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With the onset of the year 2010, Association
of Indian Universities is at the verge of entering 85th
year. Being a representative
of Indian universities and member of important international
agencies, AIU is fulfilling very effectively the purpose of
being an orchestrating body to create a synergetic impact guided by its motto ‘From Association is Born Integration’.
The influx of 2010, has brought some unprecedented challenges
for higher education. The recent economic recession
made millions jobless and created a catastrophe in all spheres
of life. Climate change and global warming have emerged as
the principal issues to be tackled today where the role of
higher education institutions is paramount. In addition to
these global issues there are certain local dynamics also
to be considered. The excessive demand for higher education, in professional
courses and migration of students due to non availability
of quality institutions is definitely a big challenge. Mushrooming
of diverse variety of higher education institutions, privatization
of higher education, credit transfers, partnerships and twinning
programmes between Indian and foreign universities, tremendous
developments in communication technologies are some of the
dynamics bringing positive and progressive changes in higher
education. Quality maintenance in higher education with fast
changing demand of the knowledge society and youth is another
big challenge in today’s competitive age among the institutions.
Relevance and utility of certified diplomas and degrees, prevalence
of research culture, resource generation, foreign collaborations,
etc., need focused attention.
Being an apex body of higher education
in India, AIU owes the responsibility of guiding the country
in resolving all these issues. Therefore, in addition to working
on the well defined objectives of the Association, we have
planned for the year 2010 a manifold increase in our activities.
At the outset are strengthening and modernizing the AIU House
with required minimal resources – human as well as physical. For establishing effective international
collaborations, International Division is already established.
To achieve some of the major objectives
of higher education in 2010 we are organizing Workshops on
Research Methodology, Preparation of Question Banks, IT Applications
in Financial & Administrative Management, and Examinations
etc. The Student Research Conventions being organized at Zonal
and National levels on Science, Technology and Applied Sciences,
is another significant activity to identify and nurture young
research talent in the country.
The Conventions are for PG students/pass outs/young
researchers/junior teachers.
Various countries expressed their desire to provide
international research fellowships for the winners of the
Convention. Besides academic enrichment, Co-curricular activities
for university students is one more area on which we are focusing
with special emphasis. BCCI has agreed to support financial
assistance of Rs.10.0 Crore for promotion of Cricket. Improvement
of facilities and transparency in conducting Inter-University
Sports is one of agenda for the year 2010.
To increase the visibility of AIU at national
and international level, we are taking several initiatives.
MoUs signed with international agencies which are in dormant
state are being made active and new MoUs are being signed
keeping in view the interest of our universities and country.
Active initiatives are taken up to strengthen relationship with MHRD, UGC,
AICTE and other national and international bodies for betterment
of Higher Education. My
recent visit to the Advisory Committee Meeting of the Asia-Europe
Foundation at Dublin enabled to initiate different kinds
of tie-ups with academicians and officials of various international
organizations of Asia and Europe. The mega international event
- 4th Global Meeting (IVth
GMA) of International Association of Universities is to be organized by AIU in April 2011.
With the expansion of higher education
in the country, our membership is also enhanced to 344. A roundtable
to welcome and orient the new Vice Chancellors of new member
universities is also scheduled for the year.
Their inclusion will certainly enlarge the horizon
of our activities and also will facilitate and strengthen
us. We propose to bring out a number of special issues of
the University News on topics of current importance to disseminate
information and create awareness.
To embark on a journey of success
and to accomplish everything we planned, one needs high level
of readiness, commitment, vision and strategy. Cooperation
from all ends is of course inevitable. It’s
only less than half a year that I had assumed the Office of
Secretary General of the Association.
In this short time, I have recognized the strengths,
love, affection and regards of esteemed Vice Chancellors and
Directors. I have full confidence that with the commitment and cooperation of AIU staff, and
with the support and collaboration of Governing Council and
all member Vice Chancellors of AIU, we
will achieve some new milestones in the year 2010 and will
move forward step by step with new hopes.
On behalf of AIU, I wish
Year 2010 to be the best one in all respects for all.
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