Prime Minister Narendra Modi digitally inaugurated an entrepreneurship cell and skill hub at St. Xavier’s College on Sunday. This will fund students in their entrepreneurship endeavours in marketing, finance and technology.
The event connected nearly 2.5 crore youngsters from 200-odd educational institutions across India through video conferencing. “We are heading towards achieving global standards of education,” said Mr. Modi, addressing students of Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar. He also praised the achievements of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a scheme for developing higher education. St. Xavier’s was one of the eight Mumbai colleges to get ₹5 crore under RUSA, of which ₹50 lakh was set aside for the entrepreneurship cell and skill hub.
The event also saw the digital launch of 150 such projects, 54 new degree colleges including two in Washim and Nandurbar in Maharashtra, 10 professional colleges and a women’s university. Since RUSA’s launch in 2013, over ₹13,000 crore has been approved for various projects under the scheme. Nearly 3,000 institutions have benefited.
“The funds we received under RUSA will be utilised for upgrading laboratory facilities, project-based learning, a new girls’ hostel and promoting research among undergraduate students and teachers,” said Rajendra Shinde, Principal, St. Xavier’s College. There are plans to start new post graduate courses too.
State Education minister Vinod Tawde, who was present for the event, said we need to build institutions that will create job avenues for students and not just impart degrees.