New Delhi, July 17, 2017:
‘The Future of Indian Universities: Comparative and International Perspectives’, an edited book by Professor (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice-Chancellor O P Jindal Global University (JGU) was released by Nobel laureate Amratya Sen at Rashtrapati Bhawan today. President Pranab Mukherjee was presented with the first copy of the book. The book has been published by Oxford University Press.
Mr. Naveen Jindal, Founding Chancellor, JGU graced the function and shared his views on the subject. Professor (Dr.) Virander S. Chauhan, Acting Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) presented the keynote address. Mr. Sivaramakrishnan V, Managing Director, Oxford University Press India was also present.
The book comes at a time when social, political, and economic shifts across the world make it imperative for India to take stock of the state of its universities and re-imagine their role in the fast changing global scenario. The volume provides international and comparative perspectives on higher education and will therefore immensely useful in highlighting issues being faced by Indian universities.
Chancellor Jindal highlighted JGU’s commitment to shaping India’s aspirations of building world-class universities through comparative and international dimensions.
“The universities of the future must become central pillars of growth and development of a nation that churn out intelligent minds for the 21st century”, Mr. Jindal added.
Professor(Dr) Raj Kumar, said, “It is President Mukherjee’s 6th association with our University. We wear it like a badge of honour. We at JGU feel extremely lucky to have hosted him on multiple occasions to discuss key national and global issues, particularly relating to higher education.
“His emphasis on the role of both students and their mentors to think out of box on ways to enhance innovation and aspire excellence echoes our own steadfast commitment to the cause of institution building as potent instrument of nation building, he added.
Talking about the book, Professor Raj Kumar observed, “At a time when the state of universities and their value to larger society is being increasingly debated, and universities are compelled to rethink their role and the role of higher education, the book raises questions that are central to how we will transform and create universities of the future, not only in India but in other parts of the world as well”
The contributors in the book have argued for fundamental reforms to bring about a sense of purpose. The chapters are authored by leading scholars in the field of law, liberal arts, international relations, and science and technology studies, and reflect the multiple approaches necessary to address the most difficult challenges of our times. The book highlights critical issues in higher education in India and is a culmination of a range of ideas and perspectives that will shape India’s aspirations of building world-class universities through comparative and international dimensions.