ROURKELA: Teachers should influence students to expand their inner horizons and actualise their intrinsic potentials, said University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Ved Prakash here on Sunday.
Addressing the seventh convocation of Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) here, Prakash exhorted the university officials to prepare students as entrepreneurs to create jobs. Creating employment opportunities for poor is one of the best ways to help them, he said.
Governor and BPUT Chancellor SC Jamir said universities are playing a crucial role in creation, adaptation and use of knowledge to transform India into a knowledge economy. “Our universities should collaborate and partner with top overseas institutions to equip students with entrepreneurial skills,” Jamir said and advised BPUT to chart out a plan for innovation and knowledge transfer through establishment of incubation centres. He asked the BPUT to set up a Science Park to act as a critical link for end users. The university should explore opportunities for private investments to supplement Government’s effort to boost its infrastructure, the Governor said. BPUT Vice-Chancellor Prof SS Patnaik highlighted the university’s recent initiatives on academic front like integration with industry, redesigning of curriculum, research and development, reforms to enhance quality of education and use of social media in learning.
At least 64,964 certificates of under-graduate and post-graduate programmes were distributed. Similarly, eight PhD degrees and 51 gold medals were awarded to the students.