HUGE INVESTMENTS REQUIRED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION: EXPERTS
Posted on: 12/Aug/2010 1:49:16 AM
The Three day 40th annual conference of the Indian Association for American Studies at Bharathiar University in Coimbatore was inaugurated on Wednesday at the University. It was organized jointly by the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai, and Bharathiar University. K. Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Maharashtra released abstracts of the conference.Pongalur N. Palanisamy, Minister for Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry , Michael P. Pelletier, Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, the U.S. Embassy, New Delhi , C. Swaminathan, Vice-Chancellor of the university , A. Thanikodi, Organising Secretary of the conference , and K.S. Purushothaman, President of IAAS participated in the function.
Mr. Sankaralingam in his speech said that The National Knowledge commission had estimated that India would require more than 15000 Universities by 2017 ,if we have to make the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is to be made 21 per cent by 2017 .India and the U.S. are poised for crucial partnerships that will shape the 21 st century. Higher education in the context of Indo-U.S. partnerships will be a win-win situation for both the countries, the Governor added.
We cannot afford to leave higher education to the vagaries of economy. Though the Government spending on higher education had increased, quality was still a point of contention. There was an urgent need for more students to opt for research in different areas he said further.
Michael P. Pelletier, Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, the U.S. Embassy, New Delhi, said it was necessary to teach and train the students of India and the U.S. to become citizens of the globe. Building on mutual strengths of both the countries would help overcome this challenge.
