Ladies and Gentlemen and Dear Students,
I am happy to be here at the beautiful campus of Goa University at its Annual Convocation in the
year of its Silver Jubilee. There are, perhaps, few universities which have an
ambience as spectacular as yours. The campus overlooking the Arabian Sea, which has been the route of many
voyageurs and travellers through the ages, should inspire the students here to
navigate the seas and oceans of knowledge.
This University was established in 1985, in response to the
demand of students from Goa for higher education. The setting up of a local university reduczed
the need for students to move to neighbouring States for further studies.
Since its inception, Goa University has made notable progress in the
academic and research fields besides becoming an instrument of socio-economic
development and empowerment of Goa.
Universities are centres of learning and have always been
places where the skills and knowledge of students are chiseled
to suit the requirements of the work place. Often it is said, that in India the problem is more of
employability, than of unemployment, which means that the skills that people
have are not appropriate for securing employment. Therefore, it is imperative
that our Universities assess the requirements of the job-market well in advance
and structure courses in a manner that will help their students enter the
employment market, prepared for jobs available. Higher education should also
encourage our youth to set up their own enterprises. In this context, the
interactions of the students of the University with local industry and several
socio-economic organizations would be useful in understanding the dynamics of
business.
Universities help a nation in giving it economic vitality,
scientific prowess, a broad outline of social change and global
competitiveness, through innovation and research. The activities of good
universities must strive to contribute to the richness of the cultural, literary
and social aspects of their immediate community. It is in this context, that I
often emphasize, that all Universities must have outreach programmes that
enable students to interact with local communities and understand their issues.
Those who are educated must work for the upliftment
of the disadvantaged sections of society. They can undertake social welfare
work, become messengers of change and in this way, become individuals who have
a sense of responsibility to society. Therefore, I am happy that Goa University has a platform through which
educational programmes can be telecast for community development and mass
awareness programmes. Drug addiction is becoming an increasing threat for our
youth. It is said that first you consume the drug and then drug consumes you. I
hope awareness about its ill effects would also be taken up by the platform.
Learning is not alien to India. From time immemorial, we have been
a centre of learning. Thousands of years ago, great scholars used to teach a
variety of subjects such as philosophy, religion, medicine, mathematics,
literature, drama and arts. Great works on these subjects were written.
Universities have existed here in continuum through the millennia. Universities
of our country have to preserve and perpetuate this glorious memory, as well as
to further enhance the reach and quality of education with a view to meeting
global challenges.
The process of globalization alongwith
rapid advances in Science and Technology, particularly Information Technology,
has been defining the achievements and pressures and pulls of the last more
than two decades. Globalization has created an inter-related and an
inter-linked world, generating opportunities and also throwing up challenges.
As a society transforms, the education system must respond to change. It is
only then, that it will be relevant. Our institutions of higher learning must
become geared up for facing challenges of the contemporary world. Being aware
of it, India is taking steps to increase access
to higher education by opening more institutions and spending more money on
higher education. However, we have to be careful that by concentrating on
quantity we do not compromise on quality. Quality faculty is important to
maintain high standards of our Universities, so that world class graduates,
post-graduates and Doctoral students are produced. This is the challenge of the
future, which all our Universities have to overcome jointly with the
Government.
A nation that is growing, requires
a talented and well trained population to harness opportunities into visible
and concrete results. With 54 crore youth, India has one of the largest young
populations of the world. We have a responsibility to ensure that they receive
proper education. In Universities, there is a tendency to rush in for subjects
like Commerce and Management. These are important, but it is equally important
to study basic science subjects at the university level and focus on research
and innovation.
It is the energy and intelligence of its students and excellence
of its lecturers and professors that determines the character of an institution
of higher learning. The faculty members of are its lifeblood. They must like a
friend, always be ready to give advice and guidance to their students on how
best they can be ready to face the world. It is very important to focus on
character building and to inculcate amongst the youth, the values of
compassion, harmonious living and respect for elders. Our Universities,
therefore, should be the place where students learn and practice discipline,
tolerance and balanced reasoning. Too much of consumerism and irresponsible
behaviour should always be avoided. I am happy to know that ragging has been
stopped in educational institutions in Goa. I would urge that ragging in all
our universities and educational institutions must also stop. It is a crime
against humanity; and a shameful behaviour. Education must develop cultured
attitude and social awareness, otherwise it is
unrelated to life and its environment.
Students should not look at graduation as the end of a
journey, rather graduation marks the beginning of another journey - the journey
of life where knowledge and skills acquired will be put to test. There would be
times when you would find success rather easily and there would be other times,
when you would be faced with difficult situations. The trying moments can also
be moments to look at possible opportunities. Hard work, discipline, commitment
and determination will be the wheels on which one can travel through tough
terrains and reach the destination. One should try to become not only great,
but good citizens as well.
I would also like to convey my best wishes to all the
students of the University and especially to those who have graduated today. I
hope you can make good use of your education to further your careers and it
will be an asset to the nation. My best wishes also go the Faculty and Staff
for all the work they have been putting in and I hope that Goa
University will continue to progress in the years ahead. Finally, I would like
to thank Goa University for conferring the Honorary Degree
of D. Litt. on me today.
Thank you.
Jai Hind.
*****
AD/LV
Speech by her excellency the President of India, Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil, at the 22nd annual convocation of Goa University and Conferment of the honorary Degree of D. LITT.
