DIBRUGARH, Dec 6 - The two-day conclave of the vice-chancellors of eastern zone under Association of Indian Universities (AIU) concluded late on Saturday evening at Dibrugarh University.
One of the resolutions was to propose to the AIU for facilitating Industry-Academia interfacing through formation of appropriate forum with representatives from industries, Ministry of the Government of India and the Universities.
The two-day conclave of the Eastern Zone of the Association of Indian Universities covering all the Northeastern States, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and part of Uttar Pradesh had started on December 4.
Altogether 36 vice-chancellors and their nominees participated in the deliberations during the two-day event. In the four different scientific sessions, the keynote addresses were delivered by Professor Prabuddha Ganguli, MHRD IPR Chair Professor of Tezpur University and the CEO Vision IPR, Mumbai, Professor Dhrubajyoti Saikia, Vice-Chancellor, Cotton College State University, Dr Bhupati K Das, Management Consultant and former MD, NRL and Bharat Oman Petrochemicals Ltd. Bhopal, and Professor G N Pandey, Vice-Chancellor, Arunachal University of Studies.
In the discussion initiated by Prof Ganguli, the key issues relating to integrating the components of IPR with Innovation and Skill Development were focused with a major recommendation to exploit the digital media network and sharing of IPR teaching and Human Resource Development in the Universities of the region.
Professor Dhrubajyoti Saikia in his keynote address on 'Fostering Social Entrepreneurship and Grassroots Innovation by higher education institutions' presented case studies of successful innovation in the grassroots through social entrepreneurship citing examples of Md Yunnis in Micro financing, Bunkar Roy in education institution building, etc.
In an address on Industry-Academia collaboration for skilling India through higher education, Dr Bhupati K Das discussed the different issues pertaining to this vital topic. One of the resolutions during the conclave of the V-Cs was to propose to the AIU for facilitating Industry-Academia interfacing through formation of appropriate forum with representatives from industries, Ministry of the Government of India and the Universities.
Professor G N Pandey, Vice-Chancellor, Arunachal University of Studies, focused on skill development in the sectors of agriculture, manufacturing and service taking into account the specific context of each state of the region.
Professor Alak Kr Buragohain, Vice-Chancellor of the host university, made a strong point for special attention of the Government of India for establishment of Centres for Studies in International Relations and Strategic Defence Studies and Centre for Studies in Natural Resource Management in the Universities of the North East considering the strategic location of the region in close proximity to the International Border with the South East Asia and the rich natural endowments of the region.
Professor Furqan Qamar, Secretary General of the AIU stated that there are serious infrastructural impediments and procedural constraints affecting the process of harnessing the talents of the faculties and students in our higher educational institutions specially the universities.
He also called for deepening the engagement of the Universities for promoting innovations, skill developments and entrepreneurship amongst the students and the faculty members of the Universities. He was also highly appreciative of the developments at Dibrugarh University.
