The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar today chaired the review meeting with Directors of five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, located at Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, at IISER, Mohali (Punjab). This was followed by interaction with students and faculty of IISER Mohali where he received feedback for improving the performance of these institutions. He was accompanied by the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development (Higher Education) Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey.Interacting with the media after the meetings at IISER Mohali, Shri Prakash Javadekar said that the meetings were good and fruitful and helped in deciding the road ahead for these premier institutions of science education. He said that the government role must be that of a facilitator and not a controller, for which it proposes to give more autonomy to premier institutions of higher learning, based on their performance.
Shri Javadekar said that the Prime Minister’s scholarship for research is being envisaged for IISERs on the same lines as for IITs and IIMs.Laying emphasis on research and innovation, Shri Prakash Javadekar expressed the view that perceptions matter for which joint effort of IITs, IIMs and IISERs must be ensured so that the quality of education being imparted in our top institutions gets reflected in their international rankings. He said that research and innovation must power the Make in India campaign, as sustainable progress is achieved only in those nations which themselves innovate.The Union Minister has already held review meeting of IIITs, IITs and IIMs before this. Improving the quality and promoting research in these institutions has been the underlying principal theme of reviewing all the central institutions. He will also be meeting with Vice Chancellors of 41 Central Universities at Banaras Hindu University on 6th October 2016. The scheduled meeting with Vice Chancellors of Central Universities will focus on actions taken and proposed for improvement of quality in education, research, internal resource generation, infrastructure, student centric initiatives, and e-governance initiatives.