President: Indian universities should meet global benchmarks

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday urged Indian universities to offer quality education that meets international benchmarks. Speaking at the annual convocation of SRM University outside Chennai, the Mukherjee said “We must change the reality of universities that do not figure in the list of top universities in the world. Indian universities should aim at becoming top educational institutions in the world through global standards of teaching research and learning.” He also added that with unlimited demands and limited resources it is important for private sector to contribute to the educational system, stating that fact that private universities have played a key role in developing universities in other parts of the world. He stated that “many top universities including Stanford, Harward and Yale are the results of the efforts of the private sector. There is no reason why the Indian private sector could achieve similar results.”

He said that private universities should look beyond placements and must satisfy citizens by taking up cause of education as public service and not as private profit. Accordingly he said that it is time that is opportune for India to have systematic relook of the educational system. Pranab Mukherjee said, “The objectives of reform and change in our higher education system must be expansion, excellence and inclusion. It is essential that a transparent framework for better service delivery be established in the field of private education."