Summit to discuss challenges in higher education

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) More than 200 academic leaders will deliberate on the challenges facing the higher education sector in India at a two-day summit being organised at the India International Centre here Feb 14 and 15.

The summit is being organised under the aegis of the Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI), representing over 500 higher education institutions. Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor will set the ball rolling.

Delegates from business, engineering, medical and legal education streams, besides humanities, social sciences, liberal arts and business from all over India will attend, according to an EPSI press release.

Delegates include Pawan Agrawal, advisor, Planning Commission; G. Vishwanathan, chancellor, VIT, Vellore; A Gnanam, former chairman, National Assessment and Accreditation Council; D.K. Bandhopadhyay, Vice Chancellor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi and Ajay Soni, Aon Hewett.

Harivansh Chaturvedi of the EPSI and director, Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) said: “The Indian higher education system has rapidly grown to over 600 universities and 35,000 colleges. In the coming five to seven years, the sector is poised to grow at a rapid pace.”

“EPSI as an industry body is seized of the challenges of grooming visionary leaders and inspiring academics capable of leading with rigour and integrity,” Chaturvedi said.

IANS 2013-02-11 21:30:02