A file photo of HRD minister Smriti Irani. Photo: PTI
On Thursday, Union minister of human resource development Smriti Irani chaired a conference of 46 central university vice-chancellors at Surajkund, Haryana. There were several resolutions passed unanimously at the conference. While one of the proposals, the mandatory flying of the flag, dominated most of the discourse, several other suggestions were made.
Here’s a list of all the resolutions passed in the conference:
1. In order to optimize academic output of the student community, universities will institutionalize peer-assisted learning through an active mentoring system involving senior students and faculty.
2. To ensure a transparent proactive mechanism for grievance redressal of the university community, including students, staff and faculty, steps will be taken to appoint an anti-discrimination officer.
3. To increase cost-effective and transparent access to higher education, online admission process will be commenced.
4. To increase gross enrolment ratio to 30% in higher education, steps will be taken to increase access through starting classes in double shifts to overcome the infrastructure and human resource bottlenecks.
5. In order to keep pace with the fast emerging knowledge society in the global world, new and innovative courses have been proposed to prepare for the future needs of the nation:
a) Social Sciences and Humanities
(i) Applied courses in Foreign Languages
(ii) New Media and Youth
(iii) Inter-faith Studies
(iv) Dialogue of culture and civilizations
(v) Women and entrepreneurship
(vi) Epidemiology and public health
(vii) Gerontology
(viii) Citizenship and value education
(ix) Diaspora studies
b) Science, Technology and Agriculture
(i) Nano-technology
(ii) Converging technologies
(iii) Applied Science and Maths
(iv) Farming technology
(v) Rural supply chain management
(vi) Renewable energy development
6. In order to ensure that no student is deprived of higher education due to language limitation, universities will ensure instruction in English and an Indian language as applicable to the state.
7. To enable students to take correct personal and professional decisions, steps will be taken to implement a professional system of comprehensive guidance and counselling by experts.
8. In order to ensure a healthy, safe and congenial work environment for women, students, staff and faculty, institutionalize a suitable redressal mechanism and strengthen the existing system.
9. At a central place at every university, the national flag will be flown prominently and proudly.
10. To motivate students to be socially aware and become responsible citizens and to inculcate a spirit of dignity of labour among the youth and commitment for social upliftment, village adoption programme already in place under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan be strengthened.
11. For ensuring transparency in and speedy delivery of services, administrative reforms coupled with e-governance will be taken up on priority.
12. One-week course on leadership and management at two select IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) for vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors and registrars.
[“source-Livemint”]