Quality, governance core issues in higher education: UCG chief
AMRITSAR: Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) celebrated its 48th foundation day, here on Friday. Emphasising on reforms in the education system, professor Virander S Chauhan, chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) said that the intellectual empowerment is a real goal of education and its autonomy has been an important factor for the emergence of philosophers.
Chauhan said that at the time of Independence, India had only 20 universities. Now, the number has risen to about 700. Over the years, education has been linked with jobs.
RNK Bamezai, former vicechancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, and Chiranjiv Singh, IAS (retd), president of the Alliance Francaise, Bangalore and former Ambassador of India at UNESCO, Paris were also present.
Bamezai said that quality and governance are the main issues in higher education.
“With limited resources, we have to produce high quality educated masses and ensure good governance of the educational institute,” he said.
Chiranjiv Singh said that ‘Dharam’ and ‘Mazhab’ are generally considered to be same but they are not. He said Dharam represents the method to achieve spiritual consciousness while Mazhab represent set of rules. Vice-chancellor, professor, Jaspal Singh Sandhu welcomed the guest.
The celebrations began with the bhog of Akhand Path at the University Gurdwara Sahib followed by the Shabad Kirtan. Langar was also served on the occasion.