Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said it was spending 12 percent of its budget on the education sector, which was “probably the highest among states and union territories across India”.
This was stated by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha while speaking at the maiden convocation of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST).
“J&K administration is spending 12 percent of its budget on education, which is probably the highest among states and UTs across India,” LG Sinha said.
The LG further assured that “there will be no shortage of money not only for IUST, but with regard to all (educational) institutions in the union territory”.
The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha called for imparting outcome-based education in educational institutions to bridge the gap between available human capital and industry requirements.
Speaking at the first convocation of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora, held here at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Sinha said the Union government accords high priority to the education sector.
There is a need to “encourage innovation at the university level through outcome-based education so that the network of science and management firms, research institutes, technology firms, technical services would also be added to it in the future,” Sinha said.
During the convocation, as many as 7,000 meritorious students, including 163 gold medalists were awarded degrees. In addition, 14 scholars were also awarded Doctorate and M.Phil degrees.
The LG, who is also the chancellor of the university, congratulated the graduating students and gold medalists for their academic performance, and the faculty members for shaping the young minds.
He also extended best wishes to the parents and family members of the students.
The LG observed that students from Jammu and Kashmir have high potential which is evident as a large number of them studying in higher education institutions.
Sinha called upon the student community to dedicate themselves towards building an ‘Aatmanirbhar’ Jammu and Kashmir.
Emphasising on the strengthening of the college-industry connect, covering skill gap, enhancing industry exposure and project-based experience while studying, the LG underlined the importance of developing capabilities and skills of youngsters to prepare them for modern global market trends.
“Competition can be fought only through innovation in every field. Education does not mean only information and learning. It is important for all of us to understand that education means invention. To become the most powerful country in the world, we have to engage the new generation into creative work,” the LG said.
Speaking on the importance of imparting moral values to youngsters, the LG observed that along with science and technology, our traditional sacrament values should also be promoted in the educational curriculum.
He said the New Education Policy stresses on making the education process holistic.
Education is not about a race to come first but it is about achieving the highest peak of values in life, he said.
The LG also laid emphasis on developing a student-centered instruction model to measure the performance of students and improving the quality and efficiency of graduating students as per the modern day industry requirements.
He said that the goal behind imparting science, technology and management studies in the higher education, is to make the country do better than other countries in the field of sustainable technology and to ensure socio-economic needs are met through innovative ideas at the grassroots level, besides building scientific and technological capacity for nation building, which can meet the challenges of present and future.
The LG underscored the significance of creating value addition in the field of education as per new education policy, wherein promising students of science, technology and management can contribute as per the needs of changing times.
While mentioning a report of Competitiveness ranking of the World Economic Forum which assesses the potential of the economy in the countries of the world, the LG observed that technology-based industrial development can be sustained only through sustainable innovation systems, which is a system to convert knowledge into wealth.
The LG said the future professionals are today’s IRC students – Intelligent, Reflective and Compassionate students — who should work as engine of development and innovation in all fields. “We have to give them a platform that can support them more in their research,” he added.
Addressing the young students and scholars, the LG advised them to come out of the theory-based mentality – the ‘college bubble’ — and adapt themselves with changing times.
“The intensity of search decides the outcome. It is the fire of quest that decides the birth of a new invention. Our primary focus should be the creation of individuality and turning the student into a powerful independent thinking individual. This will provide a solid base and a unique structure for innovative ideas,” observed the LG.
Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), Prof. D.P Singh also delivered the Convocation address on the occasion and congratulated the students of IUST who received their degrees today.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor, IUST Prof. Mushtaq A Siddiqi, presented a report, highlighting past achievements and future action plans of the university.
Member Parliament, Dr Farooq Abdullah; Mayor SMC, Junaid Mattu; Vice-Chancellors of various universities; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole; former Vice Chancellors of IUST; Members of Executive and Academic Councils of the IUST; senior functionaries of the university, besides the faculty and students attended the Convocation ceremony.
