University education should open minds of students: Ansari

The purpose of university education should be to open the minds of the students leading to thirst for knowledge, Vice President Hamid Ansari said here today.
Expressing serious concern over the quality of higher education in the country, Ansari observed that not a single university from India figured in the list of top 200 universities in the world.
"There is a need to re-evaluate and re-examine our teaching and examination methods and to impart education that will also promote employability," the Vice President said while interacting with the students and faculty members of Dr D Y Patil University at Nerul in Navi Mumbai.

Earlier, there used to be an emphasis on essay writing, which prompted students to think in a structured manner and express themselves without ambiguity, he said.
"There is a need to go back to those time-tested methods of teaching to create a new breed of enlightened citizens," he added.
Referring to the social media, Ansari said it is a modern technology tool, which has given freedom to many to express themselves. "However, the emphasis should be on the end product, to judge it whether it is good or bad," he added.
Ansari earlier inaugurated the new complex of Dnyan Vidya Niketan and Junior College building of the Dr D Y Patil University.

Governor of Maharashtra K Sankaranarayanan, Governor of Bihar Dr D Y Patil and Guardian Minister of Thane Ganesh Naik were among the dignitaries present.