E-Paper
?Time for varsities to become self-reliant?
NOTED SCIENTIST Prof Ashok Sadanand Kolaskar laid stress on the need for universities to be self-reliant and said their dependence on government funds should be reduced.
NOTED SCIENTIST Prof Ashok Sadanand Kolaskar laid stress on the need for universities to be self-reliant and said their dependence on government funds should be reduced.
He suggested universities adopt an earn-and learn-pattern and introduce the latest subjects. Talking to Hindustan Times, Prof Kolaskar said the days of government funding of higher education were numbered.
He further said, “We should not confine ourselves to traditional subjects and introduce modern ones.”
Kolaskar said as a member of the National Knowledge Council, he had handed over a detailed report to the prime minister to make basic changes in the educational system and improve the academic atmosphere.
“We should gear up for the changing scenario.” He cited the instance of Pune University, where he was the Vice-Chancellor. Prof Kolaskar said he took over as the V-C, there was Rs 30 crore in the university account. But, by the time he left the university, the amount had gone up to Rs 250 crore.
Prof Kolaskar said he had introduced 190 new courses and branches in various subjects, which attracted 2,500 foreign students from 80 countries. He claimed that the Pune University got Rs 10 lakh in foreign currency as admission fee annually.
Prof Kolaskar, who had launched the science distribution information network, was here to participate in the 26th convocation of the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University.
He called for a mixture of technological inputs and knowledge for survival and growth. “You should be at your best always to face the challenges of the current era,” he added.
He also said he was against the political interference in the university, adding that he had refused to participate in a programme organised by the Employees’ Association of Pune University. The then Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi was invited as the chief guest at that function. The V-C had informed Joshi and the latter cancelled his programme.
