The Education President
The book talks about President Mukherjee’s contribution to the field of higher education. O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) last week announced the launch of the book The Education President. Its first copy was presented to President Pranab Mukherjee during a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The book talks about President Mukherjee’s contribution to the field of higher education and was released by Vice-President Hamid Ansari. It has been published by the International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building (IIHEd), O.P. Jindal Global University. Speaking on the occasion, the President said, “There is an urgent need to focus on improving the quality of teaching, research and faculty in our universities. I hope the book will provide some valuable inputs to raise academic standards while promoting international benchmarks in excellence, quality and institutional governance.” Introducing the book, the lead author of the book, Prof C. Raj Kumar, said, “The book will seek to evaluate the role of the President of India within the legal, Constitutional and institutional framework. Its aim is to bring issues relating to institutional governance within the larger framework of accountability and transparency of higher education institutions.” The co-authors of the book — Yugank Goyal, Anamika Srivastava, Nisha Nair, Srinjoy Sarkar and Prateek Pathak — are faculty members of JGU. President Mukherjee also expressed concern over the falling standard of higher education in the country. However, he praised the role of the private sector in the education sphere. “Private institutions constitute about 60 per cent of students enrolled in higher education. Starting from 20 universities in 1950, we have come a long way as there are 712 universities in the country currently. However,
there is a need to highlight and rectify the declining quality in standards, particularly in the areas of higher learning when it comes to private institutions.” Yugank Goyal, who was present at the venue, said, “The book will highlight the contribution of President Mukherjee for his exemplary leadership and efforts in recognising that the future of India is solely dependent upon the ability to empower the higher education institutions.”
President Mukherjee receives first copy of book 'The Education President'
President Pranab Mukherjee received the first copy of a book titled 'The Education President on Wednesday at a function held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He received the book from Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari who formally released it. The book published by the International Institute for Higher Education Research and Capacity Building, O.P. Jindal Global University highlights President Mukherjee's contribution to the field of higher education as visitor to 116 institutions of higher learning in India. Speaking on the occasion, the President said, "It was the contradiction between our aspirations to occupy a place at the high table of the comity of nations and the reality of higher education in the country that motivated him to draw attention to the need to improve quality of higher education in the country." The President said India has a large higher education network comprising 757 universities and over 38,000 colleges, however, issues relating to quality and excellence are one of the biggest challenges, yet to be addressed comprehensively. "We must keep up with our own past. India could boast of having universities like Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri, which were global leaders in various times between the sixth century BC and twelfth century AD. Students and teachers from around the world attended these institutions," he said. President Mukhejee further stated that today in the absence of adequate number of good quality educational institutions, around 2 lakh students go overseas to study. "Similarly, while our teachers and students are both very talented, no Indian since CV Raman in 1930 has won the Nobel Prize from an Indian university. India pays minimum attention to research. Only 0.6 per cent of our GDP is spent on research as compared to 2.8 per cent of China's 10.38 trillion economy, three per cent in Japan and five per cent in USA. If we have to create a knowledge society, we must invest more in research and development," he added. The President said advanced societies recognize and honour scholars and teachers, adding that there should be cross fertilization of ideas and academic freedom. "It is with this purpose that he has taken with him delegations of Vice Chancellors and other heads of educations institutions on his State visits abroad," he said. The President thanked the International Institute of Higher Education Research and Capacity Building of O.P. Jindal Global University for recognizing the work that has been done in last four years by Rashtrapati Bhavan and publishing it in the form of this informative and analytical book. He said that his interaction with universities, faculty and students has enriched his life and expended horizons.
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