Vellore: The new education policy (NEP) has several good features that will augur well for higher education, especially fostering research and promoting quality of education throughout the country, G. Viswanathan founder chancellor, VIT University, said on Friday.
He urged both the Central and state governments to raise the per capita spending on research on a par with South Korea and USA.
Wondering if those opposing NEP had really understood the implications, Viswanathan said the T.S.R. Subramaniam Committee had recommended the establishment of 100 centres of high quality research in India with an annual investment of '1,900 crore.
“I am happy that the committee has also recommended the setting up of council of excellence in higher education. Also, it dealt with the problems of education, particularly quality of teachers, their non-availability and training for teachers. I don’t know if political parties have gone through the 317-page report,” he said while delivering the presidential address at VIT university’s 31st annual convocation.
Stating that per capita expenditure on research and development in India was the lowest in the world — a mere 39 $ compared to South Korea which spends 1,500 $ and USA: $1,400, he said even scientists that India produces is less accounting to 157 per million population. Whereas China produced 900, USA: 3,800, Korea: 5,300 and Japan: 5,100 scientists per million population.
“We don’t spend much and are not encouraging research. We also lack in patents,” he said and added VIT University would aim to address these challenges.
The university has been focusing on imparting quality education.
As per NIRF ranking, the varsity is the 13th among 3,800 universities and private engineering colleges and ranked number one among private institutions.
Among the 4,300 universities and colleges offering MBA and PGDBM, VIT is ranked 17th among the top business varsities and fifth among private institutions.
Delivering the convocation address, K. Ganesan, vice president, Human resources, Tata Consultancy Services, said, today’s globalised economy necessitated a vast reservoir of well educated engineers and technologists capable of undertaking complex tasks with comfort and deliver the same with professional fitness.
