logo
Results of innovation should reach grassroots: Andhra governor S Abdul Nazeer

Results of innovation should reach grassroots: Andhra governor S Abdul Nazeer

ANANTAPUR: Governor and Chancellor S Abdul Nazeer presided over the 14th Convocation of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Anantapur, on Saturday.
The Governor awarded 41 gold medals to meritorious students and conferred an honorary doctorate on Dr Satyanarayana Chava, CEO of Lawrence Labs in Hyderabad. Pujith Kumar Reddy won six gold medals, the highest number, followed by Supraja with four.
JNTUA Vice-Chancellor (V-C) Professor Ph Sudarshana Rao presented the university's progress report. The Governor hailed the university's contribution to technical education across Rayalaseema and its implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
He stressed the need for skill-based learning, innovation, and inclusive development. He cited initiatives such as Quantum Valley, Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) job fairs, and the Viksit Bharat and Swarna Andhra 2047 missions as vital for creating a self-reliant and equitable India.
Nazeer urged students to explore rural innovation, engage with startups, and uphold civic responsibility. He quoted Abdul Kalam and Tagore, encouraging graduates to be skilled, compassionate leaders.
He concluded by wishing them a purposeful journey ahead, calling them the torchbearers of a developed India. Professor MR Madhav, former IIT Kanpur faculty, served as chief guest.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A critical look at UGC's recent regulations for Ph.D. guides, in the light of NEP 2020
A critical look at UGC's recent regulations for Ph.D. guides, in the light of NEP 2020

The Hindu

time2 days ago

  • The Hindu

A critical look at UGC's recent regulations for Ph.D. guides, in the light of NEP 2020

Academic research in India is once again at a pivotal crossroads. In a recent directive, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has stipulated that research supervisors for Ph.D. candidates must belong to institutions with recognised postgraduate research centres. This move, intended to ensure quality control and institutional accountability, comes at a time when the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is advocating the democratisation and decentralisation of research — starting right from undergraduate programmes. The apparent contradiction between these two directions raises fundamental questions about the future of research in India. Quality vs. accessibility On the surface, the UGC's intention seems well-founded. Research is a rigorous activity demanding access to institutional infrastructure, peer support, and ethical oversight. Restricting supervisors to PG research centres ensures that minimum academic standards are upheld. However, this measure inadvertently sidelines a vast cohort of capable researchers and teachers from UG colleges, who may possess strong academic credentials, extensive research experience, and proven track records but are now deemed ineligible solely due to institutional affiliation. The policy runs the risk of converting what should be an intellectually inclusive process into an exclusive club, centred around a few institutions with 'recognised' status. Is research potential a property of an institution or an individual? Individual merit This brings us to a crucial philosophical and pedagogical question: Should research supervision be institution-centric or individual-centric? There are several instances where professors in non-research PG colleges have published in high-impact journals, received fellowships, and mentored scholars informally with great success. By denying these individuals the ability to formally guide Ph.D. students, the system fails to recognise merit and performance outside bureaucratic boundaries. Ironically, NEP 2020 emphasises promoting research from the undergraduate level, allowing students to engage in high-level inquiry and innovation as early as the fourth year. How, then, do we reconcile this vision with a restrictive policy that limits who can guide future researchers? Repercussions The implications of this policy could be far-reaching. First, it may lead to overcrowding of researchers under a few supervisors in PG research centres, reducing the quality of mentorship. Second, it may demoralise qualified teachers in UG institutions who are eager to contribute to national knowledge production. Third, it creates a two-tiered system; those who are 'research-worthy' and those who are not, based not on talent but institutional status. Additionally, the assumption that only PG centres have the necessary infrastructure is increasingly outdated in the digital age. With open-access journals, virtual laboratories, collaborative tools, and global research networks, much of the academic work today transcends physical campuses. Need for balance A more nuanced framework is urgently needed: one that upholds academic quality while actively nurturing individual research talent. To begin with, merit-based accreditation should be introduced, allowing experienced faculty from non-PG research centres to independently apply to be Ph.D. guides based on academic credentials, such as publication records, citation indices, or leadership in funded research projects. In place of blanket bans on entire categories of institutions, regular institutional audits should be conducted to assess and certify research readiness in undergraduate colleges, ensuring that deserving institutions are not unfairly excluded. Additionally, collaborative mentorship models could be adopted, allowing for joint supervision where a researcher has a primary guide from a UG institution and a co-guide from a PG research centre, thereby encouraging mentorship diversity and inter-institutional learning. Policies must also be realigned with the NEP 2020's research-first vision, which calls for building research mentorship capacity across the academic spectrum — including UG colleges — instead of restricting it. Finally, investment in digital infrastructure is essential, enabling equitable access to research databases, tools, and collaborative platforms for all accredited institutions, thereby decentralising research power and making knowledge creation more inclusive. Research is not the privilege of a few but the responsibility of all in the academic ecosystem. UGC's commitment to quality is laudable, but it must not come at the cost of inclusivity and innovation. As India moves towards becoming a global knowledge hub, it is essential to ensure that the structures we build empower every capable mind, not just the ones housed in designated research centres. The strength of a nation's research culture lies not in institutional labels but in the intellectual spirit it chooses to nurture. The writer is a Professor and Head of the Department of English, M. J. College, Jalgaon, Maharashtra.

