VCs call for virtual education, more research

Mysuru: Bombarded with suggestions from Vice Chancellors of 19 universities and experts on ways to improve higher education in the state here on Wednesday, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy responded that he was open to  enforcing them using his “God given opportunity (to be CM)” and  promised to hold another meeting to discuss the ideas presented.

Advising the universities to come up with project reports revolving around their suggestions, he promised to introduce a pilot project based on them to improve the quality of higher education in the state. In his view,  educationists needed to lay emphasis on the dress code and mannerisms of lecturers as well to help them make a better impact on the students.

The Chief Minister, who was interacting with the VCs and experts on the challenges of higher education in Karnataka , gave a patient hearing while the Vice Chancellor of Gulbarga University spoke of the mismatch between conservative education, which had remained the same for over 60 years and the needs of the job market. Quoting NACOM he said universities were today producing only 25 per cent employable students and called for  increase in funds for research.

Vice Chancellor M S Subhash of Vijaynagar University, suggested encouraging public- private sharing of faculty and resources like laboratories and  upgradation of technologies for providing virtual education to students. JSS University Vice Chancellor,  B Suresh also called for virtual education to match the demand of students for “anytime anywhere education.”  Bangalore University Vice Chancellor, Venugopal stressed the need  for introducing counselling centres , yoga and meditation n campuses and improving soft skills such as the learning of different languages for better communication. Mr Kumarswamy later inaugurated a stall at the Dasara exhibition showcasing the facilities of all 19 universities.