Greater focus on research must to achieve excellence in higher education, says Namoshi

BJP MLC Shashil G. Namoshi speaking at the 73rd IETE Foundation Day celebrations organised at Sharanbasva University in Kalaburagi on Wednesday.

BJP MLC Shashil G. Namoshi has stressed the need for educational institutions to give greater importance to research activities and produce quality research output to achieve excellence in higher education and meet international standards.

Speaking after being felicitated by Sharnbasva University on his election to the Legislative Council for a record fifth term from the North-East Teachers Constituency at a function organised to mark the 73rd IETE Foundation Day on the university campus in Kalaburagi on Wednesday, he said that research output has become an important criterion for assessing the performance and ranking of higher educational institutions.

Mr. Namoshi, who is also president of the Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society (HKES), which runs PDA College of Engineering, announced that a proposal to establish a high-end Tech Park on 35 acres in the college has been approved and that work on the project will begin shortly.

“The proposed Tech Park will provide a platform for students and research scholars to explore innovative ideas and undertake projects of their choice. Initially, students of all private engineering colleges will be allowed to utilise its facilities. The possibility of extending the facility to students of government engineering colleges will be considered later,” he said.

He called upon private educational institutions to join hands in accessing funds available through apex bodies such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the University Grants Commission (UGC) and other Central agencies for research activities and infrastructure development.

“Karnataka is lagging behind in utilising the funds available through these institutions and it should emulate Tamil Nadu which has been among the leading States in their optimum utilisation,” he observed.

Thanking the teaching community in the North-East Teachers Constituency for electing him for a record fifth term, Mr. Namoshi said that his priority will be to address the issues faced by private educational institutions and teachers working in them.

Secretary of the Sharanabasaveshwar Vidya Vardak Sangha Basavaraj Deshmukh congratulated Mr. Namoshi on his electoral victory and said that considering his seniority, the BJP should give him a Ministerial position when the party comes to power the next time.

Basavaraj Gadge, who was recently elected vice-president of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE), and Regional Director of the VTU Kalaburagi Regional Centre Shubhangi, who was elected to the IETE Governing Council in New Delhi, were also felicitated for their achievements.

Ms. Shubhangi delivered the 15th Prof. S. Narayana Endowment Lecture on the occasion, while Prof. Gadge spoke.

Vice-Chancellor Anilkumar Bidve presided over the programme. Faculty members Sujata Mallapur, S. Sridevi and others were present.