The Hindu : `Education becoming a commodity'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 21, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

`Education becoming a commodity'

By Our Staff Correspondent

Belgaum April 20. Globalisation tends to view education as a commodity, which is abhorrent to those connected with education worldwide, R. Natarajan, Chairman, All-India Council for Technical Education, has said.

He was delivering the convocation address at the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) at Machche on the outskirts of the city on Saturday. The Governor, and Chancellor of VTU, V.S. Rama Devi presided over the programme. The Minister of State for Higher Education and Medical Education, G. Parameshwar, was present.

Deliberating on various issues pertaining to technological development, in general, and perceptions on the impact of globalisation on engineering education, in particular, he said the developed countries viewed globalisation as a chance to enhance markets for their educational products, processes and services in developing countries. This essentially meant opportunities abroad for students who can afford higher costs.

He drew attention to the fact that the new economy was going to put a tremendous squeeze on traditional middle-class jobs.

Prof. Natarajan also referred to the information-knowledge gap, and pointed out that "productivity of knowledge" as a concept was gaining importance. There was a need for knowledge management, and inputs to technology from the education system in view of the ongoing technological changes.

The VTU Vice-Chancellor, K. Balaveera Reddy, introduced the guests.

The VTU conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Science on A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Students of Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysore, topped the list of gold medal-winning postgraduate colleges among the 100 engineering and technology colleges in the State affiliated to the VTU. Its students bagged 13 gold medals, followed by B.V.B. College, Hubli, with five gold medals.

B.M.S. College of Engineering, Bangalore, bagged four gold medals, Poojya Doddappa Appa College of Engineering, Gulbarga, four, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, three, and K.L.E. Society's Engineering College, Belgaum, and M.S. Ramaiah College of Engineering, Bangalore, two each.

Students from Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan, P.E.S. College of Engineering, Mandya, P.E.S. Institute of Technology, Bangalore, National Institute of Engineering, Mysore S.D.M. College of Engineering & Technology, Dharwad, NITTE Mahalinga Adyanthaya Memorial Institute of Technology, Nitte, and Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur, won one gold medal each.

A total of 2,071 candidates from the 1998 and the 1999 batches were awarded degrees in M.Tech. (850), M.B.A. (582), and M.C.A. (628). Eleven candidates of the 1998 batch were awarded PG diplomas.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Price of PDS rice, wheat reduced

BMP plans pass system for vehicles

People should help take up relief work: Bangarappa

Mining in Kudremukh to stop in 5 yrs.

`Education becoming a commodity'

RTPS unit 5 shut down due to leakage of steam

Parishad gives call to consolidate Konkani identity