English News: Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel has said that today we are faced with countless challenges due to Covid-19 pandemic, but it has opportunities also. The need is to provide quality education to students by facing challenges with self-evaluation, clear action plans and determination. She said that online learning is the system of the future. It should be used to make education useful for the student. This work can be done by providing additional learning material to students according to their interests, specialties and weaknesses instead of treating all of them as equal. Smt. Patel was addressing an online seminar on ‘University Management: Challenges and Possibilities in the Context of Pandemic’ from Lucknow Raj Bhavan on the occasion of the fourth foundation day celebration of Pandit SN Shukla University, Shahdol.
Make an action plan for the upcoming academic session
The Governor said that the pandemic has globally impacted economic and social life. The challenge before universities today is to reduce the negative impact on education as much as possible. In view of the upcoming academic session 2021-22, universities should prepare a detailed action plan to meet the possible challenges. Student-teacher relationship and mutual interaction is a very important factor in the success of students. Therefore, options for teaching through mixed education method will have to be considered in the coming academic session. For this, all universities should continuously update the online learning technology. She said that some students may be facing family problems or financial crisis due to this pandemic, universities should be more sensitive and prepare an action plan for such students. Efforts should be made that no student should be deprived of education due to financial crisis.
Course content should be in accordance with the local environment
Governor Smt. Patel said that in the field of education, we will have to consider as to how much knowledge and skills acquired by our present education system enables students to use it in everyday situations or any adverse situations like a natural calamity. Universities will have to review whether their courses have been identified according to the local environment and requirements. In addition, the curriculum has prescribed the theme and action plan to enhance the basic philosophy and life-skills. She said that the authentic knowledge acquired by the students is relevant in the interest of the society and the country only then the concept of education will be fulfilled.
Emphasize on active learning
Governor Smt. Patel told to focus on multi-disciplinary research, education and learning model and lay more emphasis on active learning to prepare university graduates in the face of the increasingly challenging global economy in view of future challenges of pandemics like Covid-19. The university should be recognized for its innovation in various fields across the world. The university should be recognized for its innovation in various fields across the world. For this, there is a need to focus on research with innovation and establish the university as a leading center for knowledge generation and dissemination. She said that the university should constantly strive to find new opportunities in the direction of making new centers of progress.
Start a helpline
Governor Smt. Patel said that student welfare activities should also be given a new identity. Information related to examination evaluation etc., lectures of teachers should be displayed on the website as well as online information about seminars, various other academic activities and programmes should also be made available. Helpline should also be started for counseling of students.
Online education should be made outcome based
Governor Smt. Patel told the need of all teachers and students to be more technically proficient in online teaching method. The teachers were asked to continuously work towards making online education outcome based, organizing continuous workshops for better use of technology and preparation of online course material. This work should be done online by creating a quality benchmark. She said that there are platforms at various levels for credit transfer to the students so that students can enhance their learning skills through online certification courses and programmes. Courses which are the need of industries in today’s time should be selected. System of online learning should be strengthened in courses which do not require skill or practicals. Subjects which require competence based skills, should be identified for both online and offline methods of education. This can enable qualitative changes in the education of students living in far flung areas.
Education and health promotion top priority of the government: Higher education minister
State Higher Education Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that education and health promotion is the top priority of the government. Educational institutions have utility only in employable education. The introduction of new courses by the university is a commendable effort in this direction. He said that the structure of the courses should be in line with the local values and expectations of the society. Along with curriculum based teaching, all round development of students, preservation and promotion of values in them is the fundamental responsibility of teachers. He instructed to replace S.N with Shambhunath in the name of the university as per rules He said that with the establishment of Shahdol University, medical and engineering colleges have also been established. It is a matter of great pleasure that these colleges and universities are operating with full capacity, while being fully equipped with the very latest resources. He conveyed his heartiest greetings to all the people associated with the university for the Foundation Day.
Teacher’s role is important in raising the morale of the society
Keynote speaker All India General Secretary Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal Shri Umashankar Pachauri said that a teacher is extraordinary. A teacher’s creativity inspires students. Teachers give best results by using available resources. There is need for them to recognize their abilities. He said that in this era of challenges, there is a need to spread positivity and boost the morale of the society. Teachers have an important role in this work. Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Private University Regulatory Commission, Shri Bharat Sharan Singh, gave details of his long association with the University and recalled the sequential development of the University. He described the efforts made at the university level to fight against Covid infection. Vice Chancellor of the University, Shri Mukesh Tiwari welcomed the guests and presented the progress report of the university. He gave information about the state-of-the-art technical facilities available in the newly constructed building. He said that information regarding vaccination will be obtained from the newly admitted students in the admission form. Dr. Vinay Singh, Registrar of the university and convener of the seminar proposed the vote of thanks.
