Universities must intimately connect with social life of people : Naidu

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Vice President of India M Venakiah Naidu on February 26, 2020, called upon all universities to promote University Social Responsibility on the lines of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and encourage students to take some form of social service so that they become responsible citizens of the country. “Involve yourself in a positive, meaningful, and constructive manner in nation-building,” he added.

Addressing the 28^th Convocation of Pondicherry University, the Vice President asked students to attach primacy to academics and use their precious time at institutions for enhancement of knowledge and advancement of their career. Urging all youngsters to develop a positive attitude and to always remain socially relevant, Naidu asked them to participate in programmes such as Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao- BetiPadhao, in a big way to transform them into people’s movements, according to a PIB release.

Asserting that Universities must not remain the proverbial ‘ivory towers’, Naidu said that they must be intimately connected with the social life of the people. He suggested that the curriculum must be reoriented to allow the student to spend half the time in the classroom and the remaining time in the field to have a first hand understanding of the living conditions of the people in rural areas.

The Vice President called for reorienting the education system to match the needs of the 21st century and at the same time wanted it to be rooted in Indian values and ethics. He said a holistic education that refines human beings and expands not only the intellect and skills but also the essential human qualities like empathy, compassion, respect, tolerance, and positive thinking was the need of the hour.

The Vice President urged all institutions such as the Pondicherry University to give equal importance to all the four pillars of learning suggested by UNESCO such as Learning to Know, Learning to Do, Learning to Be, and Learning to Live Together, is equally important.