Higher educational institutions must make student globally relevant: President

New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said that the onus was on the higher educational institutions to make students globally relevant.

"The onus is on the higher educational institutions to prepare their students in a way that they are globally relevant and yet sensitive to the needs of the local socio-economy," he said after dedicating the B.M.L. Munjal University to the nation, a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said.

"In the emerging global scenario, the quality of higher education imparted will play an important role in moulding the careers of young men and women. In less than ten years from now, nearly 140 million people will be in the college-going age group.

"Every fourth graduate in the world will be a product of our higher education system. In such a competitive environment, only those professionals who are properly skilled and trained will achieve success," said Mukherjee, stressing higher educational institutions had a great responsibility in modernising education.

"Technology and communication are fast transforming the way the world works. Institutions must catch up with the latest technology to make education more effective and meaningful.

"They have to reorganize courses, programs and structures to meet the needs of a changing era and suit the aspirations of students," he said.