New Delhi- Union External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday that the process of change started three years ago to ensure full benefits of the development and progress like the rest of the country, are now completely available to the people, especially to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
“In that sense, the people of J&K being in the national mainstream was extremely important. It was also by doing so, they would connect up with the rest of India and the International mainstream,” Jaishankar said, while inaugurating the first international education fair of J&K, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan here on Tuesday.
“For me it is not just an education event, it is a very integral part of ensuring that a very important region of India is connected to what is happening in the world,” he added.
The Education Fair, a collaborative effort of SKUAST-Kashmir and ICCR was inaugurated in presence of Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan; Union MoS, PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh; Lieutenant Governor, Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha and President ICCR, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.
Jaishankar, who was Chief Guest at the event, complemented the SKUSAT-Kashmir for the International Education Fair initiative. He also observed that Indian universities should focus on inviting more foreign students to their campuses.
“Today, India has projects done or under-delivery in 78 countries of the world. So, if our relationships are so extensive, investments are so deep & networking is so good, we need to see that translated into a greater flow of international students to India,” The External Affairs Minister said.
“In a globalised world, it’s absolutely essential that young people of India are fully aware of what’s happening in the world and there is no better way to do that than having international students among you,” he added.
Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated the Government of J&K for showcasing the strength and vibrancy of India’s higher education landscape as well as the knowledge legacy of Jammu & Kashmir.
“J&K is witnessing a new dawn of development under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister. With the implementation of National Education Policy, we are internationalising our education sector. The Education Ministry will support, encourage and facilitate the globalisation of SKUAST-Kashmir,” he said.
He also encouraged all the universities to join efforts to establish India as a global study destination.
Union MoS, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the National Education Policy brought by Prime Minister holds the promise to open career and start-up opportunities driven by aptitude, skill and flexi options at capacity building.
“Jammu Kashmir has a rich legacy of unexplored agricultural avenues, Aroma Mission and Purple Revolution, which imparts it the potential of being the torchbearer of Agri StartUp movement in India,” Singh said.
Speaking on the occasion, J&K LG Manoj Sinha expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accelerating development of J&K and transforming it into a favourite destination for students, travellers and entrepreneurs.
Sinha said with this initiative J&K has launched a dedicated programme for foreign students.
“Our aim is to invite international students to J&K for short-term and long-term courses in various disciplines & strengthen the international connect. Over the past three years, we have focused on strengthening education sector, developing knowledge workers for sectors like industries, agriculture & health care. Sincere efforts have been made to convert the knowledge dividends into wealth for process of innovation & growth,” he said.
The LG also observed that the initiative of SKUAST-Kashmir will set an example for other universities of the country as well.
“Apart from campuses nestled in nature’s paradise, professional faculties, high standard of living, J&K is also offering variety of courses starting from Artificial Intelligence, Robotics to Agri science, Yoga, Sanskrit & interface with the industries for research & innovation,” Sinha said
“With more than 150 higher education institutions, two central universities, seven state universities, two AIIMS, IIM, IIT, NIT, NIFT, IIMC and two Agriculture Science and Technology universities, Jammu Kashmir has emerged as a favourite destination for students in India,” he added.
The LG further said that paradigm shift towards virtues of life which humanity is witnessing is also an opportunity for enhancing quality of life by exchange programs between the countries and learn from each other and enable each other to achieve greater heights in our journey.
“The whole world is looking at India with admiration and hope. There never was a better time to be in India to witness and comprehend the glorious chapters of ancient civilization and immortal organic composite culture. The foreign student’s residential and exchange programmes, people-to-people contacts and institutional interactions with different institutions of Jammu Kashmir will enrich and strengthen global cultural synergies,” Sinha added.
Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) assured the cooperation and support of ICCR to J&K in organizing the exchange programs of artisans and fairs whereby the message of changing new aspirational J&K goes loud and clear to other countries.
Distinguished Ambassadors, High Commissioners and members of ICAR, ICCR, UGC, and SKUAST-K were present on the occasion.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
