Guwahati, March 20: The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has collaborated with the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), to hold its 97th Annual General Body Meeting and the National Conference of the Vice Chancellors from March 23 to 25 at its campus here at 9th Mile.
It is for the first time in the Northeast, a prestigious mega academic event, ‘National Conference of Vice-Chancellors’, is being hosted by a private university.
Former President Ram Nath Kovind, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, Padma Shri Dr Vivek Debroy, the Governor of Assam, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, the Ministers of Education from Meghalaya and Assam, as well as a host of international guests, will grace the conference. The AIU Secretary General, Dr Pankaj Mittal has expressed her hope that the conference at the USTM will be one of the best conferences organised so far.
In this context, Prof GD Sharma, Vice President, AIU and Vice Chancellor of USTM, said, “The main emphasis of the Association is to prepare a roadmap for linking higher education to outcome-based education to provide more opportunities to the youths so that higher education can be an engine for socio-economic development of the country. USTM will become a major driving force in linking NEP-2020 to the modern education system. Discussion on the formation of the National Accreditation Council (NAC) will also be held during the conference. The Conference will also discuss how the HECI (Higher Education Council of India) should be formed to provide light but tight regulations.”
Chancellor of USTM Mahbubul Hoque said, “This is for the first time that such a large participation of academic leaders is taking place in the USTM. This also shows how policy-makers are going to contribute in the process of creation and dissemination of knowledge. “We will leave no stone unturned to make this conference a big success.”
The Accreditation Council, which will be formed, will also help in this direction. The conference will also discuss how the HECI (Higher Education Council of India) should be formed to provide light but tight regulations.
More than 550 Vice Chancellors, 50 statutory officials, 10 distinguished foreign delegates and policy-makers, and more than 20 Directors of IISc, IITs and NITs will join this most prestigious academic event in the country.
The AIU is the highest body which gives equivalence to foreign university degrees in India. The membership of AIU includes all types of universities, e.g., conventional universities, open universities, deemed to be universities, State universities, Central universities, private universities and institutes of national importance.