KOTTAYAM: Taking a cue from the success of the Chancellor’s award for the best university of the state, Governor P Sathasivam on Thursday put forth an idea for an award for the best emerging university in Kerala. The governor said that the award for the best emerging university will carry Rs 1 crore. He was speaking after presenting this year’s Chancellor’s award for the best university to Mahatma Gandhi University at a function held at the university campus.
He said the selection committee of the Chancellor’s award had made this recommendation, taking into account the fact that new institutions were unable to compete with established universities for the Chancellor’s award. “I suggest to the state government to consider the recommendation of the committee,” he said. He added the Chancellor’s Award has created a competitive spirit in the academic community. “Ever since the University of Kerala received the first award in 2015, other universities in the State geared up to face the challenge of improving their quality and infrastructure,” he said.
He said increased efforts were needed, however, for the higher education sector to attain the same heights in excellence as that of the primary education sector in the state. He also reminded the state universities about certain areas that still need urgent attention and action.
“Being ranked by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NI RF) of the Ministry of Human Resources Development was a criterion in our assessment. But only three universities had applied for it and only Cochin University of Science and Technology could get a ranking. I hope this situation will change, because NI RF Ranking will soon be a criterion for any Central funding,” he said. He advised that the campuses devote time for guidance programmes related to health awareness, awareness about legal remedies and sexual reproductive health issues.