Agartala, Oct 02: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Friday said that education, research and innovation would be important components of Tripura's development. He said, the state government was committed to creating greater opportunities for students and encouraging young people to contribute to the development of Tripura as well as the country.
The Chief Minister was the chief guest at the 40th Foundation Day celebrations of Tripura University. He emphasized the need to create greater opportunities for young people.
Meanwhile, the Tripura University, established on October 2, 1987, unveiled a proposed investment plan of around Rs. 1,589 crore, covering infrastructure, research and academic development, as it seeks to strengthen its institutional capabilities and pursue its stated ambition of becoming a globally recognised university.
Chancellor of Tripura University Ahmed Javed, VC of Assam University Prof Rajeev Mohan Pant, VC of Devi Ahalya University, Indore, Prof. Rakesh Kumar Shil, Vice-Chancellor of TU Prof. Debabrata Das and MD of Bandhan Bank Chandra Shekhar Ghosh.
The Chief Minister said, four decades of Tripura University's journey is an integral part of the evolution of higher education in Tripura. Through a Parliamentary Bill this university attained the status of a Central University in July 2007. The Chief Minister said, apart from celebrating its 40 years, we have fixed the target for the next four decades.
He hoped that this university, with national and international cooperation, producing entrepreneurs and expansion of internal research works, will someday turn into a prime centre of innovation and research in the North-East.
Dr. Saha said, education should not be limited to gaining knowledge, but it should be a medium for character building, developing responsible and service-minded citizens adding that the rich cultural heritage, vibrant tribal society, bio-diversity and unique geographical and environmental features of Tripura have created ample avenues for research. At the same time initiative should be taken to create coordination between industry and education, inter-departmental research, innovation, entrepreneur and educational cooperation at the national and international arena.
The Chief Minister also highlighted various initiatives taken by the present government for the overall development of Education sector in the state.
While speaking as alumni of the University, Higher Education Minister Kishore Barman recollected his student life. He said, this university is a symbol of aspirations of the people of the state.
At the event MoU was signed between the Tripura University and five organizations including Bandhan Bank, Assam University, Devi Ahalya University and Pahle India Foundation. Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors and other staffs were felicitated for their remarkable contribution to the University. The Chief Minister honoured these contributors.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Debabrata Das said the university was entering its fifth decade with a deliberate attempt to move beyond conventional academic expansion and build stronger connections between higher education, research, industry and employment.
The emphasis, he said, would be on creating an ecosystem in which students could acquire knowledge and skills relevant to employment while researchers could find greater opportunities for innovation, collaboration and application of their work.
The university's research record was also highlighted during the celebrations. Professor Das said nearly 1,500 research papers had been published over the past five years, averaging about 300 papers annually. He also referred to 75 international-standard research papers and 25 patents as part of the institution's research activities. The figures were presented as evidence of the university's growing research base as it looks to expand its academic footprint.
Rs. 1,589-crore plan unveiled:
The proposed Rs. 1,589-crore project plan is central to the university's development strategy.
Professor Das said the proposed projects would strengthen infrastructure and research capabilities and provide the institutional foundation required for the university's next stage of development.
He also sought greater support from the state government, saying sustained institutional backing would be important if the university was to move towards its objective of becoming a world-class institution.
For the university administration, however, the expansion is not confined to buildings and infrastructure. The larger objective is to create an academic environment where research, innovation, skill development and employment are connected.
That approach was reflected in the emphasis placed on industry-academia collaboration during Friday's programme.
Five MoUs on the table:
Tripura University proposed five memoranda of understanding as part of the Foundation Day initiatives.
Two of the proposed agreements are academic and research collaborations — with Assam University and Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore.
The other three are intended to strengthen industry-academia engagement. They involve the North East Financial Inclusion Trust (NEFIT), associated with the Bandhan Group and based in Agartala; the Institute of Cost Accountants of India, a statutory body constituted under the Cost Accountants Act, 1959; and the Pahle India Foundation, an FCRA-certified not-for-profit policy think tank established in 2013.
The proposed agreements are expected to provide avenues for joint academic programmes, research, skill development and institutional exchange.
The university sees the industry-linked arrangements as particularly relevant to its stated objective of improving the connection between classroom learning and the employment market.
The proposed academic partnerships, meanwhile, could provide a framework for joint research, academic exchange and other collaborative programmes, subject to the terms eventually agreed upon by the institutions.
Bandhan Group chairman Chandra Shekhar Ghosh announced financial assistance of ₹10 crore for the university's development and assured support for future projects.
The announcement adds a financial component to the university's effort to widen its engagement with institutions and organisations outside the campus.
Industry, Research and employment:
The university's decision to foreground employment-oriented education reflects a broader challenge facing higher education institutions: how to ensure that academic qualifications are accompanied by skills that can translate into employment and professional opportunities.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university wanted to strengthen the interface between higher education, research, industry and employment.
The proposed collaboration with NEFIT, along with those involving the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and the Pahle India Foundation, is intended to widen the university's network beyond conventional academic partnerships.
The objective is not merely to increase the number of institutional agreements, but to create avenues through which students and researchers can interact with organisations operating outside the traditional university environment.
Whether the proposed partnerships produce sustained academic and employment-related outcomes, however, will depend on how the agreements are implemented and the programmes that eventually emerge from them.
Six villages selected:
The university is also planning to take its academic and research engagement beyond the campus. The Vice-Chancellor said six villages had been selected for initiatives aimed at addressing local needs.
The move is part of an effort to connect university knowledge and research with social requirements and community-level concerns.
Instead of keeping academic activity confined to classrooms and laboratories, the university wants research and institutional expertise to have a more visible social application. The village initiative, along with the proposed institutional partnerships, forms part of the broader attempt to expand the university's role within the state.
From Tripura University, Registrar Prof. Dr Samir Kumar Sil and Dean Prof. Sukhendu Debbarma were among those present in the programme.
Earlier in the day, the university organised a programme at City Centre in Agartala to mark Gandhi Jayanti as well as its Foundation Day. Participants paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and recalled his principles of truth, non-violence, peace and service.