13-08-2026:Governor on Thursday chaired the second-phase meeting with the Vice Chancellors of self-financed (private) universities of Uttarakhand at Lok Bhavan, Dehradun.
Lok Bhavan Uttarakhand-Information Wing
Press Note
Universities Must Focus on Research, Innovation and Education Aligned with Future Needs: Governor
Lok Bhavan Dehradun 13 August, 2026
Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) on Thursday chaired the second-phase meeting with the Vice Chancellors of self-financed (private) universities of Uttarakhand at Lok Bhavan, Dehradun. Vice Chancellors of 14 universities participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, the Vice Chancellors presented the achievements, future plans and challenges of their respective universities. Detailed discussions were held on promoting research, developing a strong patent culture, commercialization of patents, industry-academia collaboration, establishing shared research facilities at the national level, and strengthening coordination and cooperation among universities.
The Governor said that universities must go beyond merely awarding degrees and ensure that students are fully prepared for employment, industry, society and nation-building. He emphasized that students should be equipped with the knowledge, skills and values required to contribute to the vision of a developed India by 2047.
He urged higher educational institutions to further strengthen their academic systems in accordance with the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and prepare students to face emerging challenges and opportunities.
The Governor said that one of the biggest challenges before society today is to provide the right direction to the youth. Along with addressing challenges such as drug abuse, universities must provide students with a positive and drug-free environment. He stressed the importance of moral values, cultural traditions, ethics and character building as integral components of higher education.
Highlighting the changing landscape of education in the 21st century, the Governor said that universities must address emerging areas such as environmental protection, the metaverse, semiconductors, space technology, cyber technology and artificial intelligence. He called upon universities to promote academic study and research in these emerging fields.
The Governor also emphasized the need to give greater importance to research, quality publications and citations. He said that patents should not remain limited to registration and that universities must also focus on their commercialization so that research outcomes can translate into practical benefits for society and industry.
He asked universities to identify research areas based on the needs, challenges and potential of Uttarakhand. Research should be directed towards subjects that can make a tangible contribution to the state’s development.
The Governor further suggested that universities take steps to preserve and promote their institutional identity and heritage. In this regard, he encouraged universities to publish books documenting the history of their founders and institutions, produce films showcasing their journey and prepare coffee-table books highlighting their achievements and legacy.
The Governor said that all universities in the state should work together through mutual cooperation and coordination to build a strong academic and research ecosystem. He emphasized that the true value of a university’s achievements is realized only when their benefits reach students, society, industry and contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
The meeting was attended by Governor’s Legal Adviser Shri Kaushal Kishore Shukla, Secretary Higher Education Dr. B.V.R.C. Purushottam, Additional Secretary to the Governor Smt. Reena Joshi, and the Vice Chancellors of Jigyasa University, Selakui; Patanjali University, Haridwar; Motherhood University, Roorkee; Maharaja Agrasen Himalayan Garhwal University, Pokhra, Pauri Garhwal; Bhagwant Global University, Kotdwar; Sparsh Himalaya University, Dehradun; Surajmal University, Kichha, Udham Singh Nagar; Dev Bhoomi University, Dehradun; Amrapali University, Haldwani; Mind Power University, Bhimtal; Maya Devi University, Selakui; Smt. Manjira Devi University, Uttarkashi; North West Himalayas University, Dharkot, Dehradun; and Phonics University, Roorkee.
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