Varsities should link up with foreign counterparts: Barnala

Chennai, Aug 28 (UNI) Universities as a seat of higher education, should establish links with foreign universities and ensure that the colleges enhanced the learning ability of students with the help of latest technologies, Tamil Nadu Governor S S Barnala said today.

Addressing at the commemoration of sesquicentennial celebrations of the University of Madras-Daughter University Day here, he said Universities should take it as their onerous responsibility in equipping the students to continue their learning process and should make them contribute to the development of the society and the nation.

''The students must be imbibed with the skills of enhancing their knowledge. Education is to prepare the youth to educate themselves throughout thier life,'' the Governor said. Updating of syllabi and enhancement of educational standards suited to the changing trends was the need of the hour, Mr Barnala added.

Stating that six million students were in Universities, he said the Universities should chalk out plans to spread education to every nook and corner of the country and dedicate themselves to spreading education.

Higher education should reach the unreached and should be affordable to the common man. Providing quality education through distance education would lead to the expansion of higher education.

The Universities should also forge tie-ups with other Universities, both local and foreign, as this is an era of Information Technology and students could not be confined to mere class rooms and laboratory teaching, the Governor said.

The Universities should develop links with Industries and Research Institutions, Mr Baranala said adding ''I am sure such linkages would augment enhancement in the quality of education, leading to research and raising the standards of teaching.'' UNI