The Hindu Business Line : `Equip students with professional skills'

Ms Aiyesha, winner of President's Gold Medal at the ninth convocation of University of Hyderabad, wanted the President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to answer the question that dogged scores of social science students.

Dr Kalam told Ms Aiyesha that academic institutes should equip the students with professional and entrepreneurial skills that could help them find a livelihood when they completed their courses. They could be ambassadors of peace by intervening and solving conflicts in society.

Ms Aiyesha, a political science student, won the award for her all-round performance for the year 2000-01.

The President was interacting with the outgoing students of University of Hyderabad here on Wednesday through videoconference.

Mr Haranath wondered why multinational infotech companies could attract youth, while public institutes such as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) triggered no passion among the youth to take up a career.

Dr Kalam reminded the youth that IT absorbed only 20 per cent of the youth.

Citing the example of PURA (Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas), he said such efforts involved multi-disciplinary support.

While focussing on encouraging creativity at primary school level, the nation should focus on encouraging entrepreneurial skills from the high-school level onwards.

It is not just about careers. One student asked Dr Kalam, the scientist, why not use huge conclave mirrors to generate power.

He said efficiency of such mirrors was low and occupied more place. Solar power could be the right alternative.

Answering another question, he said research was not against employment.

While pursuing the three-year degree, one can focus on acquiring a specific skill by spending, say, six months.

The videoconference got disturbed as the phone line snapped three times during the question-answer session.

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