India’s development is linked to its investment and policies in education, G. Gopa Kumar, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, has said.
He was delivering the regional convocation address at the 32nd convocation of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) regional centre here on Wednesday. Mr. Gopakumar said with 52% of India’s population below the age of 26, demographic dividend would lose all advantage if not reinforced by investment in education. But the current gross enrolment ratio in higher education was insufficient for the nation’s growth. The GDP share in higher education was less than 3%.
India should learn through internationalisation of higher education. There would be overseas job opportunities for students.
Mr. Gopakumar gave away degree/diploma certificates and gold medals to learners who secured highest marks at the national level in the first attempt. There were five gold medallists under the jurisdiction of the centre: G. Geethika (Master of Gandhi and Peace Studies), Dhanuja M. Kurup (Master of Sociology), Subin Raju (Master of Political Science), Devika Rani S. (Bachelor in Arts: Sociology) and Neethu Noufal (Bachelor of Commerce).