NE Universities urged to make innovations

Shillong, Aug 18 (UNI) Secretary of the Biotechnology department of the Centre Dr M K Bhan has urged universities of the North Eastern region to formulate strategies for making education have an impact on the economy of the region.

Speaking at the meeting with various heads of educational and technical institutions of NE here yesterday, Dr Bhan said, ''A university must be prepared to change and to make innovations.'' The meeting was attended by Vice Chancellors, Directors of Institutes and Principals of Medical colleges from NE to discuss strategies for improving teaching and Biotechnology research in the region.

He said innovation was the key to translate scientific knowledge into useful products and processes.

''The objective of education is not merely to give information.

It should be able to inculcate the culture and spirit of innovation among students,'' Dr Bhan said.

He cited the examples of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oxford and Cambridge Universities and explained how they had evolved the spirit of innovation.

Reiterating that science had to be made productive if it had to make an impact on the economy and the lives of people, Dr Bhan said a university should be able to ''transform a region or place.'' UNI