to grant them recruitment and curricula
flexibility, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Tuesday.
Addressing the 15th convocation of Symbiosis International
University here, he appreciated the breadth of Indian higher
education saying there is a massive network of 903 universities and
39,050 colleges in India.
But there are still gaps in quality and in attaining world-class
excellence across the spectrum, he noted and said therefore to fill
these gaps, the government has decided to promote and support 20
institutions of higher education as institutes of eminence by giving
them leeway in recruitment and curricula to reach the best-in-class
global standards.
Recalling India's heritage as a centre of learning for centuries,
the President pointed that knowledge has neither gender nor
geographical boundaries.
"From Taxila to Nalanda, the subcontinent’s age-old universities
attracted students from different parts of Asia and beyond. In
modern times as well, our campuses have been open to and welcoming
talented young people from many countries, especially those from our
neighborhood and Africa (a continent with which we have a special
relationship)," he said.
Mr Kovind further said that 46,144 international students from 166
countries study in various colleges, universities and institutions
of higher learning in India while appreciating a significant role
played by Symbiosis in this process.
He expressed joy about 329 graduate students were from 33 countries
other than India.
The President said, "This adds to the multicultural and cosmopolitan
atmosphere of your campus, and promotes goodwill among nations. I
would like to congratulate the international graduates, particularly
the young man from Uganda who has won the Outstanding Foreign
Student Award. ...I am confident you are departing as lifelong
friends and unofficial ambassadors of India."
"I am happy to be here today for the 15th convocation of Symbiosis
International Deemed University. A convocation ceremony is a
milestone for an educational institution as well as for the
graduating students. I congratulate each one of the 5,939 students
who are being awarded degrees today," he said.
On the occasion, the President also congratulated innovator and
education reformist Sonam Wangchuk, the pride of Ladakh and one of
the inspirations for the well-known film '3 Idiots', for being
conferred a Doctorate of Literature (Honoris Causa) degree.
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