Gandhinagar, Monday: “ Gujarat is committed to follow the best standard & practices for its educational system,” said Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi while addressing the International Round Table Conference for Academic Institutions, held today at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar.
Representatives from 25 universities of nine countries attended the meet and the CM invited them to avail benefits of the best infrastructural facilities available in the state for research & development activities.
The Education Department of Gujarat Government organized the conference for international universities & premier educational institutions as a precursor to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit (VGGIS) 2011 in order to attract global participation in development of human resources. 74 memorandum of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the Gujarat-based universities and their foreign counterparts, big industrial houses & some research organizations. Various research & training activities will be undertaken under these MoUs.
While welcoming the academia from the country & abroad, Shri Narendra Modi said, “In this golden jubilee year of its inception, Gujarat has launched some initiatives highlight the importance of education & make available the best education system to the next generation. This meet is a historic move in this direction.”
He also stressed upon the need of strengthening the power of knowledge in order to gain an edge in this competitive world. “In the ancient era, Vallabhi University of Gujarat was a known varsity of that time. And with varsities for various spheres such as Children University, Teachers University (IITE), Rakshashakti University, Forensic Science University & Petroleum University, Gujarat is replicating that kind of success in 21st century too,” he said.
“Education is the only option available for the betterment of the deprived and the impressive growth of the education sector in Gujarat is providing the global educational institutions an opportunity to undertake research activities in the best way possible,” he added.
He also presented the officials of the foreign universities, who entered into MoUs with Gujarat-based varsities, with a certificate of appreciation and gave brief detail of all the initiatives undertaken by the state for reforms in the education sector.
Earlier in his welcome speech, Shri Hasmukh Adhiya, Principal Secretary, Education Department, Gujarat, said, “Under the visionary leadership of the Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Gujarat has launched some innovative initiatives for the reforms in the educational sector. This international meet, being held on the sidelines of VGGIS 2011, is aimed at exchanging views & experience for facilitating cooperation for the development of the sector.”
State Education Minister Shri Ramanlal Vora, Minister of State for Higher Education Smt. Vasuben Trivedi and Dr. Choong Jae Cho from Institute of Economic Policy, Korea, were present at the meet.
