The key initiatives taken by universities located in Ernakulam district found mention in the address of Governor P. Sathasivam at a meeting of Vice Chancellors held here on Monday.
The Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) was mentioned when Mr. Sathasivam referred to its Deen Dayal Upadhyay Kaushal Kendra (DDUKK) for Skill Development among the new initiatives being taken up by the universities in the State.
The State’s first DDUKK was established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) at Cusat aimed at knowledge acquisition, upgrade of skills, human abilities and livelihood. It offers career-oriented programmes in business process and data analytics, mobile phone application development and technology, and management consulting.
The Chancellor praised the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, for setting up a good psychology lab. Set up by the Department of Psychology, the facility carries out research on varied facets of human mind and internal state.
Mr. Sathasivam mentioned the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies’ participation in the Indian Arctic Expedition and the Southern Ocean Expedition in 2016 and 2017.
Cusat was mentioned again when the Chancellor spoke of the National Academy Depository. “I had earlier directed all universities nearly 10 months ago to register and participate in the National Academic Depository of the Ministry of Human Resources Development. But, I have been told that only Cusat has so far done it,” he said.
The Governor urged the Vice Chancellors of all universities to consider adopting villages for developing them into smart villages, the way the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University had done in Wayanad. Mr. Sathasivam also urged them to develop self-sustainability in energy, water conservation and waste disposal. All universities should exchange notes regarding massive online open courses, additional skill acquisition programme, global initiative of academic networks and add-on courses, he said.