• QS I-Guage 2nd Academic Excellence Conclave inaugurated
• SPPU Vice Chancellor says transforming education system is big task in India
Pune (Voice News Service): IIT Madras Director Prof. V Kamakoti on Thursday emphasised on making education accessible and affordable for all students in India. “We should focus on improving gross enrolment ratio of school students, interdisciplinary education and research mindset, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation and internationalisation of Indian knowledge system. We are at the cusp of a change and hence we should make education accessible and affordable for all,” Prof Kamakoti stated while addressing the 2nd Academic Excellence Conclave organised by QS I-Guage in Pune.
Savitribai Phule Pune University Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Suresh Gosavi, Prof (Dr) Rajan Saxena, Former Vice Chancellor at NMIMS and Advisor to FICCI HEI, Dr Ashwin Fernandes, Regional Director, QS and CEO QS I-Guage, Ravin Nair, Chief Operating Officer, QS I-Guage were present during the inaugural session of the conclave themed ‘Charting India’s Global Education Path: A time-bound Roadmap.’
Prof Kamakoti said, “Stakeholders within the education system in India need to cultivate a mindset of interdisciplinary education and research in school students and intervene to create more employers by promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. Institutes like IITs and other stakeholders need to intervene at rural levels and make education accessible and affordable for all students across India.”
Dr Gosavi said, “India is one of the fastest growing economies globally. Transforming the education system is a big task in India with more than 40 per cent population looking for quality education. While theoretically it is possible to create a time-bound roadmap for India’s global education path, it is more situation-based system and for that we need to statistically evaluate the database.”
Prof Dr Saxena said, “India is attracting less than 50 thousand international students. We need to improve our institutional reputation at global levels. If we invest in faculty competence development, student centricity, increase funding for PhD programs , leverage digital technology and skills and reach out to the world market then we can make a significant improvement in our education system in the coming decade.”
Dr Ashwin Fernandes said, “Out of 45 Indian Universities that are in the latest edition of QS World University Ranking, we have only 3 from state of Maharashtra and 1 from Pune city. The title for Pune as ‘Oxford of the East’ needs to be regained. It is today even more apt and relevant to create a time-bound roadmap for charting India’s global education path. We must use our collective ability to build India as a global higher education hub. We should envision a future where every student is empowered.”
Ravin Nair said, “We have observed growing emphasis on innovation and research, a shift towards experiential and interdisciplinary learning, a greater focus on employability and skills of students. The profound deliberations in the conclave will serve as invaluable insights in dealing with challenges faced by the education sector.”
Sejal Samar Jodhawat and Raghav Sharma compered the function.
