Jayalalithaa places priority on higher education

Placing priority on higher education, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday said her government will take all possible measures to augment the much “required and treasured human resources”.

In her address at the 34th Convocation of Anna University, a premier technical institution, Ms. Jayalalithaa also mentioned that several schemes have been initiated by her government to benefit higher education.

Higher education played a key role in its ability to induce change and progress in society, she said, adding, knowledge alone will enable one to deal with the present and future challenges in areas including environment, health or food security.

“Higher education improvement is high on the agenda of my government with emphasis on expansion, inclusion and excellence as pillars of higher education. My Government has taken and will take all possible measures to augment the much required and treasured human resources,” she said.

Her government’s efforts include establishment of University Business Collaboration Centre, Incubation and Technology Transfer Centres, Post Graduate Centres of Excellence with high-tech laboratories in Universities and soft skill training centres for empowering students to develop managerial skill and employability, among others, she said.

She said in April this year, Rs. 150 crore was allotted towards the infrastructure development of Regional Centres and the constituent colleges of Anna University.

In her message to the graduating students, she urged them to contribute to society, the institutions that brought them up and to the state and the nation.

Governor K. Rosaiah, the Chancellor of Anna University, gave away gold medals to top-scoring students.