Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 3: The digital inauguration of project ‘Enhancing Quality and Excellence in Autonomous Colleges’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held at St Agnes College (Autonomous) on February 3.
St Agnes College is one among the five colleges of Karnataka selected by the Department of Higher Education Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).
The College re-accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ Grade and a CGPA score of 3.65 in 2017, will receive Rs 5 crore to achieve academic excellence in higher education.
The project was inaugurated digitally pan-India by PM Modi from Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre, Srinagar. The PM was connected to various colleges selected under the RUSA scheme through video conferencing. The project in St Agnes was symbolically inaugurated by MLA Vedavyas Kamath by unveiling the banner at the same time when PM was unveiling the project in Srinagar.
Addressing the staff and students at St Agnes College, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the PM has focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and employability and hence projects under RUSA aim to achieve these goals.
“It is a matter of pride that two out of the five colleges selected in the state such as St Agnes and St Aloysius College are from Dakshina Kannada. The Rs 5 crore will be granted to the colleges in phases and the college administration needs to make the best use of the project and attain the objectives,” the MP said.
Mangaluru South MLA Vedyavyas Kamath said that St Agnes College being selected is a matter of honour for the district. “This project grant is as good as a certificate of excellence given by the PM, as receiving this project stands testimony to the quality of the college. There was no influence or partiality. Colleges with NAAC CGPA 3.51 and above are selected for the project,” he said.
He assured that the people representatives of the district will ensure that the college receives the funds in a timely manner and hence the benefit reaches the students.
St Agnes College principal Sr Jeswina AC said that the RUSA project covers 26 states, 1 union territory and 51 aspirational districts. The project comes under 15 components and St Agnes is selected under component 8 which aims to enhance quality and excellence in selected autonomous colleges.
Prime Minister’s address
PM Narendra Modi interacted with students’ pan-India by answering their questions. He spoke on how technology has become a driving force in India. “In the last 40 years, technology has resulted in a quantum jump in any field and has opened new dimensions. Technology has open doors to long distance education, where students from remote corners of India have access to best teachers and quality education.”
PM spoke on brain-drain, where people from India migrate to other countries for opportunities. “I hope to create an India, where people from other countries will come here in search of opportunities,” he said.
Answering a question on poverty, PM said that if people of India decide they don’t want to remain poor then nothing can stop them. “We decided to strive for a clean India and today we can see positive result. Let us make use of the abundant natural and human resources in planned manner and poverty is sure to be eradicated,” he said.
Karnataka Colleges selected under RUSA
Raichur has been selected as the aspirational district in Karnataka under ‘New Model Degree Colleges’.
Under ‘Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Career Hubs’ University of Mysore, St Agnes College (Autonomous), Mangaluru, JSS College of Women, Mysuru, St Aloysius College (Autonomous), Mangaluru, St Philomena’s College, Mysuru and Jyoti Nivas College (Autonomous), Bengaluru have been selected.
About RUSA
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), launched in 2013 aiming to provide strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions.
The key objectives of RUSA are to improve access, equity and quality in higher education through planned development of higher education at the state level. Objectives include creating new academic institutions, expanding and upgrading the existing ones, developing institutions that are self-reliant in terms of quality education, professionally managed and characterized by greater inclination towards research and provide students with education that is relevant to them as well the nation as a whole.