The Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today said that Jammu & Kashmir has been and will continue to be an integral part of India. He underlined India’s commitment to the overall development and addressing all the challenges unitedly. Any external interference in India’s internal affairs is unwarranted, he said.Speaking at the 3rd and 4thConvocation ceremony of IIM Jammu, Shri Naidu called upon national institutes like IIMs to offer innovative courses and diplomas based on new market realities and demands of the fourth industrial revolution.The Vice President also stressed the need for reorienting higher education in tune with the realities of the world. To this extent, he called for bringing diverse fields like agriculture, business, technology, humanities and management together through these courses. “This is the spirit of the multidisciplinary push of the New Education Policy. Remember, we cannot solve the problems of the future with the same superficial, segregated approach of the past”, he said.Underlining the importance of developing a mindset that encourages innovation and institutional reform that fosters creativity and promotes excellence, Shri Naidu told the students that as future managers have to respond to a world that is changing very rapidly. “Your ability to take decisions in an uncertain world and your agility to adapt to new contexts will become very crucial”, he added.Underscoring the importance of educational institutions being agile and alert in anticipating the future trends, the Vice President pointed out that the world of learning and the world of work were changing very rapidly. He advised the institutions of higher education to “adapt, evolve and respond” to situations that have never before been faced by mankind.Calling upon the aspiring entrepreneurs, managers and consultants to identify innovations at the grass roots and use their expertise to achieve scale for indigenous solutions, he urged them to bring in technology to complement the traditional skills of our craftsmen and increase farm productivity to help farmers.
Shri Naidu also urged the graduating managements students to work withfarmers in improving the marketing of farm produce. “e-NAM is a great tool for better price realization. This should be further scaled up and new innovations be brought into post-harvest facilities”, he said.Asserting that India was making great strides to fulfill the aspirations of the people, he declared that youth is the biggest resource and partner for our country in its journey of development. “Endowed with immense demographic dividend, we have the potential to achieve anything”, he said.Describing skill development and quality education as ‘crucial development accelerators’, he stressed the need for enhancing access and quality of education.Shri Naidu also stressed that industry-institute linkages be further strengthened. He suggested that only through solving real-world problems, the students can become adept at the fundamentals of their subjects. Our industry will also greatly benefit from the fresh perspectives young minds can offer, he added.Noting that pandemic has shown the necessity and potential of technology in delivering education, the Vice President called for more extensive and prudent use of technological tools. However, in this process, the existing digital divide should not widen, he cautioned. “The most remote areas and most underprivileged students should be enabled to benefit from this technological revolution”, he emphasized.During the Convocation, the Vice President also recalled the great contribution of Jammu and Kashmir as an important centre of education since ancient times. Highlighting the works of Patanjali, Anandavardhana, Lalleswari and Habba Khatoon from the region, he called for continuity in enriching the rich culture of learning and innovation.The Vice President commended the institute for its growth and progress over the years and congratulated the outgoing students of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme as well as the administration.Shri Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (I/C), Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Milind Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, Dr. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, staff, students and others were present during the ceremony.