PM Dahal stresses expanding universities to community level

KATHMANDU, Nov 26: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has emphasized the need of expanding universities down to the community level for searching for alternative resources to fulfill the 21st century needs.

Addressing the 37th Senate meeting of Purbanchal University from Baluwatar, Kathmandu, today, the Prime Minister assured of the government's appropriate support for resolving the obstacles and policy and legal problems seen in the implementation of the policies and programs brought by the university regarding expanding its outreach to the community level. He also pledged support for timely revision and amendment to the Act.

The Prime Minister, who is also the university’s chancellor, congratulated the university for achieving notable progress in the nearly three decades since its establishment.

"I would like to thank all those who contributed to establishing the university, its academic progress and development. I also express the confidence that everyone would get the motivation and enthusiasm for the institutional reforms of the university by maintaining the standard of higher education in the coming days," he said.

PM Dahal expressed the belief that the policies and programs presented by the Vice-Chancellor and the budget presented by the Registrar will help in the educational and physical progress of the university as well as in its development and expansion.

He called on the university to pay special attention to the production of high-standard human resources who can compete in international competitions, keeping the national needs in mind, saying he was happy to know that the university has focussed its attention on producing international-standard skilled human resources in the field of science and technology, engineering, management, medicine, education and law, and as per the nation's requirement.

The Prime Minister advised all universities in the country to the need to further expand the scope of study and research in view of the changing context, realizing their role to contribute to presenting solutions to possible challenges to the Earth and the human community.

"It is essential for universities to accord top priority to sustainable development, environment conservation, in-depth research and innovation in their curricula, and to ensure practical, applicable and quality education," the Prime Minister said, adding that only the production of skilled resources would meet the demands of the competitive global market in today’s era of advanced technology.

He was of the opinion that universities should concentrate on producing human resources capable of exploring innovation, research and inventions and serving as agents for nation's development and prosperity.

He said universities are expected to focus on producing skilled resources able to bring about positive changes in a nation's economy through the preservation of natural heritages and utilization of indigenous knowledge, tourism promotion and mechanization of agriculture.

He underlined the importance of in-depth research in some of Nepal's typical products such as black cardamom, tea, rudraksha, medicinal herbs, jute and fruits. Increased production and processing of these products can contribute to the international market, and the Prime Minister expressed hope that universities would make significant contributions in this regard.

Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Ashok Rai, was also present on the occasion.

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