MARGAO
Goa University Vice-Chancellor Prof Hiralal B Menon on Wednesday made a fervent plea to the parents of Goan students not to make their wards frogs in the well, but strengthen their wings and make them fly.
Menon said this as he unveiled plans to roll out the National Education Policy at the university, including a sandwich model of education, double degree and academic bank credit concept.
He also announced plans to start a course relating to logistics at the BBA level so that students are better equipped to take up jobs at the Mopa airport which is expected to be commissioned soon.
“I have found that parents want their children to be in Goa. My request is please don’t try to make them frogs. Rather give them everything, strengthen their wings, let them fly”, he said, while addressing students at the graduation day of the Rosary College, Navelim, held at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on Wednesday.
The GU Vice-chancellor said as a prelude to the introduction of the National Education Policy, the Goa University has come out with an Ordinance for an Academic Bank of Credit (ABC). He said the concept will enable a first-year student in Rosary College, Navelim, to get her credit transferred to the University or college in another state without having to undergo the course again.
Saying the NEP has envisaged a number of flexible provisions, Prof Menon said the GU will introduce the sandwich model, wherein students from Goa will be able to study one year in Goa and another year abroad.
In this respect, he said, he was in Singapore last week to discuss the modalities with the Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Singapore, which is ranked 7th in the world. “The National University of Singapore is eager to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Goa University, wherein students from Goa will be able to study in Singapore as well as in Goa. Depending on the number of credits, the students will either get the certificate from here or from Singapore,” he added.
On double degree education, Prof Menon said the GU will soon go in for it wherein the students will have the facility to study two subjects at a time.
Saying that teachers play a big responsibility in shaping the careers of the students, the GU Vice-Chancellor underscored the need to equip teachers with the latest in education. In this respect, he said the Goa University has approached Faculty Induction Program wherein all the newly-joined faculty will undergo the program.
Prof Menon said he is meeting with the college principals imparting the BBA course, as he unveiled his plans to introduce the logistics course in the curriculum. “The Mopa airport will soon come up where logistics is an important part. We plan to introduce the logistics course so that children passing the BBA can get a position at the airport,” he added.
Rosary College Administrator, Fr Gabriel Coutinho, DSE Director Fr Lucio Dias and acting Principal of Rosary College, Navleim, Dr Helic Barretto also spoke at the event.
