President Pranab Mukherjee today urged top academicians and Vice Chancellors (VCs) of various universities in the country to act as a 'guru' in helping their students and create institutions which radiate as islands of excellence.
He also asked the Ministry of Human Resource Development to "take immediate action to fill up vacancies of VCs" in these institutions and urged that the selection of teaching staff must be completed within six months of appointment of Visitor's nominees.
According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement, the President told VCs that "they must act as gurus and guide scholars and students to achieve the highest standards of academic brilliance".
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"They (VCs) should feel empowered and use the administrative and moral authority vested in them to make these universities islands radiating excellence in their spheres of influence," he said.
Mukherjee also called on the HRD Ministry, UGC and the VCs to implement the recommendations of the conference in a time-bound manner and said HRD Minister Smriti Irani will conduct a review meeting in June to analyse the achievement of deliverables.
He was speaking at the closure of the two-day conference of VCs of central universities at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
Mukherjee, during the meeting, also extended invitation to one inspired teacher from each CU to experience and be part of the Rashtrapati Bhavan community for a week under a new programme on the model of the artists in-residence and innovation scholars in-residence programmes.
He also requested these varsities to send their chosen participants for the one-week long 'Festival of Innovation' proposed to be held in Rashtrapati Bhavan in March.
