Puttaparthi (AP): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today stressed the need for universities to focus on research to sustain the rapid progress made by the country in fields like information technology and bio-technology.
"Our scientists and technicians have already achieved renown in several areas. Information technology, the pharmacological sciences and biotechnology, space and nuclear technology easily come to mind. If we are to sustain and expand this, it is vitally important that our universities become more prolific in research on a much larger scale," he said.
"At one level, of course, our university education needs to shape students who will meet the needs of a modern, rapidly growing economy and a fast changing society. At another, we are now emerging in the forefront of the innovative world and we need researchers and inventors who will create the
technologies and systems of the future," he added.
The Prime Minister was addressing the 29th Convocation of the Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning of Sri Satya Sai Baba here.
Highlighting the need to have a quality pool of human resources for India to play a larger role in world affairs, he said opportunities have to be created for the youth so that they acquire skills to excel.
"As India modernises, grows and plays a larger role in world affairs, we will need an ever-expanding pool of human resources, the quality of which will have to be second to none. We will need global leaders in education,
entrepreneurship, technology and management," he said.
"We are a nation of young people. We must create systems and opportunities where they will acquire the skills to enable them to excel not just in India, but also increasingly on the global stage," Singh said.
Humanities are also important for the society to understand itself, its past and present, he said.
"No society can be complete without an understanding of itself, its past and its present. That is what the humanities help us illuminate. Our thirst for vibrant research institutions that produce ever growing numbers of PhDs in
diverse areas should be unquenchable," he added.
Appreciating the emphasis laid on scientific research in the Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Singh said research in humanities, literature and economics was equally important.
"I am glad to see that the emphasis on scientific research in this university has increased over the years and that you are promoting high quality research in interdisciplinary areas such as drug designs and drug delivery
systems, structural biology, nano materials and biomedical engineering.
However, we shouldn't restrict ourselves to the physical world. Research in the humanities, in history, literature, philosophy, economics, in the realm of culture and ideas, is equally important," he said.
The Prime Minister appreciated the social service projects, including water supply, education, medical and health, undertaken by Satya Sai Baba in various parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
He advised the students to serve the underprivileged.
"As you chart your course in life, truly give thought to and do what you can to help those who have been less fortunate and less privileged than you. I am not talking about charity, I have in mind the idea of sharing, of giving of yourselves, your abilities and skills, to lend a helping hand where nobody
else stands ready," he said.
Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief Minster K Rosaiah and several other dignitaries participated in the birthday celebrations of Sri Satya Sai Baba.
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