Hyderabad: Universities must go beyond being mere degree-awarding centres and focus on skill development, employability and research-driven growth, said Telangana governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday.Speaking at the vice-chancellors’ (VCs) meet organised by the Telangana Council of Higher Education (TGCHE) at Lok Bhavan in the city, Shukla, who is also the chancellor of state universities, advised VCs to actively engage in teaching by taking classes. “Reinforce academic leadership and quality just like Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who exemplified excellence both as a scholar and as a teacher,” he said.The governor noted that Telangana has achieved a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of around 40%, which he said is significantly higher than the national average.Stressing on strengthening research, he said that specialised research centres in agriculture, horticulture and organic seeds would be set up, while also addressing global competitiveness, talent migration and positioning Telangana and India as leaders in knowledge and higher education.TGCHE chairman V Balakista Reddy outlined major initiatives, including the introduction of multidisciplinary and emerging programmes, strengthening of frameworks such as National Institutional Ranking Framework, promotion of skill-based certifications and expansion of digital platforms to improve student access. He also emphasised efforts towards inclusivity, transparency and governance.During the meeting, the Agriculture University emphasised the use of advanced technologies to support farmers, while the Horticulture University outlined its vision for the development of the horticulture sector in the state.The governor also released the TGCHE report titled “From vision to impact: TGCHE’s recent higher education reforms”, highlighting recent initiatives in the sector.
