Varsities told to redesign curricula to attain global standards

Visakhapatnam: The higher education in India is facing new challenges in the backdrop of political developments across the world and merging of various technologies, observed Dr S R Rao, Advisor, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Delivering Graduation Day address at the GITAM Centre for Distance Learning (CDL) here on Friday, Dr Rao informed that nations like US have been taking new decisions on allowing foreign students which will have a great impact on Indian higher education and particularly, universities in the country must redesign the curricular on par with world education. Asking the universities to understand the merging of technologies, he said that smart phone is a great example to redesign the curriculum because it is a mixed form of 17 technologies.

He said the Centre is inviting Indian intellectuals working abroad and as a result, about 3,000 scientists have shown interest to work with Indian research organistions, adding that the number will be increased in future.He mentioned that there is not much difference between distance mode and the conventional form of education provided the learner possessed a strong will power. Later, he presented gold medals and certificates to students at the Graduation Day.

GIAM Chancellor Prof K Ramakrishna Rao said that they were aiming at bringing higher education to remote areas with less expenditure.Vice-Chancellor Prof M S Prasada Rao said that the distance mode is contributing 22 per cent to higher education in the country. GITAM Centre for Distance Learning Director Prof T Srinivas, Gitam Vice-President Prof M Gangadhara Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof K Sivarama Krishna, Registrar Prof M Potharaju and Gitam CDL Advisor Prof G Suryanarayana were also present.