Swraj Paul favours education reforms and globalisation

Rohtak, Apr 3 (UNI) Noted NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul today stressed upon the need of reforms and foreign collaborations in the Indian education system if the nation were to reap the benefits of globalisation and to emerge as a global economic power.

Speaking at the 14th convocation of the Maharishi Dayanand University here, where he was conferred with an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences, Lord Swraj said that to ensure that the benefits of economic reforms reached all Indians, it was necessary to change and globalise the education system.

While noting that India was about to enter an era of more private and foreign involvement in higher education, he said there could be much to gain from the involvement of foreign universities which have already faced the fact that education was increasingly driven by market forces.

He advocated that realities of globalisation would have to be mingled with educational reforms and suggested that such syllabi would have to be provided that would be in consonance with the globalisation and economy and ensured employment for the students.

''No country could stand alone in the 21st century, UK and India are working closely together through UK-India Education and Research Initiative Project. In the UK, India is seen as a country with which UK must work closely as a partner, rather than as a provider of services which has been for too long the traditional view,'' he said.

Earlier, Chancellor of the University, Dr. A.R. Kidwai, who is also Governor of Haryana, conferred the honorary doctorate upon him in recognition of his pioneering and exemplary contribution to the global industry.

The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law was also conferred upon Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hooda said his government was committed to promoting the cause of higher education in the State, as education was the key to empowerment, progress and prosperity.

Dr Kidwai awarded Ph.D. degrees to 93 students and the Vice Chancellor awarded post graduate and other degrees to 482 students of various disciplines. Mr. Hooda presented gold medals and certificates to 108 meritorious students.

Lord Swraj also released a commemorative souvenir brought out by the university on the occasion.

UNI