Mukherjee told the VCs that the recommendations made in

the conference will be examined in detail by HRD Ministry for speedy implementation and also suggested the setting up of a committee of VCs to follow up on the recommendations. The VCs in their recommendations said they should have "freedom to recruit short-term faculty and young faculty from India and abroad at various levels as well as institution of post-doctoral positions". Relaxation, in terms of experience, in case of outstanding scholars for recruitment purposes was also suggested by the participating VCs, the statement added. The suggestions included that each university connects itself with the community- identify a cluster of affiliates� and create a consortium of stakeholders. Universities will nurture and develop 'Lok Vidya' for sharing traditional knowledge and skills, the VCs suggested. They also suggested that exceptional researchers should be awarded the President's awards and brilliant students should get an opportunity to meet the President. The other recommendations by the VCs stated that "Universities reach out to discover and prepare a directory of innovators, project and facilitate grass root innovators, help them with production, protection of property rights. "Establish innovation centres/research parks in central universities where possible. Tap the local cultural reservoir and institutionalise the university's support to local arts, establish specific programmes with help of private sector," the suggestions included. "Use of National Knowledge Network effectively in the central universities, creating greater awareness about the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) programmes of the Ministry of HRD and the National Knowledge Network (NKN)," the suggestions said.