Mumbai, Dec 30 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday highlighted the role played by technology in education and appreciated the Mumbai University for introducing far-reaching changes in its examination technology through bar coding and use of communication technology to improve processes.
Addressing the annual convocation of the Mumbai University here, President Mukherjee said: "In the age of smart phones and tablet computers, ideas now travel at the speed of thought. It is important for us to remain updated with what is happening in the world."
President Mukherjee said for India to sit at the high table of global powers, it has to prepare its youth for an ever-shrinking world that shares resources as well as responsibilities through being knowledgeable, capable and sensitive to environmental and social issues.
"I am happy to note that the University of Mumbai has maintained a focus on new technologies and cutting edge thinking. It has started new centres such as the Centre for Nanotechnology and also new international collaborations in the area of sustainable development technologies and approaches," President Mukherjee said.
"More and more such initiatives are needed for the developing world to understand each other and their special capabilities, creating space for new thinking in climate change and sustainability," he added.
President Mukherjee, however, underlined the need for the Maharashtra Government to become more pro-active in finding ways and means to enable greater funding and partnerships with industry houses, other universities and central government bodies.
"I call upon the city of Mumbai and the Government of Maharashtra to be more proactive in preparing and providing for this new future. Just as a few good men stepped up and helped build this university by supporting its construction and development in its early years, the State of Maharashtra and citizens of Mumbai will need to come up with ways and means to enable greater funding and partnerships with industry houses, other universities and central government bodies," he said.
Asserting that India has shown itself to be a secular, diverse and pluralistic society which is able to deal with change, challenges and aspirations over the last few decades, President Mukherjee said: " This is only due to its abiding faith and belief in education. India's future and that of the world it hopes to lead, as a great and powerful nation, is in the hands of its youth."
"The demographic dividend of its youth can only be reaped through universities and institutions that commit themselves to delivering distributed learning environments. Every aspiring student should find the university reaching him and not the other way around!!!," he added. (ANI)
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