Katra/Jammu, November 25 (Scoop News) – N. N. Vohra, Jammu and Kashmir Governor, today said that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University has entered into collaborative understandings with twenty eminent national and international institutions for undertaking joint researches and exchanges of teachers and students enabling the faculty and the students to be engaged in researches in the frontier areas of science and engineering. He hoped that this connectivity with varied reputed institutions, along with other initiatives, would lead to making this University a leading centre of excellence for research, teaching and innovation, all over the country and across the world.
The Governor was speaking at the Third Convocation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), at the University Campus here today where s. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India, was the Chief Guest, who delivered the Convocation Address.
The President gave away medals and certificates of appreciation to the outstanding students at the Convocation.
The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the University, presided over the Convocation while Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, was the Guest of Honour at the Convocation.
The Governor thanked the various departments and agencies of the Government of India which have provided financial support for the University for undertaking several high end research projects. He said that presently the University is engaged in a programme to significantly expanding its physical infrastructure and inducting well qualified teachers to enlarge its faculties.
The Governor expressed his gratitude to the founders and well wishers of the University which has emerged as the first technical and fully residential University in the State. He said that the establishment of this institution is recognized as one of the significant initiatives taken by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board which has so far invested about Rs. 200 crore to establish the Campus. He added that the University provides learning in varied contemporary subjects of national importance at the graduate, post-graduate and doctoral levels. It has four Colleges and 14 Schools. Over 1100 students of the 2004 to 2009 batches have passed out from the University and a good number of them have been able to secure attractive placements in some of the reputed industrial and business establishments in the country.
The Governor thanked the President for kindly accepting his request for being the Chief Guest at the Convocation.
s. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President of India while delivering the Convocation address, said that “It gives me great pleasure to participate in the Convocation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, which was set up in 2004 as a residential institution for providing scientific and technical education. This University has since then made significant progress in its endeavour to be a centre for excellence. Reputation of institutions is a product of the hardwork and commitment of those involved in their establishment and functioning.
In her speech she wished all associated with this University – the Chancellor, the Vice- Chancellor, professors, lecturers, staff and students – the very best for a bright future. I would like to heartily congratulate the students who have graduated and those who got awards today.
She said that during my visit here in 2008, three years ago, I had the opportunity to visit universities in the State. I accord high priority to interacting with students and youth of the country as they are the ones who will shape the future. This is also the generation that will have the exciting possibility of being a part of India‘s journey to becoming one of the leading nations of the world. This will happen if we invest in building capabilities and capacities of our youth. I believe the education of the youth is an essential and most valuable investment for any country for its growth and prosperity. Education is like building a bridge to opportunities; it prepares one to participate fully in the many aspects of life by making informed choices; it equips one to face the challenges of the future with confidence.
President said that It is an invaluable asset whose utility defies quantification as so numerous are its manifold benefits. To provide value-based quality education is an objective that is particularly important in India, where the median age of our population is around 25 years, and more than half of the country’s population is young people. Universalizing primary education by making it a Fundamental Right for children in the age group of 6 to 14 years, alongwith a commitment to universalize secondary education will spread the reach of school education in our country. This expansion will also mean that our education pyramid would have to look at increasing the number of higher education institutions. This process has to be structured with great thoughtfulness. The challenge of expanding higher education is not just about making room for an ever larger number of students, it is also about having these numbers flow into the right streams and sectors. Moreover, education must also reach all boys and girls of every section of our society, so that the aspiration to realize their full potential becomes a reality for all in our country.
A nation requires a range of qualifications and professional skills. A comprehensive education system must, therefore produce people who can meet job requirements, who can become good professionals because of their aptitude, whether they are doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, researchers, scientists or managers. It needs to produce innovators and entrepreneurs. It needs farmers who can produce agricultural products with greater knowledge and Research and Development inputs, with better utilization of resources, with a greater ability to access knowledge systems and to integrate with other sectors of the economy by forging linkages for production, marketing or value addition with industry to make agriculture more remunerative.
Choosing the right technologies to put the nation or your own State on the path of rapid development requires technology foresight. We need large scale industrialization and we also need to have effective rural technology delivery. Recognizing that science and technology, Research and Development and their applications, require a boost in the country; we are looking at the ten years from 2010 to 2020 as the Decade of Innovation. This is because we need new solutions – technological and otherwise – in many areas to achieve sustainable growth in agriculture, in energy, in renewable energy, in urban development, in water management, in manufacturing and, indeed, in every activity. Innovations are required at the level of both high-end cutting edge technologies, as well as at a level of common usage by people in their daily lives. I believe that science and technology institutions like yours have a leading role to play in this field, so that the latent talents and creative energy of our people find an expression.
Speaking on the occasion, Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, said that it is a singular honour for all of us to have the President at the 3rd Convocation of the SMVDU. He hoped that the students passing out from this University today would contribute significantly towards the development and prosperity of the country and the State. “You have to rise to the occasion and prove your mettle”, he asked the students. He expressed firm hope that they will become leaders in the varied fields of activity by dint of their talents, quality education and hard work.
The Governor awarded Ph. D, M. Tech, M. Sc, M. A and B. Tech degrees to 672 students. He congratulated all those who received degrees, honours and awards at the Convocation and wished them high success in their future careers. He also signed the Scroll Award of Degrees, which was followed by oath taking by the degree recipients.
Earlier, Prof. R. N. K. Bamezai, Vice Chancellor, SMVDU, presented the report of the varsity, giving details of its rapid growth and development as well as the past achievements and future plan of action. He also spoke about the teaching and research facilities already made available and those in the pipeline to make SMVDU a centre of global excellence.
Prominent among those present on the occasion were Speaker, State Legislative Assembly, Ministers, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Members of Parliament, Legislators, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Vice Chancellors of the various Universities in the State, Members of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Chief Executive Officer and other senior functionaries of the Shrine Board, members of the Executive and Academic Councils of the University, prominent personalities from various walks of life, senior officers, Faculty Members, students of the University and their parents.
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