NEW DELHI, Sept 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said education and innovation are important for development of a nation. Speaking after inaugurating the conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence at Vigyan Bhawan, Mr Modi said, ”Knowledge and education are not restricted to books.
The purpose of education is a balanced development of every dimension of a person and this development is not possible without innovation. Swami Vivekananda stressed on wholesome education that makes us a ‘human’.”
”In our ancient universities like Nalanda, Vikramshila and Takshashila both knowledge and innovation were given equal importance,” he added. Addressing the conference, being attended by vice-chancellors and directors of over 350 higher education institutions, the Prime Minister said, ”Innovation is very important because without it, life seems like a burden.”
He urged the students not to limit their knowledge to the classrooms of the College and University but also use it to meet the aspirations of the country.
He said the Central Government is striving to meet educational needs of the country at every level. ”The Government is striving to meet educational needs of the country at every level..With this vision, we have started the Atal Tinkering Lab in which focus is being given on encouraging innovation in school children.
Our Government is also focusing on investing in education. To improve the infrastructure of education, the RISE i.e. Revitalization of Infrastructure and Systems in Education program has been started. Under this, a target of Rs one lakh crore of investment has been set for 2022,” the PM said.
The theme of the conference , being organised by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the Research for Resurgence Foundation – a sister-concern of the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, is to deliberate on the challenges facing the Indian education system and to work out a plan for a paradigm shift both in terms of achieving academic outcomes and also in regulation of education.
The conference will be followed by breakout sessions covering thematic areas namely Improving pedagogy for learner centric education – use of artificial intelligence for customised learning From job seeking to job creating – ; improving innovation and entrepreneurship; Improving quality of research – focus on requirements of India ; Bringing synergy among educational institutions – pooling of academic resources like sharing of libraries and exchange of knowledge.
The other thematic areas to be covered in breakout sessions include building inclusive and integrated campuses – taking up activities which could bring emotional attachments of students to the campus; Participatory Governance models – facilitating participation of students in governance processes; Building robust financial models – supplementing Government resources by getting funds from alumni and also from corporate (CSR); Promoting value education by building in universal values and life skills into education. (UNI)
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