Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Dec 5: Calling upon the academicians to work hard for taking University of Jammu to the pinnacles of excellence, the Union Minister of State with Independent Charge of North Eastern States, Dr. Jitendra Singh today observed that quantity has taken the toll of quality in education and much of the aberration in the contemporary education scenario is the result of inability to appreciate that, with the passage of years, the focus has shifted from providing accessible education to standard education.
The Union Minister while addressing a high level meeting of the deans, directors, heads of various departments and campuses and officers of the University of Jammu here this morning said this is evident from the fact that even as we compliment ourselves for opening new universities or more and more university campuses, the local students still prefer to move out and seek admission in other universities while seats in many of the departments in the universities back home remain unfilled.
Prof. R. D. Sharma, Vice- Chancellor University of Jammu was also present on the occasion.
Maintaining that faculty and research are the two crucial components of achieving excellence, the Union Minster said “challenges have increased manifold, especially in the wake of the outreach of the campuses across the Jammu region and they can be overcome only by providing quality education”,.
Emphasizing that the education pattern at any given time is determined by the socio-economic milieu of the given time, Dr Jitendra Singh said, at the time of independence in 1947, the thrust was on opening more and more education institutions and universities in order to bring higher education within the reach of the country’s population, because at that time the colleges or universities were located far and wide. In 2015, on the other hand, he said, particularly in the wake of the arrival of corporate sector and multinational companies, the youngsters have realized much earlier than their elders that a mere degree from any university is not sufficient to fetch them a job which was possible till a few years ago because the major employer at that time was Government sector, but now, with the emergence of corporate employers, there is greater scrutiny about the very genesis and the background of the degree itself.
At a time when India is on the verge of emerging as world power and more than 70% of its population is going to be below the age of 35 years, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is our responsibility towards the youth of this country to work for an education mechanism which is capable of producing job creators instead of job seekers who will, in turn, be the torch-bearers of “Startup India, Standup India” mission. Citing several examples, he said, the paradox is that the toppers from the IITs end up becoming IAS officers and PhD scholars in biotechnology end up becoming CEOs in computer companies, simply because misplaced priorities gain precedence over inherent talent and aptitude.
Narrating an interesting anecdote, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled how a few months ago, the Vice Chancellor of the prestigious Cambridge University, during a visit to Delhi, complemented him for Indian students in very large numbers opting for PhD in Cambridge. Even as he acknowledged the compliment, he knew in heart of hearts that in Britain, a boy or a girl would take up PhD course only when he or she has decided to devote the rest of the life for research in that field, whereas for an Indian, a PhD degree from Cambridge can serve as a “trophy” for securing a job, sometimes even in a field unrelated to the subject of his study.
Responding to the demand for more funds for the univeristy from the J&K State ex-chequer, Dr Jitendra Singh said, although this falls in the purview of the State Government, he will take up this issue on their behalf. From his side, meanwhile, he offered to pursue the demand for a Kendriya Vidyalaya for the children of the University faculty and also negotiate with the Defence Authorities for acquiring extra land in the vicinity of the university campus. About another demand regarding bringing-up of an additional hostel for students, he said this may not be permissible from his MP-LAD fund because the Jammu University campus does not fall in his constituency, but he will certainly arrange for funds for the Kathua campus.
Lauding the commitment of the university faculty and the unrelenting followup of issues by proactive Vice Chancellor Prof. R.D. Sharma, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the role of academicians today is no longer confined to simply imparting classroom lessons, but also to provide new direction in academics, in the context of emerging new India and for this, not only the students, but even their parents and guardians need to be brought on board.
Speaking during the interactive session the heads of various departments put forth their views and also apprised the Minister about academic activities, research, development and other achievements, ongoing and future projects and plans and different issues of their respective departments including the shortage of space being faced by the University and the various other project which need immediate attention of the Government agencies.
Earlier speaking on the occasion, Prof. R. D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu gave a brief overview of the major developmental activities going on in the main campus and the offsite campuses of the University of Jammu.
Prof. Archana Kesar, Dean Research Studies and Prof. Keshav Sharma, Registrar, University of Jammu also spoke on the occasion.
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