G. Viswanathan, the esteemed Founder-Chancellor of VIT, recently emphasized the critical need for both central and state governments to boost their financial commitment to education. His call comes with a clear goal: to empower more students, particularly those in rural areas, to access and pursue higher education opportunities.
During his presidential address at a significant international conclave hosted by VIT on “Transformative Higher Education: Enhancing Student and Faculty Mobility,” Viswanathan pointed out a stark reality. He noted that India currently invests less than 3% of its GDP in education, a figure significantly lower than the 5-6% spent by many other nations.
“A nation’s economic prosperity is inextricably linked to its educational advancement,” Viswanathan asserted. He added, “Without providing quality education to our students, we cannot truly evolve into a developed or urbanized society.”
The Chancellor also highlighted the recent positive shift in relations between India and China, suggesting this could open doors for students from both nations to unite, learn, collaborate, and even engage in friendly competition. He firmly believes that education is the cornerstone for preparing future generations for such vital international cooperation.
Furthermore, Viswanathan elaborated on the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, specifically its intent to dismantle the traditional system of college affiliations with universities. He believes this reform will significantly bolster India’s ability to participate competitively in global student exchange programs within the higher education sector.
Beyond domestic policy, Mr. Viswanathan passionately advocated for greater support for Indian students pursuing studies abroad. He urged developed nations to extend their care to students from developing countries, ideally by covering their tuition fees. He cited examples of some northern European countries that already offer free education to international students, and others that charge only nominal fees. “This kind of compassionate approach towards students, particularly those from developing regions, should become a universal practice among all developed countries,” he urged.
The conclave saw participation from delegates representing 27 nations. Notable attendees included Zaw Myint, Deputy Minister of Education from Myanmar; Ganesanathan Geathiswaran, Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka; along with VIT Vice-Presidents Sankar Viswanathan and Sekar Viswanathan.