President Pranab Mukherjee today called for special focus on basic research in higher learning institutions and excellence to be globally competitive.

Delivering the inaugural address at the Osmania University centenary celebrations here today, the President stressed on the need for greater thrust on industry-academia interface for research, which results in excellence and innovation and makes us globally competitive.

Year-long celebrations

Founded in 1917 following a Royal Firman issued by the VII Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan, the university has launched a year-long centenary celebrations.

The President said, “When the university gathers for a similar celebration at a later day, it should be in a position to highlight some areas and take pride in achievements in research.”

Commenting on how the IITs have carved a niche for themselves, and how their students get placed all over the world, he said institutions have to seek excellence, achieving international standards, and find their rightful place in the world.

The country now has 757 universities that include 16 IITs, 30 NITs and scores of IIMs. When such institutes and higher learning centres are networked through industry-academia linkage, it would result in innovations useful for future.

Long tradition

The President said that over centuries India had a leading role in the field of higher education with learning centres and universities such as Takshasila, which has now become part of Pakistan, Nalanda and Vikramasila, where there was great sharing of learning and exchange of ideas leading to peaceful co-existance.

Referring to the formation of the UGC in 1956, the President said then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had highlighted the importance of mingling of minds of students and teachers. Referring to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister, he said his vision was to promote research and innovation.

Vice-Chancellor S Ramachandram said the university has grown to 12 faculties, 53 departments and 163 programmes. While 20,000 students study on the campus, more than 3.2 lakh students pursue education through a network of over 728 colleges affiliated to the university.

₹200-crore grant

He thanked Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, for extending a grant of ₹200 crore coinciding with the anniversary.

During the event, a section of students agitating over lack of jobs, as promised by the State, created a mild tension on the campus. The TRS chief had made the promise during the Telangana statehood agitation.