SHILLONG: Painting a promising career in Languages, the Vice Chancellor of English and Language University (EFLU), E. Suresh Kumar highlighted on programmes offered by the University even as he urged the people to divert their attention from conventional courses of Engineering and Medicine to a career in Languages.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday at EFLU campus, Shillong, he said, “Fortunately and unfortunately, Indians have been focusing more on Engineering and Medicine. We don’t need those many engineers and doctors. Language is a very useful career.”
He appealed the youth of India including North Eastern states to think big and plan their career with English and Foreign language.
“There are various opportunities for those who choose language as their career. I urge the youth to think of languages as their career,” he added.
The University of EFLU established its regional campus in Shillong in 1973, a year after the attainment of statehood. However, there are currently a total number of 42 students studying in the University.
“Sufficient students are not making use of this opportunity from the 7 states. I appeal to the youth of the 7 states to understand the value of English and Foreign languages and make their career accordingly,” Kumar said.
Asked on the cause of low enrollment, he said, “The people may be unaware of the presence of the University at Mawlai which may be the reason for the low enrollment of students.”
Urging the students to grab the opportunity to learn foreign languages in Shillong, he said, “It is not a private University but it is a government university. EFLU is one among the five Universities which will have full autonomy.”
He added that courses will be designed depending upon the skill development and requirements of the society. “We can appoint faculty from other countries,” he added.
Again, Kumar urged the people in the North East to not only be confined in the comfort of their home state but to venture outside.
“The world is wide. We should think in terms of Global Village. You should be in a position to be in any part of the world and settle down and for that proficiency in English and one particular foreign will be useful along with core studies, be it chemistry….,” he said.
Japanese and Mandarin courses
As for the Japanese and Mandarin classes, Kumar said, “We will try to start within three months. We have a department in Hyderabad but not in Shillong.”
The Chief Minister Conrad Sangma recently met the VC to discuss on starting Japanese and Mandarin Chinese classes which according to Kumar will be an opportunity for youth from the North East as Japanese companies will come in a big way.
He added that the Shillong Campus already have French, German, Spanish and Russian and will include Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.
As for the technology used in teaching, Kumar said that the University will procure software for World class laboratory in which English and foreign languages will be taught.
The VC added that the Professional and certificate courses will be starting in one month while the undergraduate courses will be in the next academic session.
Different programmes
Kumar informed that the schools and colleges will have tester session to make students understand about foreign languages, there will also be language proficiency programmes in German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese Mandarin and Russian.
The University will soon start Under-graduate programmes in foreign languages in the next academic session.
Stating that inharmonious frequencies produce noise and harmonious frequencies produce music, Kumar said, “The University will start a Music club and the University procure musical instruments and appoint a music teacher. Within one month, the music club will start.”
Informing of his talks with the Vice Chancellor of NEHU, Kumar said that the two Central universities will have exchange of facilities officially and conduct collaborative research with NEHU which is the first of done for the first time.
Training of teachers
EFLU will also train the school teachers of the state in a scientific and systematic manner.
Stating that school teaching is crucial in anyone’s life, Kumar said, “If school teaching is taken care of, we can expect very good and successful nation.”
He added that training of school teachers is only an idea which needs to be formulized.
Mobile apps
Working in the lines of Corporate Social Responsibility, the University will also start the University Social Responsibility (USR).
“As part of that, the University is going to come up with mobile apps on English pronunciation and spoken English,” Kumar said.
Under USR, the EFLU Shillong campus will also adopt a village and to help the village in different aspects of language, Literacy, education.
‘We would focus on one village and on the success of the first one, we will later try to adopt many more villages,” he said.
Kumar also informed that the University will soon start “open educational resources” through online in English, Hindi, Sanskrit and 10 foreign languages which will be on the University’s website www.efluniversity.ac.in .