THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
International collaboration in higher education will help greater interaction between scholars and a better understanding of a wide range of issues of common interest, said top academics at a session on partnership in higher education at the Kerala Looks Ahead (KLA) conference and consultation.
Research universities in the United States have a lot of interest in Kerala for international collaboration which helps in interaction with scholars to work with similar problems, said Prof Daniel Little of Sociology and Public Policy, University of Michigan, last evening.
Speaking on ‘Networks for Teaching, Research, and Student Exchange’ at the conclave, hosted by the Kerala State Planning Board, Prof Little said that international collaboration of Universities can help improve academic linkages and activities. A fertile relation can be developed only through person to person relationship between faculties.
“US is also interested to invite students from India and other countries to their campuses through student exchange programmes. This will help students becoming more productive as they develop different approaches to various issues”, he added.
Delivering the inaugural address, Dr K T Jaleel, Minister of Higher Education and Minority Welfare, Government of Kerala said “Kerala is shifting rapidly from traditional learning to digital classrooms. We are looking forward to a post-Covid era with technology innovation which can replace the traditional classroom with digital”, the minister said.
Though the education sector in Kerala is passing through a difficult stage, the state has been able to conduct the exams and publish results, he said.
Prof Ronald J Herring, Professor Emeritus, Department of Government, Cornell University, New York, spoke on ‘Massive Open Online Courses: Review of their Potential in Higher Education.
For the attainment of academic excellence, Kerala is a long way from the goals as the Universities in the state lack multi-disciplinary character, said Dr Rajan Gurukkal, Vice-Chairperson, Kerala State Higher Education Council, in his introductory remarks. Universities and colleges eligible for international collaboration for researches with prestigious Universities abroad will enable us to enhance quality and standard of education, he said.
Prof Gopinath Ravindran, Vice Chancellor, Kannur University, Prof N V Varghese, Vice Chancellor, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, Prof Shyam B Menon,
Central Institute of Education, University of Delhi, Prof Devika P Madalli, Documentation Research and Training Centre, Indian Statistical Institute, Bengaluru, Prof Sukhadeo Thorat, Professor Emeritus, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Prof K P Sudheer, Ex-Officio Principal Secretary, S&T Department and Executive Vice President, KSCSTE and Dr Bindu P Varghese, Chief, Social Service Division, Kerala State Planning Board, also shared their thoughts for framing a Higher Education policy in Kerala.