India is fast becoming a global hub of agri education: Ex-ICAR Dy D-G
India is fast becoming a global hub of agri education: Ex-ICAR Dy D-G

Hans India

time2 days ago

  • Hans India

India is fast becoming a global hub of agri education: Ex-ICAR Dy D-G

Dr R C Agrawal, former Deputy Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), highlighted that Indian agricultural education is becoming a global hub, with continually rising standards. He urged students to recognize the importance of agricultural education in achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat. He noted that the world is now looking to Indian agricultural education and encouraged students to embrace innovation. Speaking as the chief guest at the 'Workshop on Agricultural Education and Opportunities' held at the Horticulture College in Rajendranagar, he highlighted the crucial role that agro-based start-up industries play in India's ambition to become a 5 trillion USD economic powerhouse. Dr. Agrawal also pointed out that the application of Artificial Intelligence is expected to drive a rural revolution in the future, improving farmers' income sources. He predicted that by 2029, opportunities in this sector would reach a value of 6.58 billion USD, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.8 percent. forecasted that by 2040, there will be 1.77 million job opportunities in agriculture, with an annual increase of over 8 percent. Dr Danda Rajireddy, Vice Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticultural University (SKLTHU), stated that universities are being equipped with the necessary infrastructure, thanks to support from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the state government. He affirmed that the standards of Indian agricultural education are now competitive globally.

Delhi: JNU's MSc Biotech programme gets flexible exit, entry options
Delhi: JNU's MSc Biotech programme gets flexible exit, entry options

Hindustan Times

time2 days ago

  • Hindustan Times

Delhi: JNU's MSc Biotech programme gets flexible exit, entry options

The School of Biotechnology (SBT) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is introducing multiple level entry and exit options for their MSc Biotechnology programme from the academic session 2025-26, the first round of admissions of which is ongoing. This comes as an effort to align the programme with the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. JNU. (PTI) Under the new framework, students who complete one year of the two-year master's course will be awarded with a Postgraduate Diploma in Biotechnology and students who complete two years will get a postgraduate degree, the dean of SBT, Balaji (goes by first name), said on Friday. 'Students will not be applying separately for the diploma. Instead, those who complete the first year of the program can choose to exit after the second semester with the diploma, provided they meet all academic requirements and inform the department in advance,' Balaji told HT on Friday. He added, 'In addition to this, a new one-year (Research) program is now being offered as a lateral entry option. This flexible program is open to students who have either completed the first year of an in Biotechnology at another institute or finished a four-year undergraduate degree with a research component.' However, Balaji clarified that the admission to this programme depends on seat availability from the regular two-year course. 'We have a total of 30 seats available in the MSc programme as of now. So if 24 seats have been filled in the first year and we have seven seats left, then those seats will be offered in lateral entry in the second year,' he clarified. The second year will focus less on theory and more on research, as students will engage in full-time, year-long research project, working closely with faculty on contemporary problems in biotechnology and allied areas. 'To foster critical thinking and discussion, the program includes a vibrant Journal Club, where students analyze recent scientific papers and engage in peer debate, an experience that builds scientific literacy, public speaking, and analytical skills,' Balaji said. Registration for the first round of admission to SBT is scheduled to end on June 26.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store