From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 28: Chief Minister BasavarajBommai opened 9 new universities in one go and said the universities are centres of learning that will shape the future of the younger generation.
Speaking after inaugurating the 9 new universities at the Jnanajyothi Auditorium in Bengaluru on Tuesday, he said the BJP government has accorded the top-most priority to the education sector and wants to make Karnataka as the model for the entire country.
The new universities are:Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Kodagu, Haveri, Koppal, Bagalkot, and Bidar as well as integrated universities of Mandya and Raichur. These varsities have been set up under the 'one district- one university' concept as aspired in NEP-2020.
Along with this, an ambitious project to develop seven government engineering colleges as 'The Karnataka Institute of Technology' (KIT) by spending Rs 75 crore was also launched. The newly constructed Karnataka Higher Education Academy building at Dharwad was also inaugurated virtually.
The KIT initiative has been taken up to provide the best quality technical education to the youth of the state, he expressed hope that these would attain the IIT level in five years.
The partnership is essential for the strengthening of higher education. Hence, KITs will enter into MoUs with reputed global educational institutions, he asserted.
"The next 25 years is going to be 'marital' for the country. The students should acquire knowledge and engage in providing solutions to the global challenges", Bommai stated.
Higher Education Minister Dr C.N. Ashwathnarayan said both learning and imparting skills are being emphasised in higher education.
The UUCMS (Unified University and College Management System) adopted in the state has brought accountability and transparency opined.The government has set up 25 universities in the last four years.
Besides, a radical change is being made through digitization. As a result, 310 government first-grade colleges have attained NAAC accreditation for the first time, Dr Narayan said.
The Chief Minister said admissions at institutions of higher education including IITs must be done through common entrance test and said the government is committed to ensure that the universities in the State were capable of competing with the IITs. Collaboration agreements are being entered into with leading educational institutions in the world, he said.
Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, Industry Minister MurugeshNirani, Education Department Additional Chief Secretary S R Umashankar and others were present.