Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Thursday, highlighted the need to improve student attendance in the Higher Education Department while stressing the importance of promoting vocational, entrepreneurial, and employment-oriented education. This was shared in a press statement following a review meeting of the Higher Education Department at the Secretariat.
During the meeting, CM Dhami emphasized that after completing a higher education degree, special attention must be paid to skill development to better connect youth with employment opportunities. He also pointed out that in alignment with the human resource needs of other countries, young people should be provided both skill development and foreign language training.
In a bid to support overseas employment, CM Dhami suggested designing training programs tailored to the specific demands of various countries, in coordination with foreign embassies. He also stressed the importance of training professors in modern technologies to ensure quality, employment-oriented higher education.
The Chief Minister also recommended enhancing the availability of teaching aids to make learning more engaging. He emphasized the need for well-stocked libraries in universities and colleges, with adequate books, and for laboratories to be fully equipped with necessary apparatus.
Under the state government's Bharat Darshan Yojana, CM Dhami proposed taking meritorious students from universities and colleges on educational tours to top institutions across the country. He also called for more universities and colleges in the state to be included in the NAAC grading system.
CM Dhami further stressed the importance of rapidly upgrading higher education in the state in line with the National Education Policy 2020. To secure a better future for students in higher education, he urged that curricula be aligned with innovation, with support from reputed institutions excelling in education.
Additionally, the Chief Minister proposed strengthening the e-library system to ensure free access to books for competitive exams and academic courses. He also recommended introducing vocational courses in colleges to equip students with practical skills for future careers.