Governor Urges Universities to Focus on Problem-Solving Research in Marathwada, ETEducation

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Maharashtra Governor and Chancellor of State Universities Jishnu Dev Varma batted for interdisciplinary and problem-oriented research going beyond laboratories and libraries.“A university becomes socially meaningful when its research reaches beyond laboratories and libraries,” Varma said at the 67th convocation of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, urging graduating students to carry forward the spirit of inquiry and use research to serve society and the nation.“Marathwada itself presents a remarkable field of possibilities, from water and agriculture to heritage, health, industry and social development. Researchers should take up questions rooted in the region’s realities,” he said.Linking research to the implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Varma said, “The university must move from a degree-centred model to a capability-centred model. In that model, research is not separate from teaching or skilling, but a part of creating graduates who are knowledge seekers, skilled professionals, critical thinkers and responsible citizens.”Governor stressed that research on Indian knowledge systems and traditional knowledge should be evaluated on modern scientific parameters of quality, safety and efficacy. He said scientific evidence should guide the coordination between modern and traditional systems.Varma said different rankings, including Bamu’s 46th position among state public universities in NIRF 2024 and its A+ NAAC accreditation with CGPA 3.38, should be outcomes of good work, not the ultimate objective.Aniruddha Pandit, the Vice-Chancellor of Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, told graduates that they were entering the fastest-changing era in human history. “Artificial intelligence, automation, climate action and rapid technological progress will define this age, and traditional methods will not suffice. Ride this change, not fear it,” he said.