Varsities must encourage research: Kalam

President A P J Abdul Kalam stressed the need for universities to encourage research as the "quality of a university is judged by the extent of research undertaken by it."

Delivering the sixth convocation address at Visvesvaraya Technological University in Belgaum, he said research sets in a regenerative cycle of excellence.

"Experience of research leads to quality teaching imparted for the young, which in turn enriches research." He said research brought transformation and development, and enhanced the quality of education.

Expressing his happiness over the VTU carrying out research in engineering and management, he hoped outcomes of research from these studies would provide valuable inputs for structuring the education system needed for transforming India's youth into enlightened citizens.

Kalam favoured the establishment of the 'societal grid' to bring connectivity for the country's one billion people.

"Establishing the grid, e-governance grid and the PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) grid will be known as societal grid. Knowledge grid will facilitate inter-connecting universities with socio-economic institutions, industries and R&D organisations," he said.

"You must share the content with other technological universities for mutual benefit. Your collaboration with industries should be utilised for providing courses to the students in the emerging field of Convergence of Technologies," he advised the fresh graduates.