16-10-2025 : The Chancellor and Governor convened a meeting of the Vice Chancellors of all state universities at Raj Bhawan.
The Chancellor and Governor, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd.), convened a meeting of the Vice Chancellors of all state universities at Raj Bhawan on Thursday. Senior officials from the Higher Education Department and the State Government were also present.
The Governor emphasized that universities are not merely centers of education but pillars of nation-building. He stated that the goal of higher education should not be limited to awarding degrees but to preparing youth who are employable, socially responsible, and capable of contributing meaningfully to the development of the state and the nation. He added that every university must ensure its students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the demands of the future.
The Governor highlighted the importance of aligning education with industry, innovation, and technology in today’s global landscape. He urged universities to update their curricula in accordance with the state’s needs, natural resources, and socio-economic challenges. He further suggested that students should gain hands-on experience through collaboration with industries, research institutions, and startups, enabling them to meet emerging technological and professional challenges.
The Governor directed universities to strengthen their alumni networks, noting that alumni are an institution’s greatest asset. Their experience, mentorship, and resources can make invaluable contributions to institutional growth. He also instructed that each university establish an active placement center to maintain continuous engagement with industry and provide students with internship and employment opportunities.
During the meeting, the Governor issued directives for the timely resolution of affiliation matters and stressed that affiliation should not be granted to colleges failing to meet prescribed standards. He also urged universities to actively contribute to the development of their adopted villages based on local needs. He said educational institutions should not remain confined to their campuses but should extend their impact to society by driving positive change in the areas of education, health, environment, and livelihoods.
The Governor commended the progress made under the initiative “One University – One Research”, which has resulted in significant research outputs. He advised universities to move into the second phase of this initiative by identifying new, relevant, and impactful research themes that directly address state and national priorities. The topic was discussed in detail during the meeting.
The Governor called upon universities to prioritize Artificial Intelligence (AI), emerging technologies, and advanced research in their academic and research agendas. He said that effective use of new technologies could prepare Uttarakhand’s youth to compete at the global level.
Vice Chancellors also presented their universities’ achievements, challenges, and requirements before the Governor, who assured full support in addressing key issues. He expressed satisfaction over the proactive efforts of the Vice Chancellors and said such positive transformations will elevate Uttarakhand’s higher education system to new heights.
Present on the occasion were Secretary to the Governor Shri Ravinath Raman, Legal Advisor Kaushal Kishore Shukla, Secretaries Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, Shri Deependra Chaudhary, Shri Deepak Kumar, Additional Secretary Anand Srivastava, and Vice Chancellors Prof. Manmohan Singh Chauhan (GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology), Prof. Dinesh Chandra Shastri (Sanskrit University), Prof. Satpal Singh Bisht (Soban Singh Jeena University, Almora), Prof. Arun Kumar Tripathi (Uttarakhand Ayurveda University & HNB Uttarakhand Medical Education University), Prof. Surekha Dangwal (Doon University), Prof. N.K. Joshi (Sri Dev Suman Uttarakhand University), Prof. Onkar Singh (Uttarakhand Technical University), Prof. Parvinder Kumar Kaushal (VCSG Uttarakhand University of Horticulture & Forestry, Bharsar), Prof. Naveen Chandra Lohani (Uttarakhand Open University), and Prof. Diwan Singh Rawat (Kumaun University).
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