Naidu holds video-conference with academicians on higher education

Hyderabad, February 16: In an attempt to revamp the higher education system, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today held a video-conference with academicians and education experts from various top universities in the country.

"The video-conference is a first-of-its-kind initiative taken by a state government to involve experts from across the country to design a policy framework for higher education in the state. This is in line with the Chief Minister's aim of making Andhra Pradesh an education hub and a knowledge state," a state government release said here tonight.

The Chief Minister said such video conferences could be held once a month in order to brainstorm and come up with new ideas that will make education inclusive by including innovation, creativity and diversity. "Education should support employment and lead to development," he said.

During the brainstorming session, the Chief Minister asked experts to come up with solutions to upgrade existing universities, suggest new models of education for new or upcoming universities, integrate technology with new and existing models and make Research and Development (R&D) a core part of universities, it said.

Recalling his previous meetings in the month, the Chief Minister told the experts that Apollo Hospitals has come forward to set up an institution in Chittoor, which will address the needs of medical and health sectors by providing 20,000 trained personnel every year.

Similarly, he also explained about Siemens, which came forward to invest Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 3,000 crore in skill upgradation. Even DELL has evinced interest in skill development.

Ajit Rangnekar, Dean of the Indian School of Business, said that the government has to look at strengthening primary education before thinking about higher education, according to the release."We can't create miracles in higher education if we have a weak primary education system," he said, adding that "we need good quality institutions that will make our students employable for their skills."

PTI