Shimla, Jul 22 (PTI) The Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) here is not merely a centre of education but also a reflection of the social, political, cultural and economic development of the state, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday.
In his message on the occasion of the 56th foundation day of HPU, he said that it was a moment of pride for all that the university has completed 55 glorious years of imparting knowledge to the youth.
In a statement issued here, the chief minister said that the university has produced many meritorious students who have earned great acclaim in various fields and have brought laurels to the state across the globe.
Sukhu said that he is an alumnus of this university and it has played a pivotal role in shaping his life, moulding his thoughts and contributing to his overall personality development. He also recalled the moments spent at the university, the invaluable guidance of his teachers and the time shared with friends, which remain vivid in his memory.
He emphasised that it was imperative to move with the times and failing to adapt to change could result in being left behind in this age of technology and innovation.
Therefore, the university must become a powerful symbol of transformation, where not only academic curricula were modernised but administrative systems were also reformed, the chief minister added.
He said that the university should adopt flexible and streamlined processes to frame and revise curricula regularly besides introducing fresh and relevant content in line with the changing times.
Sukhu said that new courses should be launched in line with market demand and emerging skills, while outdated and irrelevant courses should be discontinued to make way for contemporary and practical education.
He said the primary objective should be to ensure that students graduating from the university were not merely degree holders but also skilled, self-reliant and fully equipped to tackle the challenges of the future. The establishment of five new research centres was a welcome step in this direction, he added.
Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh inaugurated the five new research centres in the university. He said that these centres will not only play an important role in the field of education but also the social, cultural, environmental and technological development.
He said that the Centre for Green Energy and Nanotechnology will promote research related to clean environment, green energy and environmental protection and will be instrumental in realising the dream of 'Green Himachal'.
The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Physical Systems will impart knowledge and prepare students for the challenges of the digital age, such as AI ethics, data privacy and cyber security.
Himachali culture and health centre will work towards preserving the state's rich folk language, art, festivals and cultural heritage and getting it global recognition.
The Ramanujan Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems and Indian Mathematics will carry forward the tradition of Srinivas Ramanujan and connect the Indian traditional mathematical knowledge system with modern scientific innovations, he said.
Himalayan Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience will conduct research for the prevention, prediction and solution of natural disasters.
A key highlight of the day was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between HPU and the National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Governor and Chancellor of the University Shiv Pratap Shukla, who graced the occasion as the chief guest, urged the academic community to remain focused on value-based learning and stressed the importance of research and innovation matching global standards.
The university, which began with only eight departments, has now expanded to include 52 departments and currently serves over 7,000 students and 1,100 research scholars, the statement added.