A Two Days National Seminar on “Excellence in Higher Education: Challenges & Remedies” organized by the Maharaja Bodhchandra College, Imphal and sponsored by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, Bangalore kicked off at the college premises held on April 18, 2013. In the Inaugural Function, Shri K. Monoranjan Singh, Associate Professor & Seminar Co-ordinator, gave the Welcome cum KJeynote Address. Dr. Ganesh A. Hegde, Assistant Adviser, NAAC. Bangalore was the Chief Guest and Dr. Th. Manihar Singh, Principal, M. B. College, Imphal Presided the Function. And Dr. Homen Thangjam, Assistant Professor & Seminar Convenor gave the Vote of Thanks.
In his Keynote Address, K. Monoranjan Singh said that Higher education in India is undergoing a paradigm shift especially after India undertook structural adjustment programme in the early part of the 1990s. The catch word has been excellence. At the policy level, what largely impinges upon the education sector is the need to produce human resources with expanded “capacity. Policy shift is witnessed in India’s overt declaration and emphasis on knowledge economy. Today, India has formed a National Commission for Higher Education and Research to streamline education, especially higher education, to meet domestic and global demands. However, such a move is not free from constraints both structural and invisible. The simple fact is that the system of public education in India at all levels is in advanced stage of disrepair and disarray. The aim of organizing the Seminar is an engagement towards this direction and find out the best possible one for Manipur.
Dr. Ganesh A. Hegde said that both the Central and State Governments has to take initiatives for improving higher education. Reformation of our society is needed, which is possible only with proper and quality education. At the same time, improvements of the students are required. UGC and NAAC are providing financial assistance to colleges and Universities in India for their improvement. In addition to imparting education to students, teachers need to undertake research and have publications. These are signs of good teachers. Government is ready to extend support including information technology for quality education.
Dr. Th. Manihar Singh said that since its inception in 1969, the M.B. College has been rendering yeomen service to the development of higher education in the country and Manipur in particular. This seminar adds another feather in the cap of MB College in its quest of becoming a centre of academic excellence. The seminar is one of the first academic activities undertaken by the college after it was accredited B Grade by NAAC on July 5, 2012. He thanked NAAC, Bangalore for sponsoring the Seminar. He conveyed hope that the present Hon’ble Education Minister will bring some changes in the sphere of education in this state during his tenure under the able and dynamic leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister.
In the First Panel of the Seminar, Five resource persons presented papers. Dr. RK Ranjan Singh, CDC, Manipur University, Canchipur spoke on “Reflection on Higher Education: Are We in the Proper Tune?”. Dr. Chinglen Maisnam, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Manipur
