Pune, Oct 24 (IANS): President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday lamented that Indian educational institutions had "gaps in quality and in attaining world-class excellence" despite there being a "massive network" of universities and colleges.

Addressing the convocation ceremony of Symbiosis International University here, he said the government has decided to promote and support 20 institutions of higher education as "institutes of eminence" to bridge this gap in quality education.

"India has a massive network of 903 universities and 39,050 colleges. But the fact is there are still gaps in quality and in attaining world-class excellence across the spectrum.

"In this context, the government has taken a decision to promote and support 20 institutions of higher education as 'institutes of eminence' - to grant them recruitment and curricula flexibility in order to reach best-in-class global standards," Kovind was quoted as saying by his office.

He urged administrators, professors and students and alumni of Symbiosis to aim to build and locate at least one such "institute of eminence" at their University.

The President also highlighted the fact that India was a "centre of learning for centuries" and mentioned the ancient universities of Taxila and Nalanda, where students from across the world came to study.

"In modern times as well, our campuses have been open to and welcoming of talented young people from many countries, especially those in our neighbourhood and in Africa - a continent with which we have a special relationship, shaped in classrooms," he said.