UNIVERSITIES MUST PRODUCE JOB CREATORS, NOT JOB SEEKERS: SHRI PAWAR
Two-Day Conference of Vice Chancellors of Agriculture Universities of Agriculture Universities Inaugurated

-- (21 February 2007)

Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar today called for unleashing reforms in agricultural education so as to make it globally competitive and relevant.

Shri Pawar was addressing agricultural scientists and educationists after inaugurating the two-day annual Conference of Vice Chancellors of Agriculture Universities. The Minister called upon educational institutions to concentrate on the whole range of new avenues for producing enterprising graduates. On one hand, they must build competence and capability for teaching faculty in emerging areas of science and technology and on the other hand give entrepreneurial exposures to agricultural graduates, he said.

The Minister also stated that with a strong research and education base, Indian institutions should create new openings for students from other countries, especially the developing world.

Speaking on the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), the Minister emphasized that agricultural research institutions must take a lead in commercialization of discoveries made in India so that these are not exploited by others without proper reward and recognition to the innovator.

Shri Pawar echoed Prime Minister’s concern about the health of agriculture and said that besides improving the productivity of crops, there is need to reform and modernize marketing and trade.

Dr. Mangala Rai, Director General, ICAR, informed that a road map for widespread reforms in the agricultural education sector is being finalized for the next Plan. He also stated that under the guidance of ICAR, various agriculture universities have initiated steps for improving the quality of education.

The Conference has been organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Vice Chancellors of 41 State Agriculture Universities, 5 deemed-to-be institutions, 1 central agriculture university and Deans from 4 central universities with agriculture faculty are participating in the Conference.

The Conference is focussing, besides other issues, on ‘Intellectual Property Management and Technology Commercialisation’ and ‘Necessary Reforms in Agricultural Education’.