Speakers at the Leadership Conclave titled ‘The Future of Higher Education’ felt that Indian institutions should rise to global standards.

The two-day conclave organised by Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT), Coimbatore, in association with the All India Council for Technical Education, concluded here this evening with the participants echoing the need for autonomy for private colleges and institutions to rise to global standards and to compete with world-class institutions. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, V Raju, President, KCT, told BusinessLine that “by meeting quality expectations and going through the process of accreditation, private institutions would ensure quality; and this is the need of the hour.”

‘Invest in faculty’

He said the participants recognised that there is a dire need to take care of the faculty, in ensuring that they keep up with the latest technological trends, invest in equipment and teachers and prepare our engineers with strong fundamentals. “Incidentally, private institutions do not get government funds,” he said. In his Chief Guest address, G Viswanathan, Chancellor, VIT University, observed that India has enormous potential to provide skilled technical manpower to the world.

However, to make this happen, the government should make concerted efforts at all levels with the ultimate goal of making education affordable for all and preferably free.

Over 250 participants from across the country attended the conclave.

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