President delivers convocation address at IISER, Pune

President Pranab Mukherjee delivered Convocation Address at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) today here at Pune. He also inaugurated the Academic Complex of the Institute and an Innovation Exhibition.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said,"science plays a vital role in the advancement of human life. Its study is central to technological progress. To prepare our nation to switch to a knowledge-based society, greater emphasis has been laid on science education. IISERs are a product of this effort to push the country to the frontiers of scientific knowledge."

The President stated that greater internationalization and collaboration with top global institutes, hiring of foreign faculty and drawing of students from abroad must receive sustained focus. Centres of Excellence must be built to nurture the core competence of our institutions in select areas.

The President emphasized, "our institutions must never be found wanting in their proclivity for cutting-edge research. They must identify and initiate new and frontier research, especially in multi-disciplinary areas in energy, environment and health. They must forge collaborations with reputed international institutions, which they can leverage for international research funding. They must promote innovation and act as a platform for the flowering of ingenuous ideas in common man."

The President also said, "our institutions and other stakeholders in the educational domain must have the requisite functional systems within them to realize the multiple goals for quality up-gradation. This calls for a governance structure in the higher academic institutions that is flexible, monitorable and transparent. This will facilitate quick decision-making and enable adequate support for creative pursuits."

He said that our country today requires a pool of talented science graduates. IISERs must be geared to train students to pursue rewarding careers in science and technology.