Pallam Raju seeks reforms in higher education system

Seeking innovative reforms in the higher education system, Union Human Resource Development Minister M M Pallam Raju today said it was unfortunate that no Indian university was among the top 200 varsities in the world.
"It's unfortunate that no Indian varsity is amongst the top 200 universities of the world. For shortage of good academic institutions, many meritorious students prefer foreign institutions for higher studies," Raju said addressing the third convocation of Central University of Orissa here.
"Necessary steps are to be taken to revive the lost glory of our higher education system as enumerated in our history and take at least a few of our varsities into the global top league," he added.

The HRD minister said the drive towards innovation should benefit the persons who are not sound and stable from the socio-economic point of view.
"Though, innovation is the key to future progress, the drive for innovation in our country is weak as we lack the systems that encourage and generate innovations," he said.
"There is a need to strengthen the system of research mobilisation, inter-disciplinary and inter-university research collaborations and industry-academia collaboration. Distributive justice, as a higher goal of democratic polity, can be achieved only through a sound education system," Raju added.
Noted social activist Padma Shri Tulsi Munda was conferred the Degree of Doctor (Honoris Causa) by the CUO and at least eight students of the varsity who have secured top positions in their respective departments were awarded the University Gold Medals for the academic session 2011-13.

In his Presidential address, Prof (Dr) K Srinath Reddy, Chancellor of CUO, described the nature of modern education as "problem solving education" and opined that education should pass through stages of knowledge and information and enable transformation.