The North East will, for the first time, host the National Conference of Vice-Chancellors with the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) being the venue.
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has teamed up with USTM to hold the former’s 97th Annual General Body Meeting and the VCs’ conference from March 23 to 25 at USTM’s 9th Mile campus in Ri-Bhoi.
Former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, is expected to grace the function, in the presence of the Governor of Assam, Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Education Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya.
In this context, Prof GD Sharma, AIU vice-president and VC of USTM, said, “The main emphasis of the association is to prepare a roadmap for linking higher education to outcome-based education to provide more opportunities to the youths so that higher education can be an engine for socio-economic development of the country.”
USTM, he went on, will be a major driving force in linking the National Education Policy 2020 to the modern education system.
Discussion on the formation of the National Accreditation Council (NAC) will also be held during the conference, which will also dwell on how the Higher Education Council of India (HECI) should be formed to provide “light but tight regulations”.
USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque said that this is the first time that such a large participation of academic leaders is taking place here. This also shows how policy-makers are going to contribute to the process of creation and dissemination of knowledge. “We will leave no stone unturned to make this conference a big success,” he added.
More than 550 VCs, 50 statutory officials, 10 distinguished foreign delegates and policymakers, and more than 20 directors of IIScs, IITs and NITs will join this academic event.