The Hindu Business Line : <I>Hasten slowly </I>

The President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, while inaugurating the 150th anniversary celebrations of the University of Madras on September 4 at Chennai, came up with two innovative ideas that are meant to provide a strong underpinning to the knowledge society which is sure to leave its mark on the 21st century.

Humankind is stepping into an era where fragmented and compartmentalised modes of teaching and learning are being discarded in favour of consolidation, unification and convergence, whether in relation to systems of knowledge or technological applications.

The President's idea of integrating all the universities of Tamil Nadu becomes relevant in the context of emerging connectivities that can help usher in a "societal grid" which, in Mr Kalam's view, will maximise the synergy in the fields of education, health care, e-governance and rural development.

However attractive as a concept, the proposition bristles with practical difficulties when it comes to implementation.

Very few universities, not only in Tamil Nadu, but also in the rest of India, come anywhere near the optimum standards of administration, quality of instruction, conduct of examinations, methods of evaluation or the nature of degrees awarded.

It would be premature to attempt any kind of integration of universities, without ensuring that they conform to the highest benchmarks of academic performance.

The other project of "virtual university portal" launched by the President is equally well-intentioned, enabling students of Universities of Madras, Mumbai and Kolkata, and 53 African Universities to study online academic programmes in select specialisations.

It is a highly ambitious venture, reaching out to student communities and teaching faculties abroad, and rousing great expectations of world-class course content. The Madras University will put its credibility at risk unless it prepares the ground sufficiently so as to be equal to the challenges of a virtual university.

B.S.RAGHAVAN

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