'Update knowledge to survive in competitive world'

The Gross Enrolment Ratio in India has not crossed 30% in spite of the country having more than 800 universities and 50,000 colleges, lamented Nitte (Deemed to be University) Chancellor N Vinay Hegde.

Delivering convocation address during the 16th annual convocation of National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NITK) in Surathkal, on Saturday, he said not even one out of every three aspirant is able to pursue college education. “These figures are high among the weaker sections of the society especially in rural areas.”

He said, “By your hard work and dedication to maintain high standards, you have earned your degrees and awards. It is a moment of pride for you as well as for teachers, parents and those who stood by you in shaping your life so far.”

Stating that graduates are the future of this nation and custodian of a very rich tradition and modernisation, Hegde said by obtaining a degree, one would only get an unique identity card.

“This means nothing unless one enters into real process of re-engineering oneself. One need to believe in continuous learning to be relevant in the field of interest” he advised.

Further, he said in the world of Industry wherein automation is order of the day, one needs to update his/her knowledge continuously in order to survive the toughest challenge in the profession.

“One of the hurdles which often work as a speed breaker is our mental block to think and consider higher targets and goals as impossible to achieve,” he said.

Even institutions in India today are reinventing themselves to stay relevant in the contemporary and globalised higher education scenario.

Several measures are being taken by the institutions to address the challenges of quality and equity. There are a lot of discussions in academic circles about India’s ability to develop world-class institutions. “For me NITK is one such Institution, which has all the potentialities to be one,” he felt.

NITK, Board of Governors chairperson Prof K Balaveera Reddy presided over the programme. As many as 39 students received gold medals.

The number of candidates who received degrees in various disciplines are —: B Tech - 819, M Tech - 446, MCA - 86, MBA - 45, MSc (Chemistry) - 25, MSc (Physics ) - 22, M Tech (research)- 13 and PhD - 123.