HIGHER EDUCATION

A seminar on “Higher Education: Affirmative Action and Skill Gaps” was organised by Observer Research Foundation at OFR Conference Room, 20 Rouse Avenue, New Delhi on 21st December 2012 with an objective to emphasize on the need to turn the country’s huge demographic resources into fruitful ways to take our Nation as one of the developed economies.

Mr. Vinay Nassa, Professor (Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering) and Mr. Vijay Wakhlu, Associate Professor (Department of Mechanical Engineering) represented Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon in the National seminar where they came to know the current policies, skill gaps and information related to higher education and.

Inaugurating the seminar, Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State of Human Resource Development, New Delhi expressed that there is a need to establish a body with statutory authority to prescribe academic standards, norms of accreditation, and mechanisms of financing and governance of institutions. Hon’ble Minister also shared that a draft bill to create such an authority in higher education is in offing. Another speaker, Dr. Ved Prakash, Chairman University Grants Commission, New Delhi talked about the Govt.’s role in granting permission for opening Institutes. He outlined three areas namely autonomy, penalty clause and research innovation which may be helpful to the development in Higher Education.

Other panellists like Prof. Jeemal Unni, Director, Institute of Rural Management, Anand,Gujrat; Shri. J. P. Rai – Executive Director at Prime Minister’s National Council on skill development; Dr. Pramath Sinha – CEO of 9.9 media and former Director at McKinsey & Co; Mr. Tobias Linden Lead Education Specialist, the World Bank and Mr. Harsh Sethi – Moderator stated that the country is having large number of young people who are getting opportunities for education higher learning. It has been surveyed and found that many of them are fairly satisfied. Undoubtedly, it is time to rethink about innovation and creativity on the science of education, role of the state Govt. and qualitative education.

The seminar was a great success and the participants learnt some relevant tools for improvement in higher education.