A two-day toppers conclave began at Raj Bhawan today with Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul asking universities to extend the relevance of their teaching beyond classrooms and urging students with good academic records not to rest on their laurels but to develop skills which could help them realise their potential to the maximum.
The second edition of the annual event at the Governor's own initiative to inculcate competitiveness among students and create an atmosphere conducive to academic debate on university campuses is being attended by university toppers from all over the state in different disciplines and their teachers and vice-chancellors.
"It is our intention to give the toppers from Uttarakhand a better exposure to catalyse their thoughts, developing interactive skills in them, giving them self-confidence, inspiring other students to do better and helping them know how to work on their personalities," Paul told the students.
"This annual gathering of VCs, teachers, students and various experts and scholars creates an environment conducive to discussion, deliberation and debate.
"Students who have excelled in their studies have gathered here and will soon realise that topping their institutions is not the end-but only a beginning to become successful in future and to realising one's potential to the maximum. Other students will be inspired by their performance and emulate their remarkable achievements," he said.
Asking students not to take their success for granted, he told them to work harder to sustain it.
Noting that universities are at the top of the formal education pyramid in India, he said they must be the torchbearers of socio-economic development.
"Universities are at the top of formal education pyramid in India ... The relevance of theirteaching must extend beyond the classrooms, to the society at large and the nation.
"Government initiatives aimed at faster economic development, namely Swachh Bharat, Adarsh Gram, Digital India and Make-in-India, have the potential to lift India to the state of an advanced nation.
"Our universities must contribute to these national objectives and also think in terms of adopting villages," Paul said.
